28022026-LSTL-01.qxd 2/27/2026 11:52 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE GAUAHAR KHAN’S TRIP TO MECCA Looking back Life Gauahar Khan has finally shared a glimpse of her second child, son Farwaan, whom she welcomed with her husband Zaid Darbar, in September last year. Nearly two decades after her tumultuous years under the Hollywood spotlight, Lindsay Lohan has reflected on the intense scrutiny she faced as a teenager and questioned why no one stepped in to protect her during that phase. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2026 Comedy meets fantasy ‘It’s gonna be an adventure’ &TV’s quirky supernatural comedy Gharwali Pedwali continues to add fresh layers of drama, emotion, and humour with the entry of the talented and versatile Sapna Thakur, who steps into the show as Reeta Pandey, a character that promises warmth, maturity, and an interesting new dynamic to the story. Known for her expressive performances and strong screen presence, her entry promises to deepen the emotional fabric of the show while balancing its supernatural chaos. Priyanka Chopra Jonas opened up about her return to the Indian cinema and was all praise for the director SS Rajamouli at her recent appearance in the talk show The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Friday. Sapna Thakur joins supernatural comedy Gharwali Pedwali as Reeta Pandey Sharing her excitement on joining the show, Sapna Thakur says, “I was instantly drawn to Gharwali Pedwali because of its unique concept and the way it blends humour with emotions. Reeta is a very grounded and graceful character; she is modern in her thinking but deeply values relationships and family bonds.” Priyanka Chopra shares excitement for upcoming film Varanasi From Payal Kapadia to Lakshmipriya Devi — The rise of fearless female voices in Indian cinema Make way for her Nonika Singh I N 2024, when Payal Kapadia became the first Indian woman to win the Grand Prix for her illuminating film All We Imagine As Light, Zico Maitra, one of its co-producers had gushed, “The future is female.” Today, as Lakshmipriya Devi does us proud with her emphatic and most well-deserved BAFTA win for her Manipuri film Boong, it’s clear Zico was not exaggerating. If back in time the presence of four Indian women, Payal and her cast of sterling actors like Kani Kasruti, on the most coveted stage of Cannes Film Festival turned into a picture to cherish forever, the one of Lakshmipriya flanked by three male producers, including Farhan Akhtar, makes for an equally iconic one. In 2025, when Songs of Forgotten Trees, backed by Anurag Kashyap and directed by Anuparna Roy, won the Best Director award in the Orizzonti section at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, Anuparna spoke about the need for women to tell women’s stories and how the ‘second sex’ should be vocal about their experiences. Right now, as Lakshmipriya walks into the hall of cinematic history, she does not stand out merely for her gender. Boong is not exactly a womancentric film. Sure enough, we see many shades of patriarchy surfacing in the film, especially the manner in which Boong’s mother, played by lovely Bala Hijam, is treated by society. But the story also written by Lakshmipriya touches more than one issue. Indeed, she made the film much before the state was engulfed in violence and its two communities, Meitei and Kuki, became drawn in protracted clashes. In that sense, the film is both a testament of what the state was and elegy for better times. Perhaps, when Lakshmipriya cast a Kuki boy Gugun Kipgen for the lead part of Meiti speaking Boong, she had no idea it would become a statement in itself. The film, however, is political too, hinting at insurgency, without meaning to be one. Unlike many award winning films, Boong is an easy watch, made all the more engaging, thanks to its humour and child actors. For their incredulous performances alone, Boong deserved to be in the BAFTA ‘Children’s and Family’ category. While Gugun as the titular character shines, his close REWIND PAYAL KAPADIA (L) Priyanka will be seen in the movie Varanasi directed by SS Rajamouli starring Mahesh Babu in the lead role. While talking to host Jimmy Fallon, Priyanka said, “I haven’t done an Indian movie in 6-7 years. I am now doing a movie called Varanasi and it is directed by SS Rajamouli who is one of India’s most amazing and talented directors. It’s gonna be an adventure, I am very excited about it. We have shot it in Imax format and we have been filming it for 14 months.” — ANI ANUPARNA ROY & RAMBLE WHAT’S HOT play