10012026-LSTL-01.qxd 1/10/2026 12:43 AM Page 1 c m y b SHAHID TURNS DARK FOR O’ROMEO The makers have dropped the first look of Shahid Kapoor as Romeo from the Vishal Bhardwaj directorial O’Romeo. The poster portrays the actor in a brutally intense character, his expressions breaking into a wild, maniacal grin, smeared with blood and cuts. The Made in India girl Alisha Chinai has sung the recreated Kishore Kumar duet songs Kya Yahi Pyaar Hai and Nahi Nahi, and also working on her solo album TRIBUNE Life The much-awaited teaser for actor Yash’s upcoming film Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups was unveiled on Thursday and giving the teaser a thumbs up, Alia Bhatt wrote, “Dynamite.” LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 10 JANUARY 2026 Back to the mic... Gurnaaz F OR a voice that once redefined Indian pop, silence was never surrender. Alisha Chinai’s return isn’t a nostalgic cameo, it’s a conscious re-entry, fuelled by instinct, conviction and unfinished music. The spark came unexpectedly. “It was a phone call from Shamir Tandon,” she says. “He spoke about recreating Kishore Kumar’s duet songs, two of my absolute favourites. I was all excited to kiss the microphone again.” That excitement carried into Ek Aur Baar Kishore Kumar, where Alisha revisited classics not as a tribute act, but as a performer fully present in the moment. “It was an absolute delight singing these unforgettable melodies. It felt like I had gone back in time… back into that moment,” she recalls. “I sang Kya Yahi Pyaar Hai with renewed freshness and romance and Nahi Nahi with that teasing, naughty seduction that’s built into the lyrics and notes. It was magical.” There’s a reason she connects so deeply with Kishore Kumar, beyond the music. “Eccentric, genius, multi-talented and totally misunderstood, that’s a lethal combination,” she says candidly. “And yes, a lot of that reflects in me too.” Alisha doesn’t shy away from addressing perceptions. “People say I’m arrogant, which I am not. I’m confident, reassured, I believe in myself. And I will always stand up for myself and for the truth.” Having witnessed the industry’s journey from vinyl records to viral reels, she has strong opinions on what’s been gained and lost. “Technology has slowly killed the real artiste,” she states bluntly. “The magic, warmth, melody, depth and sincerity have taken a backseat. Today it’s about production, 15 minutes of fame and chasing money.” Yet, she isn’t dismissive of the present moment. She acknowledges the shift, even if she remains wary of it. “Made in India was a pop Preserving the Kapoor legacy anthem, the largest-selling album in Indian history. It revolutionised the music industry,” she says. “Now social media has revolutionised the modern music world. Unknown artistes pop up from everywhere.” The problem, she feels, is longevity. “Attention spans are limited and impatient. Fame is short-lived unless you show true talent and consistency. That’s why live performances are hotter than ever… because it’s Live.” Her advice to young musicians is simple and hardearned. “Just hang in there,” she says. “Success and fame take time. Don’t give up on your dreams.” Despite stepping away from the spotlight for years, Alisha is clear that the break was necessary. “It was partly burnout and partly disillusionment with the industry’s work ethics,” she admits. “The system sucks for singers and musicians. I didn’t want to fight it anymore…it wasn’t worth it.” At the time, she adds, her solo career was booming. “Made in India kept me busy touring. I was fulfilled.” Today, she’s listening closely and selectively. “I love Arijit Singh and Zubeen Garg,” she says. “Their voices are incredible. They have that magical star quality.” As for collaborations, her ambition remains global. “A collab with Adele would be a dream,” she smiles. Beyond Made in India, there’s one song she holds especially close. “Tinka Tinka,” she says simply. “Ethereal and timeless.” And yes, new music is on the way. “I’m working on a new album project and will be releasing songs soon,” she confirms. If Made in India were to be reborn today, Alisha believes it wouldn’t need forced reinvention. “The right beat at the right time will recreate its own style,” she says. “That’s how real music works.” Decades on, Alisha Chinai isn’t chasing relevance, she’s reclaiming space. On her terms. ‘He has come a full circle’ Happy Patel star Mithila Palkar on reuniting with Imran Khan after a decade Armaan Jain on building culinary career with help of grandmom’s recipes The New Year has just begun, and a host of exciting shows and films are lined up to entertain audiences. And if you’re a foodie who also enjoys a dose of Bollywood gossip, Dining with The Kapoors on Netflix is a must-watch. Created by Armaan Jain, who also serves as producer, and directed by Smriti Mundhra, Dining With The Kapoors offers a sneak peek into the legendary Kapoor family gatherings, centred around their iconic, lavish lunches. Through this special project, Armaan also takes audiences back to the time when the legendary Raj Kapoor hosted grand parties at his Chembur home, where his wife, Krishna Raj Kapoor, delighted guests with her