25022026-LSTC-01.qxd 2/24/2026 8:26 PM Page 1 c m y b LILY TO PLAY AUDREY HEPBURN Lily Collins is set to portray Audrey Hepburn in a film chronicling the making of the 1961 classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Collins will also serve as a producer on the project, which is based on Sam Wasson’s book Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Dawn of the Modern Woman. TRIBUNE Comic time Life Akshay Kumar dropped a striking first-look motion poster of his much-awaited horror-comedy Bhoot Bangla. Taking to Instagram, the actor shared an intriguing glimpse of his character. LUDHIANA | WEDNESDAY | 25 FEBRUARY 2026 PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR HOT shimla WHAT’S Return of the retro queen eat The POWER TO WOMEN W divine ANT to try the best pancakes and shakes in town? Wood Street Cafe is the place to visit. Established in 2019, the cafe offers pancakes, shakes and cakes. It is also popular for a variety of cuisines which it offers. Akshar Malhotra, owner of the café, says he wanted to start a run cafe which is run by women. "We want to provide employment to local women. We hire and train local women so that they can earn their livelihood. Almost 95 per cent of our staff members are women." vibes Neha Saini Fiona Guerra chandigarh S play CITY DIALOGUES K NOWN for its orderly roads and modernist architecture, Chandigarh is set to reveal a more personal side through The City Narratives #1, a month-long celebration of memory, culture, and community. Organised by the Alliance Française de Chandigarh and the Chandigarh Citizens Foundation as part of the Indo-French Year of Innovation 2026, the programme highlights stories beyond the city’s iconic design.The events begin on February 27 with Architecture of Remembering, an exhibition by Philippe Calia and Supriyo Manna at the Alliance Française Gallery. On February 28, the Sector 17 Underpass hosts The City Dialogues, alongside L’Enfance Radieuse, showcasing rare 1961 photographs of life in modernist homes. That evening, the Government Museum & Art Gallery opens an exhibition honouring Indian architects and engineers behind the city’s creation.In March, exhibitions at Aditya Prakash House and the launch of Death of a Modernist continue the journey, culminating on March 14 with a screening of The Eternal Modernist, celebrating architect S.D. Sharma. laugh MIDWEEK CHUCKLES HE never changed her identity to fit trends, even when her journey as a singer began in the night clubs in Chennai, belting out peppy Western-style songs in the early 60s. Now, at 82, Usha Uthup, the icon that she is, still remains the same retro queen that forever has been, a symbol of individuality and art, happy to share her music with the world. She had absolutely no hard feelings for the Dhurandhar makers when they remixed her popular hit, Rambha Ho. “Once I make a song, or music, it belongs to the world. I am glad that the new generation audience or Gen Z as they say, got to enjoy it,” she said as she took the stage at the Sacred Amritsar festival. Performing to a packed house inside the very expansive Qila Gobindgarh, Usha rocked the audience to her now iconic retro hits. Darrrling, Yeh Hai Maya, and in between crooning Stevie Wonder’s iconic love ballad I Just Called To Say I Love You, she had the audience swaying The original diva of Bollywood’s retro era, Usha Uthup, got the audience grooving at Sacred Amritsar Festival to nostalgia. “Today’s music will tomorrow’s retro and so, I always say that whatever music one makes, it will re-emerge once the generation changes. I used to sing so many songs in 1969 or 1970 that later turned out to be international hits,” she said. Her personal favourite for the night though were some Punjabi classics by Asa Singh Mastana, Gurdas Maan and Sarabjit Kaur. “I absolutely love Gurdas Maan. But it Asa Singh Mastana’s Kaali Teri Gutt that made me curious about Punjabi music. The passion with which Punjabi singers perform, the tempo and the beat, are unmatched,” she I absolutely love Gurdas Maan. But it’s Asa Singh Mastana’s Kaali Teri Gutt that made me curious about Punjabi music. The passion with which Punjabi singers perform, the tempo and the beat, are unmatched. heaped praises. She did perform Kaali Teri Gutt at a concert in Bengal, “And the audience, without knowing Punjabi said ‘ahoo’ with me.” Her current favourite Punjabi artiste is Satinder Sartaj. “He is amazing,” she said. Before Amritsar, she had performed in Ludhiana last year. “I love the Punjabi audience. They reciprocate the energy and love one feels for one’s music,” said Usha, with a promise to keep coming back to the place with undying spirit and love for arts. band’s popular tracks like Teri Deewani, Tauba Tauba, and