30052025-LSTC-01.qxd 5/29/2025 8:43 PM Page 1 c m y b RETURN OF ECHO London’s Royal Court Theatre has assembled a powerhouse lineup for the return of Nassim Soleimanpour’s critically acclaimed production ECHO. Actors Daniel Kaluuya, James Corden and Dominic West will lead a cast who will take on the unique challenge of performing without ever seeing the script beforehand. TRIBUNE Nothing to like Life PHOTOS: PTI Anurag Basu says Konkona started crying while missing Irrfan Khan during Metro...In Dino shoots PANKAJ TRIPATHI & KONKONA Remembering Irrfan Director Anurag Basu said he missed late actor Irrfan Khan and shared how actress Konkana Sen Sharma cried while filming Metro...In Dino as she missed her co-star and friend Irrfan Khan. At the Zamaana Lage song of Metro..In Dino launch event, Anurag Basu was joined by the cast of Life In a Metro sequel, which also starred Irrfan Khan in the lead role. In the first instalment, Konkana Sen was paired with Irrfan Khan, the Aditya couple which finally gets a happy end& Sara ing in the movie. From the original cast, Konkana is the only actor who is returning in its sequel. While remembering the late actor, Anurag shared Anupam that Konkana Sharma & Neena started crying during the shoot of a scene in the movie hyperlinked cinema. (Metro...In Dino) as Backed by producer the tone of it was a Bhushan Kumar, the ‘little similar’ to a film introduces a world scene from the first of modern love and relainstalment. tionships. He also rememThe song Zamaana bered singer KK at the Lage is composed by Prievent as the singer sang tam and brings back the two of the most famous creative collaboration tracks from the prequel’s between him and Fatima & Ali album—Alvida and O Meri Jaan. director Basu, “We were shooting a scene, and the known for crafting tone for it was a little similar to a memorable musiscene from the first film. Suddenly, cal narratives. Konkona started crying, and even The sequel fearight now, I am worried that the tures an impressame will happen if someone asks a sive cast which question about him. We miss him; we includes Anupam miss KK very much, and there are many Kher, Pankaj Tripathi, others who are missing now, with whom we Konkona Sen Sharma, collaborated earlier,” said Anurag Basu at the Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Metro In Dino promotional event in Mumbai. Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ali Fazal, Neena Gupta After Life in a... Metro and Ludo, Metro...In and Saswata Chatterjee. The film is set to Dino is the final chapter of Basu’s trilogy of release on July 4. — ANI Tamannaah Bhatia took to Instagram to post about how the social media platform apparently ‘likes’ pages ‘on its own’. “Can Instagram pls figure out how it likes pages on its own,” she wrote. LUDHIANA | FRIDAY | 30 MAY 2025 Jawan to Renegade Mona As Renegade (We Never Run), which is part of the Arcane League of Legends Season 2 soundtrack, won Favourite Soundtrack: Dance/Electronic Award at American Music Awards, rapper-singer-songwriter Raja Kumari lit a deepak in her puja room, her head bowed in gratitude. She happens to be the first Indian origin artiste to have this distinction, and needless to say she is on cloud nine! “Representing India on a world stage was a great honour. I feel it’s my job to change people’s perception of India and Indians,” says Raja, who earlier grabbed the spotlight when she performed at Coachella with Ali Sethi and opened the Wireless Festival. Born in America as Svetha Yallapragada Rao, Raja has kept herself close to her Indian roots. In a free-wheeling interview, she talks about her religious and spiritual side and her culturally enriched life. But before that, the song in focus—Renegade. “There’s a passage in the Bhagavad Gita that says ‘don’t be attached to the fruits of your labour, just do your job’. You don’t start something thinking ‘I am going to win an American Music Award’. You just say, ‘ Let me do my job and make the coolest thing possible’. Writing the song was no expectation. I just did my job,” she avers. For this project, Raja was asked to do a powerful song, aggressive yet one that captured the essence of India. She took on the challenge, blended genres, and came up with a song that bore her signature style. When Arcane streamed on Netflix, it became one among the Top 10 shows globally. And, the song went viral. For the City Slums hitmaker, music came late in life. Before she took up singing, she was a classical dancer. Coming from a fam- Raja Kumari, who became popular after singing the title song of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Jawan, becomes the first Indian-origin singer to win at American Music Awards for her song Renegade SURREAL EXPERIENCE Meeting AR Rahman was a goal that Raja Kumari had set for herself. One fine day, she asked a white man associated with the art scene if he knew Rahman. He responded, “Actually, I do know someone who works with him — Storyteller fame Raghav”. On the same day she not only met Raghav but also Rahman in his Los Angeles home. “I took my shoes off outside the house. I knew once I walked through the door, my life would change. And it did! Now, when we are recording and he says something like ‘Raja is the best songwriter around’, I pinch myself!” KUMARI ‘KAUR’ I have an alter ego named Kumari Kaur. Honey Singh had once said, “My new favourite rapper is Raja Kumari. But she doesn’t sing in Hindi or Punjabi, so there’s no way for her to connect with the people who love her.” It resonated with me deeply. Next, you’re going to hear me in regional languages. I am ready for Kumari Kaur to figure out who she is. Also, Punjabi boys are so cute —maybe that will help me find a tall Punjabi munda…” Many musicians and artistes create a persona. Raja Kumari was created in America as a warrior goddess rooted in her culture. That’s who I have built! ily of doctors, she was all set to pursue PhD in religious studies, when a defer year dedicated to music changed it all. She was all set to take to the global stage when the pandemic hit. “Many of my ambitious projects got shelved. I was in my saadsati. The