amritsar R H ERE’S a treat for the adventure lovers! Solve a series of puzzles, crack clues, and uncover hidden objects – all while racing against the clock to escape. Participants can expect a perfect blend of fun and challenge, easy to start but tough to master. Mystery Rooms, Sector 35, Chandigarh invites the adventure enthusiasts. Tickets are available on District by Zomato. c m y b Boong had a limited successful run in cinema-halls. Hope the BAFTA win can bring it back to theatres or knowing our blockbuster-loving audiences, even better would be streaming platforms. And when it does stream, do watch the film, not merely to know how it clinched the honour at BAFTA, how it outranked big ones like Zootopia 2 and Disney film Lilo & Stitch but to understand the state and its people. The beautiful film brings us face-to-face with its incredible people whose heart beats for same emotional reasons as the rest of India. Perhaps, then you too will be compelled to join Lakshmipriya in praying for peace in the state. All we imagine as human and humane applies to Manipur; most unequivocally. love UNRAVEL THE MYSTERY chandigarh FLAVOURS OF INDIA ADISSON Blu, Amritsar has brought all the flavours of the nation at one table. The special Flavours of India festival at the Tavolo Mondo, the fine dining restaurant at the hotel offers a lavish, rich culinary spread comprising Mughlai, Awadhi, Punjabi and other regional cuisines. Open for dinner service from 7.30 pm to 11pm, the festival will continue till March 1. thing far deeper, nuanced and sublime. With remarkable felicity and restraint, she flips so many things upside down, not just unwarranted insideroutsider dichotomy but also the way she weaves in the futility of ban culture. Indeed, there is an unofficial ban on Hindi films in Manipur, yet in private we see the village head watching it with gusto. Of course, Manipur has its own distinct culture as well as cultural influences. Madonna and her songs in particular are a running thread, which manifest strongly yet unintrusively, nowhere hampering the storytelling flow. To a North-Indian eye, Boong is as much a revelation as a shameful realisation that we know so little about our own country. We learn that DIALOGUEWITHCONCRETE chandigarh eat Marwari friend Raju Agarwal, played by Angom Sanamatum, is no less endearing, especially in the scene where he boasts of his Marwari business sense and cuts a deal with an inn owner. His Marwari antecedents are not a coincidence but serve a purpose. When his father Sudhir Agarwal (Vikram Kochhar) talks about how his forefathers came to the state 100 years ago and it’s not fair to deem him an outsider, the writer-director in Lakshmipriya not only makes us pause but also ponder over similar biases many of us nurse with regard to people of her state and North-East in general. In this love letter to her homeland, Lakshmipriya makes us privy to Boong’s journey and some- C ITY Dialogues, part of The City Narratives #1, brings a public conversation to Chandigarh. This discussion will explore how modern architecture is lived, remembered and reimagined today through stories, lived experiences, and artistic and architectural practices. Speakers include architects, artists and researchers. This event is open to all and will take place on February 28 at 11:30 am, near the Underpass Sector 17, Chandigarh. Jim Carrey receives honorary award Actor Jim Carrey received the honorary award at the 51st edition of France’s Cesar Award ceremony on Thursday. At the ceremony, the actor delivered an emotional speech entirely in French. He was introduced on stage by Michel Gondry, who directed him in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in 2004. In his award acceptance speech, Carrey said, “As an actor, each character you play is like clay in the sculptor’s hands, which you shape to your heart’s desire. How fortunate I have been to share this art with so many people who have truly opened their hearts to me.” The actor attended the event with his daughter Jane, grandson Jackson and girlfriend Mina. “Thank you to my wonderful family, my daughter Jane, and my grandson Jackson. I love you now and forever. Thank you to my sublime companion, Mina. I love you, Mina. And finally, thank you to the funniest man I have ever known: my father. Percy Joseph Carrey who taught me the value of love, generosity, and laughter,” said Jim Carrey. At the end of his speech, he asked the audience, “So, how was my French? Almost mediocre, right? Forgive me, I didn’t speak French, but I’m just learning it. My tongue is tired.” — ANI