11022026-LSTC-01.qxd 2/10/2026 8:27 PM Page 1 c m y b ARIJIT, ANOUSHKA’S JUGALBANDI Arijit Singh returned to the stage in Kolkata for his first live show after announcing that he was stepping away from playback singing. The moment was special for fans as the Tum Hi Ho singer joined sitarist Anoushka Shankar on stage for a joint performance. The duo left their fans enthralled. TRIBUNE Cupid call Life Catherine Zeta-Jones has been cast in the upcoming psychological thriller Cupid, which will be directed by Tate Taylor, known for films such as The Help and The Girl on the Train. LUDHIANA | WEDNESDAY | 11 FEBRUARY 2026 CHAT UP LAHORE 1947 GETS AUGUST RELEASE The release date of Preity Zinta’s upcoming film Lahore 1947 has now been announced. The period drama is one of the mostawaited films and will mark Preity Zinta’s return to the big screen after almost eight years. Lahore 1947 will hit theatres on August 13, 2026, during the Independence Day week. The makers are aiming for a big festive release across India. RAHMAN TO PERFORM WITH SON AR Rahman is set to enthral fans in Chennai, as he brings his Wonderment Tour to the city after a long gap. His son AR Ameen will join his father on stage to entertain the audience. Ameen has been building his own place in music with live shows and global projects. He started his singing career with the film O Kadhal Kanmani, for which his father AR Rahman composed the music, and has since sung in several Indian languages. RANNVIJAY SINGHA AND GUNJIT CHOPRA Gunjit Chopra, the co-creator of the Kohrra franchise, says Kohrra 2 is about love and loss, of how love chains us Nonika Singh L ROHIT SHETTY CLEARS AIR As fans are getting more and more excited about Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal 5, several reports have started circulating on social media, claiming that the latest instalment of the popular comedy franchise is inspired by Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor’s iconic film Do Aur Do Paanch. However, Shetty has now cleared the air, stating that these reports are “factually incorrect.” OVE for Punjab and its people remains Gunjit Chopra’s prime inspiration, especially when telling the stories of his ancestral land. Co-creator and cowriter of the much acclaimed Kohrra franchise, he is equally perturbed by the state’s many shortcomings. “Punjabis are all about Charhdi kalan, but the same open spirit makes us susceptible to gun culture, crime and drugs,” he says. Of course, like the first season, second one too is a human drama at the heart of it. Sure, it’s still a police procedural which begins as a whodunit but he hopes, “audiences soon forget it’s a murder mystery and get engrossed in personal stories of its characters.” Barun Sobti reprises his role of Jasjit Garundi, but Suvinder Vicky, who became a breakout star with Kohrra, is not part of the cast. Gunjit explains, “The problem is never with the actor, we all love Suvinder paaji. The fact is we have said whatever we could about his character Balbir, dealt with his demons, while Garundi’s past is still unresolved.” “The challenge of sophomore season always is Lifting fog the freshness,” he admits. For the touch of novelty, among the new entrants, there is Mona Singh as sub-inspector Dhanwant Kaur. On casting the talented actor, who is really out there in movies like Border 2, he says, “It is heartening that she is doing so much good work, but we have not seen her in a part like this, talking in Punjabi. Her character arc is truly heart-breaking and would touch a chord with viewers.” On the fact that all three writers, Diggi Sisodia, Sudip Sharma also the director and he are male, he smiles, “That’s true but we have tried to do justice to this female protagonist of ours. Besides, we have many women in our crew who read the script.” Unlike the first season, whose germ came from the Korean movie Memories of Murder, this time the trigger is Punjab and Punjab alone. Since, he feels, “NRI dimension is imbedded in our DNA,” the migrant angle can’t be wished away. He adds, “Majority of our stars, actors, singers don’t live in Punjab. Most people of our Doaba belt are not in Punjab.” The series is set in Majha region and they shot in Amritsar and Gurdaspur, border areas, for that is integral to their story. At this point, the series streams on Netflix on February 11, he can’t reveal much about the plot except, “It’s quintessentially about love and loss, of how love chains us and can be unchained.” Undeniably, the series will unfurl many burning concerns, especially crime and migration, and could trigger many conversations. However, it isn’t as if he and his cowriters set out to pick up cudgels and write an issue-based drama. Nor did he let the weight of expectations bog him down. He quips, “It was not like I decided; let me write a second season of a successful show.” Certainly, the first season was a sure-fire winner sweeping many OTT awards and he feels that the second outing is more mature, more intense and would receive more love from audiences. For him working on Kohrra2 has been a quest to make sense of Punjab whose strong suits rest in its religion, community service, culture and ‘never say die’ spirit despite having seen so much bloodshed. In Kohrra 2, you would also meet characters like these police officials, trying to do good. He agrees, “Police procedurals are dime a dozen and though crime as a genre will never cease to fascinate both writers and viewers, same kind of crime dramas could press the fatigue button.” But, he would continue to tell more and more stories from Punjab. On the anvil, apart from a documentary on the late singing sensation Amar Singh Chamkila is one on lyricist Chattar Singh Parwana, who passed away in 2024. As he decodes many facets of his beloved state, he lifts the kohrra (fog) so we can see the state more lucidly, in all its beauty and complexities. Ammy Virk & Roopi Gill reunite Punjabi stars Ammy Virk and Roopi Gill are set to reunite and have started filming their monumental new project. Currently untitled this historical drama is directed by the acclaimed Amarjit Singh Saron and is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on May 29. Described as a “powerful saga,” the film delves deep into the rich tapestry of Sikh faith and history. Reports suggest the project aims to capture a pivotal era with high production values and an emotionally charged narrative that honors the resilience and heritage of the Punjab region. THE SECRET AGENT TO HIT INDIA The Oscar-nominated film The Secret Agent is finally coming to Indian cinemas, after a strong run at major award shows and film festivals around the world. The Wagner Moura-starrer is set in Brazil in the year 1977, a time when the country was facing unrest and fear. The story follows a tech expert who leaves behind a dark past and returns to his hometown of Recife, hoping to live in peace. But the city soon pulls him into danger, spying, and hard choices. ‘Let’s stand together’ Sonu Sood offers to help Rajpal Yadav after comedian is jailed in cheque-bounce case Sonu Sood stepped in to help Rajpal Yadav after the comedian surrendered himself to Tihar jail authorities in connection with cheque-bounce cases. Yadav, an NSD graduate who is known for his roles in movies such as Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Waqt and Phir Hera Pheri, was sent to Tihar jail after the Delhi High Court rejected his plea seeking more time to repay outstanding amount in a cheque-bounce case. In 2010, Yadav borrowed Rs 5 crore for his directorial debut film Ata Pata Laapata, but the film flopped. Before his surrender, Yadav told the Bollywood Hungama that he did not have means to pay the outstanding amount. Sood also urged industry colleagues to come forward and help. “A small signing amount, adjustable against future work, is not charity, it’s dignity. When one of our own is going through a tough phase... This is how we show we are more than just an industry,” he added. — PTI c m y b