Saiyyan. His performance was interactive, full of humourous stories and personal reflections. At one point, he even asked the women in the audience to take to stage and ‘no for selfies’, but to dance along as he sang Gaura Maiya Chali Kailash. “Kailasa has now performed in over 100-120 countries and we have always received overwhelming response in India, wherever we perform. Even though the music scene today is dominated by electronic sounds and other new genres, emotional and spiritual music like Kailasa would continue to find an audience,” he said. Celebrated as a cultural icon in Sufi and folk music, Kailash is widely recognised for bringing folk and devotional music into mainstream popularity. His art is deeply spiritual, but he is not preachy. “You have to feel the audience’s energy and here, I loved it when they sang and danced and just freed themselves of all inhibitions,” he said. He considers a relation between audience and artiste intimate and heartfelt. “And it has to match the energy, both ways,” he said. And boy, it did! CHAT UP ANIL SHINES IN SUBEDAAR TRAILER AAMIR MEETS ARIJIT Anil Kapoor, Radhika Madan, Khushbu Sundar and Mona Singh (clockwise from top) c m y b VIROSH’S PRE-WEDDING FUN Ahaan Panday, who made his Bollywood debut last year with Saiyaara, is now all set to headline filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar’s film. Ali took to Instagram and shared a picture with Ahaan, expressing excitement to begin his new project with the young star. HANDIGARH’s comedy lovers can catch Amit Tandon live at his Trial Show on February 25 at 8 pm at The Laugh Club. The 90-minute stand-up set,promises Tandon’s signature observational humour and relatable takes on everyday life. Open to audiences aged 12 and above, the show offers a sneak peek into fresh material in an intimate club setting. Early bird tickets start at Rs 499 and are available online via BookMyShow. Akshay Oberoi has a key role in Yashstarrer Toxic. Akshay’s look as Tony from the film was unveiled recently. In the poster, Akshay is seen sporting a retro look, standing atop piles of bodies, a powerful visual that instantly establishes the brutal, highstakes universe of Toxic. The film also stars Yash, Kiara Advani, Nayanthara and others. AHAAN PANDAY TEAMS UP I have worked with all my heart for this film. AKSHAY LOOKS TOXIC! Aamir Khan had travelled to Arijit Singh’s hometown, Murshidabad, to meet him in person. A behind-thescenes video of the making of the title track from the film Ek Din was released. “For sometime you want to take a break or you don’t want to sing for Hindi films? Aise mat kar yaar, hum logon ka kya hoga bhai?” Aamir said in the clip. Anil Kapoor’s much-awaited film Subedaar is all set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video. On Monday, during the film’s trailer launch in Mumbai, Anil opened up about his experience working in Subedaar. He said, “This film is special. And this role for me is one of the most challenging roles of my career. And I’ve done it as usual with all my heart and soul. I’ve worked hard on my part and I’ve worked with all my heart. I hope you’ll like this film and you’ll like our work.” Directed by Suresh Triveni, the film also stars Radhikka Madan, Saurabh Shukla, Mona Singh, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik and Khushboo Sundar. — ANI C chandigarh A T 14, he became a runway, only for the world to discover an artiste, who would go on to become one among India’s most bankable artistes globally. He is a non-conformist, as a musician. And so, when Padma Shri awardee Kailash Kher takes to stage, he doesn’t just share his music with the audience, but his life story. Whether him running away from home, calling himself a ‘rebel’ or sharing how he connects with god through music, Kailash Kher is a storyteller, a spiritual-folk revivalist. Just like his public interactions, his music is raw, spiritual, and intense and has strong Indian classical and folk influence, making him one of the most distinctive voices in modern Indian music. So, when he took to stage with his band Kailasa, at the Sacred Amritsar festival’s grand finale act at historic Qila Gobindgarh, the energy was palpable. “Performing in Amritsar is like a pilgrimage. This is a city that stands out for its spiritual energy. I felt that the audience was just a ‘reflection of god’,” he said post his performance. It has been 20 years since Kher started Kailasa. An entire generation has grown up listening to the Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna have shared glimpses of their prewedding festivities ahead of their marriage on February 26. In a series of Instagram Stories, the actors shared moments that beautifully balance elegance with easy-going joy.