unforgettable recipes. Armaan is the son of Rima Jain, who is the youngest Dynamite! daughter of legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor and Krishna Raj Kapoor. In an interview, Armaan opened up about what made him foray into the food business. “I gave myself a fair shot at acting at that point. I gave eight or 10 years to the craft. And it didn’t work out for me. I worked in a production house, did four or five films, got to learn so much there. And today, I am able to put that knowledge into practice,” Armaan said. “But food is something that is such a big part of most Punjabi households, and especially the Kapoors,” he shared. “And I saw that first hand, I didn’t get to meet my grandfather, Raj Kapoor. But with my grandmom, my fond memories are just food and get-togethers. And I think that that legacy transcended to my mom’s home and then ours. I always felt like preserving a certain part of that legacy, ” he added. — ANI Mithila Palkar is all set to share the screen once again with Imran Khan in Vir Das directorial Happy Patel — marking a special collaboration for both the actors after a decade. While Happy Patel has been stirring a lot of buzz around Imran Khan’s acting comeback after a long hiatus, it also reunites Mithila and Imran, who previously worked in the 2015 film Katti Batti. Mithila said, “He has come a full circle, and I get to be a part of it. It was really fun to welcome him back on set. He and I realised that the last time we were on a set together was Katti Batti, which was my first film and technically his last film before he came back. I feel like I was a part of that journey for him. He is still the lovely, warm person that I met 10 years ago. Nothing is unfazed. It is lovely to have him back in films.” Opening up about her offscreen bond with the Delhi Belly actor, Mithila added, “He’s such a nice person. He will immediately make you feel comfortable. When we were shooting an action scene, he made sure to check on me and asked me to take care of myself.” Happy Patel: Khatarnaak Jasoos is a quirky, offbeat spy film. It’s slated to release on January 16. — ANI Ludhiana’s secret ingredient in MasterChef exchange. When asked by Chef Ranveer about their bond, Anshmeet with a sarcastic tone said. “Hum hai toh bhai behen, par isne mereko apna majdoor banaya hua hai literally, aur isko mujhe jhelna pad raha hai.” During his conversation with the judges, he reflected “I had a dream of cooking and this was the only option I had. I think it’s your fault, because you made the last season a celebrity one last year. Before that I was not c m y b PRADA’S CHAI-INSPIRED PERFUME Italian fashion giant Prada has once again sparked a fun conversation across India with the launch of Infusion de Santal Chai Eau de Parfum — its chai aka teainspired perfume. According to the brand website, Prada de Santal Chai perfume comes with a fusion of creamy sandalwood with the spicy notes of chai latte accord. It also blends a fresh touch of citrus and cardamom, offering a woody and spicy fragrance. JOINING THE OSCAR RACE Two films — Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 and Anupam Kher’s Tanvi The Great have taken a strategic approach toward global recognition, joining the list of 201 feature films that are eligible for consideration at the 98th Academy Awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) revealed the 201 eligible films that directly qualify for the prestigious Best Picture race. SCORPIONS COMING TO INDIA Armaan Jain with his wife Anissa Malhotra (L) and Neetu Kapoor (R) With its much-awaited premiere, MasterChef India continues to celebrate the stories of the jodis hailing from various parts of the nation. The show builds on the spirit of Desh Ab Frontfoot Pe Chal Raha Hai, and following that, it welcomes a brother-sister duo hailing from Ludhiana, situated in Punjab, Anshmeet Singh and Prabhdeep Singh. Adding the fun-filled banter, the duo caught the attention of the judges in their playful CHAT UP qualified because I was not 18, and this year you made the current season in jodi. I had thought I would come alone, and I would do well. Actually, I wanted to come with my elder sister as I get along better with her, but she has small children now. So, I brought the best example from home, who was very idle.” Taking the comment in stride, Prabhdeep smiled and added simply, “I have come here to support him.” The sib- lings’ playful quarrels soon became the highlight of the tasting. Amused yet curious, Chef Ranveer added “I used to think that when there is kalesh-kulus in the kitchen the food doesn’t taste good.” After tasting their dish, he deliberately built suspense, making the siblings hold their breath — before breaking into a grin and declaring they had proved him wrong, saying, “Itne jhik jhik ke baad itna swad khana”. Fans of rock music are in for a treat as popular band Scorpions is all set to perform in India. The band will perform in Shillong on April 21 at JN Stadium, DelhiNCR on April 24 at HUDA Grounds, Bengaluru on April 26 at NICE Grounds and Mumbai on April 30 at Jio Gardens, BKC. The Indian leg of their tour is produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live.