01072025-LSTC-01.qxd 6/30/2025 8:36 PM Page 1 c m y b POONAM AND HER VANITY Poonam Dhillon is credited with introducing a gamechanging concept to the Indian movie industry- the Vanity Vans. “Vanity was the name of my company,” said the actress, adding, “You have to name your company something. So one of my friends who was a journalist... it was a van...they were makeup vans.” TRIBUNE JLo on tour Life Sarzameen—Ibrahim Ali Khan’s film with Kajol, Prithviraj Sukumaran officially announced Jennifer Lopez can’t wait to enthral her fans with her upcoming live tour. She has been constantly sharing posts regarding the Up All Night tour, which will kickstart on July 8. LUDHIANA | TUESDAY | 1 JULY 2025 PRESCRIPTION Ibrahim’s Popcorn & perspective second outing YatheshtPratiraj Phool Former couple Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh’s son Ibrahim Ali Khan, who made his acting debut with Nadaaniyan in March 2025, is now back with another film titled Sarzameen. In the movie, he will be seen sharing screen space with versatile actors Kajol and Prithviraj Sukumaran. On Monday, the makers shared the film’s teaser and announced that it will be released on JioHotstar on July 25. Kayoze Irani has directed the project. On what audience can expect from Sarzameen, Kayoze said, “Sarzameen will always hold a special place in my heart, not just because it marks my first feature film as a director, but because it gave me the chance to tell a story that is intimate and profoundly intense. I’m incredibly thankful to Karan, Apoorva and the entire Dharma family for placing their trust in me.” “Working with phenomenal artistes like Prithviraj sir, Kajol ma’am, and Ibrahim each of whom brought such emotional depth and honesty to their performances has been nothing short of a privilege...The emotional battlefield in Sarzameen is just as powerful and consuming as the one unfolding on the frontlines,” he added. Producer Karan Johar said, “Sarzameen is a deeply emotional story about duty, family, and the choices that define us. It’s not just a thriller, it’s a personal and powerful journey that speaks to the times we live in. With honesty and heart, it explores what it means to stay true to your values when everything around you is tested.” Set against the backdrop of Kashmir, the film follows Vijay Menon (Prithviraj Sukumaran), an Army officer known for his sense of duty and sacrifice. As Meera (Kajol), a mother and wife, fights to hold the family together, Harman (Ibrahim Ali Khan) brings a raw, simmering intensity to the role of a young man caught between shadowed memories and unsettling truths. — ANI Come July 1, India takes a pause to thank the doctors who keep the country going — not just with stethoscopes and prescriptions, but with resilience, empathy and that quiet courage we often take for granted. And fittingly, this day carries the legacy of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy — a legend in every sense. A brilliant physician, a nation builder and West Bengal’s second Chief Minister, Dr Roy’s life was a blueprint of what selfless service looks like. But here’s something beautiful: while real doctors are out there fighting the good fight, Indian cinema has been telling their stories — stories that stay with us long after the credits roll. On National Doctors’ Day, let’s celebrate our healers through the lens of cinema HEART OVER HANDBOOK THE ORIGINAL MEDICAL HERO V Shantaram’s Dr Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (1946) isn’t just a movie — it’s a salute. Based on Dr Dwarkanath Kotnis, an Indian doctor who treated Chinese soldiers during World War II, this black-and-white classic captures the very essence of sacrifice. It’s raw, real and far ahead of its time in showing that medicine, in crisis, is often about heart more than hardware. DEAR ZINDAGI LAAKHON MEIN EK DHADKAN ZINDAGGI KII EK NAYI UMMEED Ayushmann Khurrana as a male gynecologist? Sounds like the setup to a joke — but it’s actually a smart, funny and moving look at gender roles in medicine. Doctor G (2022) balances humour with a social message, pushing us to question the assumptions we bring to a doctor’s office. QUICK FIX MUNNA BHAI MBBS WHEN GENIUS ISN’T ENOUGH You know what’s tough? Doing the PRITHVIRAJ SUKUMARAN, IBRAHIM ALI KHAN & KAJOL Actor Naseeruddin Shah defends Diljit after film body backlash over Sardar Ji 3 Shah backs Dosanjh ARIJIT TO ROCK LONDON Diljit. The dirty tricks deptt of Jumla party has been awaiting a chance to attack him... He was not responsible for the casting; the director was. But Diljit is known the world over and he agreed because his mind is not poisoned,” Shah wrote on social media. He condemned the growing intolerance of personal ties between citizens of India and Pakistan. He added, “I have close relatives and dear friends there and no one can stop me from sending them love. And to those who say ‘Go to Pakistan’, I say ‘Go to Kailasa’.” c m y b In a world that still tiptoes around mental health, Dear Zindagi (2016) walked right in and made itself comfortable. Alia Bhatt’s restless young filmmaker finds clarity through sessions with her therapist, played with disarming charm by Shah Rukh Khan. Their patient-doctor dynamic feels honest, warm and refreshingly stigma-free. It’s not dramatic — it’s ‘gentle’, and that’s what makes it revolutionary. BREAKING STEREOTYPES where the real healing isn’t always clinical. Sometimes, it’s conversation that refuses to end. Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has come out in strong support of singeractor Diljit Dosanjh, who is facing mounting criticism for collaborating with Pakistani artist Hania Aamir in his upcoming film Sardaar Ji 3. The backlash comes amid strained India-Pakistan relations, with film body FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees) and several social media users accusing Dosanjh of disrespecting national sentiment. Shah defended the actor, clarifying Dosanjh was not responsible for the film’s casting. “I stand firmly with Honestly, Munna Bhai MBBS (2003) didn’t just entertain — it sparked conversations. Sanjay Dutt plays a lovable goon who gatecrashes medical school and, ironically, teaches the professionals a thing or two about healing. “Jadoo ki Jhappi” isn’t just a catchphrase; it’s a philosophy. The film cheekily but powerfully questions whether the system has room for compassion or if it’s all just checklists and charts. Spoiler: love still wins. MUCH NEEDED THERAPY SESSION HEALING BEYOND MEDICINE If you’ve ever choked up at a goodbye you weren’t ready for, Anand (1971) will hit home. Rajesh Khanna’s portrayal of a terminally ill patient and Amitabh Bachchan’s strength as his doctor show us the softer side of medicine, right thing and being punished for it. That’s the bitter pill Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1990) serves up. Loosely based on Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyay’s pioneering work on India’s first testtube baby, this one doesn’t pull punches. Pankaj Kapur’s character battles red tape, jealousy and indifference — a reminder that sometimes, the system makes it hard for doctors to actually be doctors. You know that feeling when a song just gets you? That’s Arijit Singh. And this September, he’s turning up the volume. On September 5, the man behind heartbreak anthems and latenight love ballads, is set to headline Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, becoming the first Indian artiste ever to do so. Crazy, right? From a small town in West Bengal to a stadium that seats over 45,000, Arijit’s journey isn’t just about music — it’s about millions of people who’ve cried, healed and daydreamed through his voice. Arijit is the most-followed Indian artiste on Spotify — yep, even more than all the artistes on the West. And, the tickets for this show in London? Selling faster than samosas at a Diwali fair. — TNS Not all doctor stories come in twohour packages. Streaming platforms have jumped in with some compelling long-form takes on life in scrubs: Doctors, Laakhon Mein Ek: Season 2, Dill Mill Gayye, Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii, Ek Nayi Ummeed – Roshni, Sanjivani and Kuch Toh Log Kahenge. (With inputs from Dharam Pal)