25062025-LSTC-01.qxd 6/25/2025 12:26 AM Page 1 c m y b HOODA FLAUNTS NEW LOOK Randeep Hooda has once again set the internet abuzz with a new look he dropped on his social media today. Sporting a partially bald head and an intense expression, the actor posted a selfie with the caption: “What’s the tea for this Tuesday? Coffee isn’t the only thing that’s brewing!” TRIBUNE Cryptic post Life Amid a storm surrounding his collaboration with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh posted a cryptic messaget. It read, “Censored before release?” CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 25 JUNE 2025 As Beyoncé grabs eyeballs in a Manish Malhotra outfit in Paris, here’s a close look at the designer, who once dreamt of dressing stars… AananditaGuptaa S OME artists create with colour. Others with words. But Manish Malhotra creates with emotion. From the delicate drape of a saree to the sweeping arc of a film narrative, he’s a man who pours his heart into every thread, every frame. This year, his journey transcended the runway—touching red carpets at Cannes, dazzling at the Met Gala and stepping into the world of filmmaking. But at the core of it all remains a quiet boy who once dreamt of dressing stars—and now dreams of directing them. A Cannes to remember This year, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan didn’t just walk the Cannes red carpet—she owned it. Making her 22nd appearance, she turned heads in a custom Manish Malhotra Banarasi saree reimagined as a couture gown, complete with a dramatic sheer train. The ivory and gold ensemble, dripping in embroidery, was paired with a jaw-dropping 500-carat ruby and diamond necklace from Manish Malhotra Jewellery. It wasn’t just fashion. It was fire. “We both said ‘saree’ in the same breath. It had to be rooted in India. It had to be emotional.” But what touched him most was Aishwarya’s words: “Whenever I wear a saree at Tom Cruise meets his Interview with the Vampire co-star Brad Pitt Jab they met! Manish & his muse DESIGNS ON BEYONCÉ Singer Beyoncé’s performance during the Cowboy Carter Tour in Paris caught the eyeballs of Indian fans, but this time it was not because of her songs. The outfit that was worn by the Deja Vu hitmaker at the gig garnered more attention, courtesy of the ace designer Manish Malhotra. Beyonce hit the stage, donning a custom creation by MM, with her husband Jay Z while singing the iconic Crazy In Love. She wore a black bodysuit, embellished with 10,000 Swarovski crystals. Several images and videos of Beyonce in a Manish Malhotra outfit have been shared on the designer’s Instagram handle. “It was bold, wild and yet deeply intimate,” Manish reflects. “To see her move in something you dreamt up… it was surreal. Like watching your heartbeat come alive on stage.” Cannes, it has to be with you.” “That meant everything,” he says, eyes brimming. “It wasn’t just fashion. It was a memory, a moment—ours.” The man behind the magic Manish made his own What do you do when you can’t speak freely? If you’re a poet, you speak in riddles. If you’re a singer, you let your voice carry things you dare not say aloud. And, if you’re living through one of the most politically stifling periods in Indian history — the Emergency (1975–77) — then art becomes more than just entertainment. It becomes resistance. Between midnight arrests and newspaper blackouts, music quietly held its ground. It hummed in the background like an anxious heartbeat. It couldn’t shout — but it could still speak. Let’s rewind the tape and listen closely. AAMIR KHAN CALLED ON PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU AT RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN picture of the Lagaan actor along with President Murmu. Along with the picture, the post reads, “Acclaimed filmmaker and actor Aamir Khan called on President While the world knows him as fashion’s favourite name, Manish always wanted to be a filmmaker. “Watching Yash Johar ji and Raj Kapoor ji’s films as a child made the ordinary feel magical. I wanted to be part of that magic.” And now, he is. With Stage5 Production, Manish embarks on what he calls the fifth phase of his life—after costumes, couture, beauty and jewellery. This time, he’s not just designing clothes. He’s crafting cinema, gathering the best writers, creators, and dreamers to tell stories that linger. “I want to make films that entertain, yes—but also touch something within you. That’s what stories are for.” Whispers of what’s next he served regal, refined and revolutionary. Every detail—every silhouette, sparkle, and stitch—was pure storytelling. Inspired by icons Even icons have idols. For There’s much brewing— more couture, more collaborations, more