22102025-LSTC-01.qxd 10/21/2025 7:46 PM Page 1 c m y b RANI SALUTES THE POLICE Rani Mukerji is all set to don the police officer’s uniform once again with Yash Raj Films’ Mardaani 3. The actress will reprise her iconic role as the fearless cop Shivani Shivaji Roy. Rani has extended her heartfelt salute to the Indian Police Force on the occasion of Indian Police Day 2025. TRIBUNE Couple entry Life CHAT UP ORANGES ARE THE NEW LADDOOS Bollywood’s beloved couple, Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna, may have been miles away from Mumbai this Diwali, but their festive charm — and signature humour — were in full bloom in London. Twinkle took to Instagram to share glimpses of their cozy celebration. Twinkle captioned the post: “Diwali in London. All dressed up with no mithai in sight. So behaving like oranges are the new laddoos and sharing some Vitamin C loaded sweetness.” DDLJ @ 30 The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures held its annual Academy Museum Gala. Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco made their public debut as a married couple. LUDHIANA | WEDNESDAY | 22 OCTOBER 2025 30 years, one train, endless love: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge still leaves us Palat-ing for more Ravneet Kaur GLOWING A LITTLE BRIGHTER Actor Sonam Kapoor’s Diwali celebration this year was all about love, light and togetherness. She took to Instagram to share a delightful video capturing candid moments with her husband, businessman Anand Ahuja, and their adorable son, Vayu. The video featured glimpses of their Lakshmi Puja. Sonam looked resplendent in a traditional outfit paired with statement jewellery, while Anand and little Vayu twinned adorably in off-white kurtas. Captioning the post, Sonam wrote, “Our hearts (and home) are glowing a little brighter this Diwali. From our little family to yours — wishing you love, laughter & light.” F rom mustard fields to moving trains, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge didn’t just give us a love story — it gave us a cinematic language of romance that still echoes three decades later. The love that never left the train Thirty years ago, on October 20, 1995, a boy with dimples and a girl with dreams met on a Eurail trip — and Hindi cinema changed forever. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), directed by a debutant Aditya Chopra and produced by the legendary Yash Chopra, became more than just a film; it became an emotion, a ritual, a generational touchstone. Three decades later, Raj and Simran continue to live in our collective hearts — their laughter, rebellion and that final leap of faith onto a moving train symbolising everything we’ve ever wanted from love: passion, courage and a little bit of destiny. ‘It doesn’t feel like 30 years’ — SRK TIMELESS ELEGANCE REVIVED Ananya Panday’s Diwali look this year struck the perfect balance between nostalgia and elegance. She chose to wear her mother Bhavana Panday’s vintage Rohit Bal salwar suit — designed over two decades ago by the late fashion icon. Taking to Instagram, Ananya shared her festive pictures. She wrote, “Vintage Gudda, Rohit Bal. From my mom’s closet 20+ years ago.” The fuchsia outfit featured a halter-neck kurta with silver embroidery and a matching churidar. Shah Rukh Khan recently reflected on the timeless journey of DDLJ. “It doesn’t feel like it’s been 30 years,” he said. “Nobody could have foreseen the kind of place this film made in people’s hearts.” SRK shared how fans still tell him stories of falling in love — or even tying the knot — because of DDLJ. “It’s had such a happy effect on pop culture,” he mused. “There’s something pure about it. Maybe it’s the innocence, maybe it’s the heart of the team that made it.” He credited the enduring charm of the film to the clarity of Aditya Chopra’s vision and the blessings of Yash Chopra. “There was sincerity in every frame,” SRK added. “It wasn’t just about romance. It was about values, family and love that feels right.” Kajol on Simran: Every girl’s reflection Kajol, forever etched in memory as the freespirited Simran, echoed her co-star’s sentiment. “Simran represents millions of Indian girls — torn between dreams and duty,” she said. On Instagram, she marked the 30-year milestone with a heartfelt note: “DDLJ completes 30 years today. The way it’s spread across the world and through everybody’s hearts can’t be counted. Thank you all for loving it in this phenomenal way!” And in true Kajol fashion, she followed it with a playful joke — “Slide to see how far it really has gone.” Fans flooded her comments with love, declaring DDLJ “a film that defines an era” and “a memory that never fades”. The scenes that shaped cinema Some films entertain; a few inspire — but DDLJ defined the vocabulary of Hindi romance. “Palat… Palat… Palat” wasn’t just a line; it became a test of love. “Bade bade shehron mein aisi chhoti chhoti baatein hoti rehti hai, Senorita” — a flirt disguised as philosophy. And then, the immortal blessing: “Jaa Simran, jaa jee le apni zindagi”, which turned a father’s goodbye into a nation’s anthem for liberation. Every mustard field since 1995 has carried a little bit of Raj and Simran. Every train departure still feels like the start — or end — of a love story. The soundtrack of forever The music of DDLJ, composed by Jatin-Lalit and penned by Anand Bakshi, was more than melody — it was mood. “Tujhe Dekha Toh” — Love bloomed in mustard fields and the world stood still. Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna — The wedding anthem that still plays at every shaadi. Mere Khwabon Mein — A girl’s dreams painted in melody and monsoon light. Ruk Ja O Dil Deewane — Flirtation on a foreign dance floor. Ho Gaya Hai Tujhko Toh Pyaar Sajna — That tender confession between two souls who just know. These songs didn’t just top charts — they became emotional souvenirs for generations who grew up believing in “forever”. The train that keeps coming back That final train sequence — Simran running, Raj’s hand outstretched, Amrish Puri’s voice thundering “Jaa Simran jaa…” — has been recreated, reimagined and revered across Indian cinema. From Jab We Met’s serendipitous meetings to Chennai Express’ self-aware homage and even Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan’s bold reinterpretation in a same-sex love story — filmmakers have returned to that image time and again. Because that train isn’t just a prop; it’s a metaphor for love that risks, reaches out and refuses to let go. The legacy rolls on For 30 years, DDLJ has been more than a film — it’s been a mirror reflecting the changing face of Indian romance. The 16-year-olds who once dreamt of love watching Raj and Simran are now parents introducing it to their children. As Kajol said, “It’s become the template of how Indian cinema dreams of love.” And perhaps that’s the magic — DDLJ didn’t just teach us how to fall in love. It taught us how to wait, how to hope and how to run for it — even if it means catching a moving train. Three decades on, the mustard fields still bloom, the train still whistles and love — in all its filmi glory — still finds a way. ‘He gave us reasons to laugh’ How charming! Diljit Dosanjh, Sanya light up screen in new song, Charmer Bollywood fans are in for a treat this festive season as Diljit Dosanjh and Sanya Malhotra have come together for their latest music video, Charmer, which was released on the occasion of Diwali. The video, dropped just before the festival, has already caught attention for its stylish visuals and lively energy. Diljit took to his Instagram account on Monday to share the announcement along with a caption that read, “Charmer official video out now on Youtube – Happy Diwali Folks/ Aura — The Sexiest Album of the Year.” From the very first frame, Charmer grabs attention with its upbeat rhythm and eye-catching chemistry between Diljit and Sanya. From their playful banter to Sanya’s excellent dance moves, the video has managed to keep fans hooked. — ANI Several celebrities, including Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Shabana Azmi and Kangana Ranaut, mourned the demise of veteran actor and comedian Asrani, calling his death an “absolute loss to film industry”. The actor, one of the industry’s most respected character artist who mesmerised audiences with his performances in movies such as Sholay, Choti Si Baat and Abhimaan, passed away on Monday afternoon at the age of 84. Akshay, who featured alongside Asrani in several films such as Garam Masala, Hera Pheri, Bhagam Bhag and De Dana Dan, shared a picture with the cinema icon on his X handle, recalling their recent shoot for the upcoming film Haiwaan. c m y b INSTAGRAM @AKSHAYKUMAR Akshay, Ajay, Kajol mourn veteran actor Asrani’s death; remember his great comic timing “Speechless with grief at the passing of Asrani ji. We had just shared the warmest of hugs just a week back at the shoot of Haiwaan. Bahot pyare insaan the (he was a lovely person)…he had the most legendary comic timing,” he wrote. Ajay Devgn said it was an honour to share the screen with him in films such as Bol Bachchan and All the Best. “Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Asrani ji. From admiring his work growing up to sharing screen space with him... it was a true honour. Always full of warmth, humour and humility. You will always be remembered sir ... Om Speechless with grief. We had shared the warmest of hugs just a week back at the shoot of Haiwaan. Shanti,” he said. Shabana, “Asrani sir was our diction teacher at the Film Institute and the way he spoke was very beautiful. Nobody in this time even knows that diction is also a thing and I am very very sorry to hear this. It is a loss that the whole of India will bear for a long time,” she said. BORN TO PLAY JAILOR Sholay director Ramesh Sippy said, “He did a lot of work but this (his role in Sholay), stands out. I will long long remember him. It’s a role he was born to play. But saying all this on a day like this doesn’t feel good. It feels maybe that’s the best way to remember him.”