28062026-LSTL-01.qxd 6/27/2026 9:57 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Life The teaser of The India Story: Slow Poison in Progress, starring Kajal Aggarwal and Shreyas Talpade, highlights the alarming issue of pesticide farming and its health impacts. Dual role Actor Emma Roberts is set to feature in a special appearance in the series adaptation of Aquamarine. Roberts will also serve as an executive producer on the project. LUDHIANA | SUNDAY | 28 JUNE 2026 How six artistes transformed country’s soundtrack and dance culture WHAT’S HOT eat Meet the stars of India’s PARTY MUSIC T HEREare songs that top charts, and then there are songs that define a generation. Between 2010 and 2020, India’s music landscape underwent a cultural reset. Weddings became concerts, college festivals became dance battles and every party came with a signature hook step everyone knew. At the heart of this transformation were six trailblazers, who didn’t just create chartbusters; they reshaped how India experienced music. HONEY SINGH’S DEFINING ERA: When Honey Singh’s International Villager arrived in 2011, it didn’t just launch an album — it ignited a movement. Brown Rang became one of India’s most-viewed YouTube video in 2012, introducing audiences to a bold new sound that fused Punjabi music, rap and global production. Hits like Angreji Beat, Dope Shope, Goliyan, Chaar Botal Vodka and Desi Kalakaar followed, while blockbuster Bollywood collaboration. H ‘Circuit was inspired by Lord Hanuman’ Clockwise from top: Sunanda Sharma, Lauren Gottlieb, Guru Randhawa, Badshah & Honey Singh BADSHAH’S CROSSOVER SOUND: If Punjabi pop needed a bridge between underground rap and mainstream entertainment, Badshah built it. Tracks like DJ Waley Babu, Kar Gayi Chull, Mercy, Paagal and Genda Phool seamlessly blended Punjabi influences with pop and hip-hop. may have closed cricket chapter, but it opened another. Hardy Sandhu’s breakthrough withSochin 2013 revealed a vocalist capable of balancing emotion with mass appeal. He followed it with hits including Hornn Blow, Backbone, Kya Baat Ay and Naah. GURU RANDHAWA’S PARTY PLAYLIST: Few artistes have delivered chart-toppers as consistently as Guru Randhawa. With songs like Patola, Lahore, High Rated Gabru, Made in India and Suit Suit, he created the soundtrack of celebrations. LAUREN GOTTLIEB’S DANCE REVOLUTION: As India’s music videos became increasingly dance-driven, Lauren Gottlieb emerged as one of their defining performers. After gaining international recognition through So You Think You Can Dance, she made an Indian debut with ABCD. Sunanda Sharma’s hit run Sunanda Sharma brought an infectious energy to Punjabi pop that resonated across generations. Songs such as Jaani Tera Naa, Tere Naal Nachna, Mummy Nu Pasand and Jogi combined playful lyricism with irresistible rhythms. CHAT UP As the days count down to the release of Alpha, actor Alia Bhatt has unveiled fresh stills from the upcoming action thriller, giving fans another glimpse of her fierce on-screen avatar. “7 days to go. #Alpha releasing in cinemas from July 3,” the Raazi actor posted. AKSHAY-SAIF REUNITE IN HAIWAAN Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan will reunite on screen after 18 years in Haiwaan, set for worldwide theatrical release on September 11, 2026. Directed by Priyadarshan, the suspense thriller also stars Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher. Billed as a high-stakes drama and a Malayalam remake of Oppam, the film marks a major comeback collaboration for the duo. KYLIE IN CHEF TROUBLE Kylie Jenner is facing a third workplacerelated lawsuit after a former private chef alleged that an “intense” workload during her high-risk pregnancy led to a miscarriage. It follows two earlier lawsuits filed by former housekeepers against Jenner, Tri Star Services and Maison Family Services. Neither lawsuit accuses Jenner personally of discrimination. NATTI NATASHA’S APPEAL FOR VENEZUELA Dominican singer Natti Natasha has urged global support for Venezuela after devastating earthquakes, calling for donations through a GoFundMe campaign linked to the I Love Venezuela Foundation. She appealed for unity and humanitarian aid as rescue efforts continue and international assistance increases. Rajkumar Hirani collaborates with Arshad Warsi again in Pritam and Pedro Hirani made his directorial debut with Munnabhai MBBS (2003), followed by Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006), where Sanjay Dutt played Munna, an affable goon with a big heart, while Arshad Warsi portrayed his loyal companion Circuit. “We thought of Circuit like Hanuman and Munna like Ram,” Hirani said. Hirani also spoke about his upcoming OTT project Pritam and Pedro, marking a reunion with Arshad Warsi. FROM INJURY TO ICON: HARDY SANDHU: A career-ending injury ALIA GOES ALPHA Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani has opened up about the enduring popularity of his Munnabhai franchise, saying the emotional bond between Munna and Circuit remains its core strength. He adds that the third installment will happen once a strong idea is locked. Mahaakshay’s Haunted... wins Mahaakshay Chakraborty is finally enjoying a moment of vindication as his latest film Haunted Echoes of the Past emerges as a box office success. After years of waiting for the right break, the actor says the response has left him deeply grateful and emotionally fulfilled. “I’m just so grateful that the film has seen the light of day and people are liking it — the songs, the performance, the connection. My heart is content,” he says. Despite being the son of veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty, Mahaakshay says his journey has been shaped more by personal choice than legacy. “It’s everybody’s own destiny and fate. I chose this profession and accepted everything that comes with it — the struggle, the failures, and now the success.” c m y b DIM SUM & SIP ANDCRAFTED dim sums paired with signature cocktails in a lively setting — XO at JW Marriott is serving up an evening that is equal parts indulgent and convivial. The Dim Sum and Sip experience promises a relaxed, flavour-forward few hours in one of the city’s most elegant dining addresses. From June 27 to 30’ 2026. chandigarh WATCH FOR INDIA STORY C play MASK UP HERIYAL art, a 400-year-old storytelling tradition from Telangana, comes to Chandigarh in the form of a hands-on mask painting workshop. Participants get to create their own colourful Cheriyal mask guided step by step. Cafe Coffee Day, Sector 16, Chandigarh. From June 27 till 8 July’ 2026.