12072025-LSTL-01.qxd 7/11/2025 11:34 PM Page 1 c m y b DARK PASSENGER RETURNS Prime Video has announced the streaming premiere of Dexter: Resurrection, starring Michael C. Hall, Peter Dinklage, Uma Thurman and Jack Akott for today. Picking up after ‘Dexter: New Blood’, the series follows Dexter’s return from a coma and a dangerous search for his son in New York City. TRIBUNE Life Borderbreak Varun Dhawan has wrapped his Pune schedule for Border 2 at the National Defence Academy, sharing a video with co-star Ahan Shetty over chai and biscuits. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 12 JULY 2025 BEYOND FIRST TO BEAT THE KHANS You might want to sit down for this one: Deepika Padukone has done what no one — not even the Khans — ever managed. With over Rs 10,000 crore in global box office collections, she’s officially outpaced Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir. Yep, the same trio that’s ruled Bollywood for decades. That crown? It’s on her head. But the milestone isn’t just about math. It’s about dominance with range — from Pathaan (Rs 1,050+ crore) to Padmaavat (Rs 585 crore), from Chennai Express to Jawan and Kalki 2898 AD, she’s delivered hits across genres, languages and audiences. Often as the core reason people showed up. More than a star, Deepika’s a onewoman empire. She produces her own stories (‘Chhapaak’), fronts global campaigns and still finds time to be a red-carpet regular at Cannes. The numbers are loud. The legacy? Even louder. BLACK WIDOW ~ Cr 10,000 From Scarlett’s USD 15B global crown to Bollywood’s box office queens Yathesht Pratiraj Phool S O here’s the headline: Scarlett Johansson just became the world’s highest-grossing actor of all time. Let that sink in for a second. With over 15 billion USD at the global box office, she’s edged past Samuel L Jackson, Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise — the men who’ve practically lived at the top of the food chain for decades. Yes, a woman now wears that crown. But here’s the thing no one’s really talking GLOBAL, UNSTOPPABLE Priyanka may be Hollywood now, but make no mistake — she is still a Desi Girl. Her films have pulled in over Rs 6,000 crore, with Bajirao Mastani, Don 2, and Krrish 3 leading the charge. But what sets her apart? She’s been building her own table from the start. With her production house Purple Pebble Pictures, she’s backed regional and indie gems like The Sky is Pink and To Kill a Tiger — not because they were safe, but because they mattered. And while her peers were chasing leading roles, she went and made herself a crossover star, headlining Quantico, walking red carpets across continents and casually becoming the first Indian actor to lead a billiondollar brand campaign in the West. Not too shabby. about: she’s not alone. In India, a quiet (and honestly overdue) revolution has been brewing. Our top actresses — not sidekicks, not arm candy, not decorative plot devices — are fronting some of the biggest hits in the country’s history. And not just once or twice. Consistently. Systematically. Across genres, languages, and decades. So while Scarlett may have lit the match on this conversation, let’s take a proper look at the fire our own stars have been keeping alive. EVERGREEN SCENE-STEALER ~ Cr 5,400 ~ Cr 1,800 Kareena’s career isn’t a sprint — it’s a marathon and she’s still running strong. With Rs 4,600 crore at the box office (Bajrangi Bhaijaan alone accounts for Rs 970 crore), she’s proof that reinvention works. She was Poo before memes existed. Then came the big-budget entertainers, the sliceof-life roles, and now — OTT thrillers such as Jaane Jaan. And let’s be honest: very few actresses can carry a mainstream film across decades and generations like she can. Call it charisma. Call it staying power. It’s both. ~ Cr 1,500 FROM GLAM TO GUNS GEN Z’S FIRST SUPERSTAR THE CREATIVE DISRUPTOR If you’d told someone back in 2005 that Katrina Kaif would become the go-to action star of Bollywood, they might’ve laughed. But here we are, two decades later and she’s one of the most commercially consistent actors in the game. Her films? Over Rs 5,400 crore in total. Tiger Zinda Hai, Ek Tha Tiger, Dhoom 3 — she’s fronted franchises that rake in money like they’re printing it. And she’s done it while dodging the stereotype that beauty and box office can’t coexist. Spoiler: they can. Alia Bhatt is only just getting started, but she’s already cleared Rs 1,800 crore in box office receipts. RRR? Global juggernaut. Brahmastra? The biggest original franchise starter in recent memory. Rocky Aur Rani? A total vibe. But Alia’s also reshaping what stardom looks like for this generation. She’s a National Award winner, a producer (Darlings), a mom, a Met Gala fixture and a savvy entrepreneur — all before turning 32. Let that sink in. Don’t let the low-key energy fool you — Anushka Sharma’s numbers are loud. PK and Sultan alone crossed Rs 1,500 crore together and her production house Clean Slate Filmz has pushed bold, gritty content like NH10, Paatal Lok and Bulbbul. She’s that rare mix of actor-producer who actually walks the talk — backing new voices, staying off the algorithm and still trending. That’s a flex. These women aren’t exceptions to the rule — they’re rewriting the rulebook entirely. ~ Cr 4,600 ~ Cr 6,000 Actresses get meatier projects Raveena remembers on streaming: Vaani Kapoor Dulhe Raja Actor marks 27 years of the Govindastarrer with nostalgic photos Bollywood actor Raveena Tandon on Thursday took to social media to celebrate the 27th anniversary of Dulhe Raja, sharing throwback photos and fond memories from the 1998 hit film. Directed by Harmesh Malhotra, Dulhe Raja was released on July 10, 1998 and starred Govinda and the late Kader Khan alongside Tandon. The comedy remains a cult favourite, known for its slapstick humour and chartbuster songs. The film followed the comic rivalry between KK Singhania (Kader Khan), a wealthy hotel owner and Raja (Govinda), who sets up a roadside dhaba next to Singhania’s luxury hotel. The plot thickens when Singhania’s daughter, Kiran (Tandon), falls in love with Raja, much to her father’s dismay. c m y b Actress Vaani Kapoor is set to make her streaming debut with Mandala Murders, a firstof-its-kind mythological-crime thriller series from Netflix and YRF Entertainment, premiering on July 25. Kapoor, known for films such as Shuddh Desi Romance and Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, said the series offered her an opportunity to break new ground and showcase a deeper range of acting. “I was looking for something incredibly special and challenging to mark my debut on Netflix streaming and I’m glad I found Mandala Murders, where I’m venturing into bolder territory and taking centre stage in a thriller that pushes me both physical- I was looking for something incredibly special and challenging to mark my debut on Netflix streaming and I’m glad I found Mandala Murders. ly and psychologically,” she said. “It is a genre I’ve never explored before. Taking this leap has challenged me to discover new layers of intensity, and vulnerability, which I think are essential for a compelling storytelling.” She said, “A new wave of actresses is breaking barriers, taking on adrenaline-charged roles, showing that raw strength and deep emotion can thrive side by side on screen,” she said. “Indian actresses are now fearlessly leading the action genre, something that was long overdue and we’re finally seeing a shift in the landscape.” “I love streaming because an actress gets meatier projects and roles to show our craft on screen, which is more often very limited when it comes to theatrical movies as it’s mostly centred around our male actors,” she added.