14042026-LSTC-01.qxd 4/14/2026 12:43 AM Page 1 c m y b ‘NOTHING SHORT OF MAGICAL’ Anupam Kher marked a powerful return to theatre as his latest play Jaane Pehchaane Anjaane premiered to a packed audience at the NCPA Tata Theatre, earning a standing ovation on opening night. Calling the debut “nothing short of magical,” Kher shared his post-show emotions on Instagram. WHAT’S HOT Talking point Life Tamannaah Bhatia recently shared her perspective on the evolving opportunities and acceptance for female actors in the film industry, noting how significantly it has grown in recent years. CHANDIGARH | TUESDAY | 14 APRIL 2026 The making of Matka King mohali Vijay Varma talks about his latest character Brij Bhatti in Matka King F read BOOK FEST K ITABLovers brings the New Book Carnival to Mohali. From 16 April to 26 , visit Mohali Walk, Sector 62 and explore an exciting collection of books at unbelievable prices. Enjoy up to 80 per cent off on all genres, including romance, crime, fiction, novels, self-help, motivation, and kids’ books. play HARPRIYA LIVE G ET ready for an evening full of laughter with Harpriya’s Happy Hour – A Trial Show! Happening on April 19 at The Laugh Club, Chandigarh, this comedy experience promises a refreshing mix of humour in Hindi and English. The show runs for 1 hour 15 minutes and is open to audiences aged 16 and above. Join Harpriya as she brings witty observations and relatable moments to life on stage. Tickets start at Rs 699. chandigarh TRIBUNE love ROM making it to Cannes with Monsoon Shootout to taking a rickshaw to the private terminal only to share a charter plane with Amitabh Bachchan, actor Vijay Varma says his career has been a series of surprising extremes with long idle spells in between that only ended when Gully Boy finally threw open all the doors. Much like his character Brij Bhatti from the upcoming series Matka King, a man who rides the highs and lows of fortune, Varma said his own journey in showbiz has been anything but a straight line. “The first festival that I went to was Cannes with my film Monsoon Shootout, before anything had been released. I could not have done a bigger dhamaka (blast) than this, but after this, I was sitting idle for many years. So, that was also a good surprise,” the actor, a Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) graduate who came to Mumbai in early 2000s, he said in an interview. For his 2016 film Pink, in which he played a negative role, Varma travelled to Delhi in a private charter with co-star Amitabh Bachchan for a special screening with then-President Pranab Mukherjee, he recalled. “I remember I took a rickshaw from home to the private terminal. Then I took a private charter (flight) with Mr Bachchan and went there. After finishing that, I came back from the jet, took a rickshaw and came back home. It was a lovely journey,” he said. After Pink, Varma went on to appear in a couple of films — Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Raag Desh, Nandita Das’s Manto, and Telugu title Middle Class Abbayi, co-starring Nani and Sai Pallavi. “(But) then again there was a lull until Gully Boy happened in my life, which was a significant moment. The door suddenly started opening for me,” he added. Gully Boy, Zoya Akhtar’s 2019 musical drama starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, turned out to be a gamechanger for Varma, who earned praise from the critics for his portrayal of Moeen Arif, a street thug who is a close friend of Singh’s budding rapper Murad. “First time I heard paps call out my name, my character’s name, that’s when I felt what a successful film does to you. It does not make the career of just one person but everyone’s career. Both me and Siddhant Chaturvedi benefited so much from Gully Boy. So, that was a surprise. Since then, I’ve been presenting three or four projects a year,” Varma said. Since Gully Boy, Varma has not looked back, delivering a string of varied performances — a supporting turn in Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy, a dual role in Mirzapur, an alcoholic and abusive husband opposite Bhatt in Darlings, a smart and charming cop in Jaane Jaan, a serial killer in Dahaad, a pilot of a hijacked plane in IC 814, and a romantic lead in Gustaakh Ishq. — PTI Scarlett on being judged FESTIVE CHEER C Swara Bhasker on her comeback P67 Mall turned into a vibrant celebration space as students from Annie’s Kindergarten visited to experience the festive spirit of Baisakhi. The young learners were welcomed into a thoughtfully curated Baisakhi setup that captured the essence of Punjab’s rich cultural heritage. The initiative aimed to introduce them to the true spirit of Baisakhi. Subhash K Jha mohali Swara Bhasker, who started her acting career with a brief role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish, has constantly been a non-conformist. In her choice of roles, choice of commitments in real life, she has done exactly what she wanted to. Now, on an extended maternity leave Swara speaks on her priorities in life. Your life as a wife and mother, is it what you expected it to be? To be honest I didn’t know what to expect. It’s been a whirlwind and probably the most transformative experience of my life. I’ve never known such joy, such peace but also I’ve never experienced such varying swings of emotional states. It’s A complete package of warmth, memories and togetherness is what defines the festival for these television stars The spirit of Baisakhi KARAN KUNDRRA “For me, Baisakhi brings back memories of growing up in Punjab, being around family, eating good food, and enjoying music together. It symbolises the spirit of renewal; it is a time to seize opportunities and celebrate the rewards of hard work. Celebrating Baisakhi on the sets of Laughter Chefs this year was a lot of fun. The dholak kicked things off, and Punjabi boliyan was all about roasting each other. The kitchen brought its signature culinary chaos with all of us trying to shape gur pare like kites. JASMEET KAUR “Coming from a Punjabi family, there’s no such thing as a low-key celebration, it’s all heart and all energy. This Baisakhi feels even more special because I’ll be bringing it in with everyone on set, and since we’re shooting in Chandigarh, it still feels like I’m close to home in the best way. Shooting for Tu Juliet Jatt Di during this time feels like an extension of that same world, a little dramatic but full of love at its core. Wishing everyone warmth, togetherness, and a season of new beginnings. NEHA RANA “Baisakhi brings a sense of a new beginning. It’s a time filled with positivity and togetherness. For me, it’s always been about keeping things simple and holding on to gratitude and kindness. I take some time out to visit the gurdwara and connect with my family on video calls. Celebrating this festival on the sets of Mahadev and Sons this year made it even more special, as the show revolves around new beginnings, family and love. c m y b exhausting but the thing I’ve grappled with the most is an identity crisis. I’ve always considered myself a career woman and after I had my daughter, I just didn’t want to leave her and my career ambitions just disappeared. And I could hardly recognise myself! Of course, that was early motherhood and now Raabu is 2.5 years old and I’m coming out of the Mommy trenches slowly. I know it’s a cliché but it’s so true that a child gives birth to a mother! I’ve seen that happen to me. You have been away from the screen for almost three years, are you restless to get back? I do want to get back to work but selectively. Last year, I had my first foray onto prime time TV with Pati Patni Aur Panga on Colours. DAVIDOFF ROPES IN AHAAN PANDAY Davidoff Parfums announced Ahaan Panday as its brand ambassador for India, marking a milestone in the brand’s journey in one of its most dynamic markets. Ahaan said, “Cool Water was probably the first perfume I ever tried, to now be named Davidoff’s first Brand Ambassador for India feels incredibly special, and a little surreal.” Scarlett Johansson has opened up about the challenges she faced as a young actor in the early 2000s. In a recent interview, the Oscarnominated actor reflected on how it was ‘socially acceptable’ at the time for actresses to be ‘pulled apart for how they looked’, adding that opportunities for women were significantly limited compared to today. "It was tough. There was a lot placed on how women looked," Johansson explained.