cinema. But Manish smiles gently, “We’re working with so much passion right now. It’s all about creating from the heart.” One can only imagine what he’ll dream up next—but if his past is any indicator, it will be bold, beautiful and brimming with soul. Aandhi Kishore Kumar Yathesht Pratiraj Phool The poet who whispered loud Bollywood actor Aamir Khan called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday. The president’s social media handle shared a The fifth dream When silence sang On the 50th anniversary of Emergency, here’s a look at songs and verses that capture the spirit of the darkest era in Indian history Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt reunited at the premiere of the film, F1, in London. Starring Pitt in the lead role, the film is directed by Joseph Kosinski and is slated to hit the big screen on June 27. It was screened at London’s Leicester Square on Monday. The post was shared by the film’s official handle on Instagram on Tuesday. It comprised a series of pictures featuring Cruise, Pitt and Kosinski. “Sonny Hayes. Maverick. The stars of Top Gun: Maverick and #F1TheMovie, both directed by Joseph Kosinski, meet at the European Premiere! #F1 #Formula1,” read the caption. Cruise and Pitt have previously collaborated on the 1994 film Interview with the Vampire. In a recent interview, Pitt was asked about a possible collaboration with Cruise. Pitt quipped, “When he does something again that’s on the ground,” —PTI unforgettable debuts this year at the prestigious Cannes and Met Gala 2025. Dressed in a navy velvet trench, paired with a tailored waistcoat, trousers and adorned with diamond brooches and falcon pins— Manish, it’s always been Srideviji and Rekhaji. “They carried their style with such grace, such individuality. Just watching them was a masterclass in elegance.” Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.” Meanwhile, on the work front, Aamir’s Sitaare Zameen Par has been released in theatres on June 20. — ANI c m y b There’s something about Gulzar’s writing that feels like looking at a foggy mirror — you know there’s something behind it, but you need to lean in to really see. That’s exactly what made his work so quietly defiant during the Emergency. Take the film Aandhi (1975). On the surface, it was a love story. But scratch just beneath and you’d find echoes of then–Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the character of Aarti Devi. The film was banned mid-run — officially for being ‘too political’. Gulzar Voice they failed to silence A slogan reborn Now picture this: the country is tense, radios are tightly regulated and someone suggests Kishore Kumar perform at a government rally. He says no. Just... no. That one-word rebellion had consequences. Kishore’s songs were blacklisted on AllIndia Radio and Doordarshan for months. But let’s be honest — did it actually stop people from humming his tunes? He didn’t sing protest anthems. He didn’t have to. Listen to Zindagi ka safar... or Kuch to log kahenge... his voice carried something more potent than slogans: it carried emotional truth. He sounded like how people felt. Confused. Restless. Longing for something they couldn’t name. And that emotional honesty was, in a strange way, more dangerous than any fiery speech. Fast-forward to 2024, the film Emergency, centred on Indira Gandhi’s decision to impose the Emergency, resurrected the powerful and iconic slogan “Singhasan khali karo, ke Janata aati hai!” (Vacate the throne — the people are coming!). Originally penned by poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar in his poem Janatantra Ka Janm, during the early years of India’s democracy, this line became a rallying cry against authoritarianism, famously invoked by leader Jayaprakash Narayan during his call for a total revolution against the Emergency regime. The film’s title song doesn’t just pay homage to this historic defiance — with pounding drums, sharp lyrics and a theatrical fervour, it reignites that spirit of resistance for a generation that didn’t live through those turbulent times but still feels their enduring echoes. Why it still hits home So, why does this matter to young listeners today? Because history doesn’t just live in textbooks. It lives in what we hum under our breath. It lives in Gulzar’s metaphors, in Kishore’s tremble, in the theatrical rage of Singhasan khali karo. These aren’t just songs — they’re time capsules. They remember when people were afraid to speak — and found a way anyway. So, next time a Gulzar line gives you goosebumps or a Kishore tune makes your throat tighten a little, pause. Ask yourself — what were they really saying? Because sometimes, the loudest truths are the ones whispered in tune.