dark phase. That’s why this American Music Award feels like a divine reward for everything I went through,” she says. During that ‘dark phase’, what kept her buoyed was a Bollywood offer that came in form of the title song of Jawan. “I had established myself as a musician by the time Bollywood happened to me. Luckily, I was able to control the narrative from there. Bollywood can be a crazy space where nothing is guaranteed. But I feel I can’t be replaced in the space that I have created for myself.” With numbers like Allah Duhai Hai, The Wakhra Song, Jawan title track and Baby John-Beast Mode to her credit now, her claim has merit. In fact, Atlee calls her his lucky charm! Raja has collaborated with notable artistes, including Gwen Stefani, Iggy Azalea, Fifth Harmony and Sidhu Moosewala. She remembers Moosewala like an elder brother and a gentle giant. She is proud of her latest album, Kashi to Kailash. It has one devotional song in English and the rest are in Sanskrit. “I have different phases in life, and I live through them. Kashi to Kailash is a reflection of my true self,” she says. Chandigarh’s chole bhature scene is a treasure trove of flavours. Check out these joints that stand out for their own secret twists to this beloved North Indian staple YatheshtPratiraj Phool Craving that perfect bite of crispy bhature paired with spicy, tangy chole? If you’ve ever had that irresistible combo calling your name on a lazy Sunday morning or after a long day of work, you’re not alone. Chandigarh’s chole bhature scene is a treasure trove of flavours, each spot adding its own secret twist to this beloved North Indian staple. Whether you’re a local who swears by your neighbourhood joint or a visitor hoping to eat like the locals do, this guide has you covered. Paneer inside, joy outside Nagpal’s, Sector 34 You think you’ve had it all? Wait until you bite into the bhature at Nagpal’s. This Sector 34 gem has carved a niche by stuffing bhature with paneer. Yes, you heard that right. Imagine soft, goldenbrown bhature with a delicate paneer filling, paired with chole so rich and well-spiced that you might just forget everything else for a minute. Mahul Sharma, the man PHOTOS: PRADEEP TEWARI & VICKY CHECKPOINT Chole bhature behind Nagpal’s, says it best, “Our paneer chole bhature are what people come back for. It’s different and it’s something they love.” And love it they do—loyal patrons swear by it, not just for the novelty, but for the sheer comfort of that first bite. Family recipe, with love Monu Singla, Sector 45C Not every food story starts at 3.30 in the morning — but this one does. The Singla family begins their day in the wee hours, preparing everything themselves. No employees. Just the family. That’s rare these days and it shows in the food. Monu Singla puts it simply, “Our chole and bhature are made with love and that’s what makes them special.” They also take cleanli- ness seriously, which matters a lot more when the food is homemade and the setup is intimate. Regulars keep coming back not just for the taste, but because it feels like home. And sometimes, that’s exactly what a plate of chole bhature should feel like. Tradition that speaks Bhatura Junction, Sector 17C Walk into Bhatura Junction in Sector 17C and you’re not just BHATURA JUNCTION EXUDES THE OLD WORLD CHARM stepping into a shop — you’re stepping into the 1970s. That’s when they started and according to owner Raghubir Sharma, nothing’s changed since. “We’ve been serving the same recipe for decades. People still love it, so why mess with it?” he shares with a smile. And it’s true. Their bhature are fluffy yet crisp, the chole simmered to perfection and the accompanying pickles and chutney add just the right punch. It’s a spot where nostalgia gets served on a steel plate. c m y b Spice and comfort Khao Aur Khane Do, Sector 21 Khao Aur Khane Do’s chhole bhature have earned a devoted following in Chandigarh, and it’s easy to see why. The bhature are light, golden, and perfectly puffed, while the chhole are simmered to a rich, tangy perfection that strikes a balance between spice and comfort. Served with seasonal pickle, onion, and achaari green chili, each plate delivers a satisfying, soulful experience. What sets this eatery apart is its commitment to NAGPAL’S PANEER-STUFFED CHOLE BHATURE freshness and flavour, drawing crowds from early morning till late night. With extended hours from 8 am to 5 pm and 7 pm to 3 am, it’s a go-to spot for both early risers and night owls craving authentic North Indian street food. Yeh dil mange more Let’s be honest — sometimes you want your chole bhature with a side of air-conditioning, a menu thick with options and a setting where you can sit a while longer. That’s where the full-fledged restaurants come in. These places don’t just serve great chole bhature — they offer a complete dining experience, whether you’re grabbing a quick lunch or catching up with family over a full North Indian spread. Haldiram’s: The poster child of consistency. You know exactly what you’re getting and it’s always satisfying. From sweets to snacks and everything in between, it’s a safe bet when you’re hungry and indecisive. Gopal’s: A household name in Chandigarh, Gopal’s has that “been-going-theresince-school” kind of reputation. Their chole have a mellow richness that pairs perfectly with soft, hot bhature and their menu covers everything from South Indian to desserts. Sindhi Sweets: Some folks will swear this is the best chole bhature in town. The chole are cooked with a signature spice blend and the place has a loyal following that spans generations. But what really makes it shine? You can go from spicy chaat to rasmalai in one sitting. One last bite Chandigarh’s love affair with chole bhature isn’t just about food — it’s about memory, family, comfort and a bit of indulgence. Whether you’re nibbling at Nagpal’s paneerstuffed perfection, soaking in the old-school vibe at Bhatura Junction or savouring the simplicity of a meal made with love at Monu Singla’s, each plate tells a story. So next time that craving hits, you know where to go. And go hungry. You’ll need the room.