27102025-LSTC-01.qxd 10/27/2025 12:34 AM Page 1 c m y b LAKKADBAGGEY STREAMING Web show Lakkadbaggey is now streaming on KableOne. Directed by Param Riar and Hrishab Sharma, Lakkadbaggey exposes the disturbing world of paper leak scams. HOT amritsar WHAT’S Trailer out Life The makers of Rashmika Mandannastarrer The Girlfriend have finally released the trailer of the film. This upcoming Telugu film is written and directed by Rahul Ravindran. CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 27 OCTOBER 2025 ‘Two much’ fun NonikaSingh F eat IN HIGH SPIRITS L IKE golden hour in a glass? A fan of lazy winter afternoons enjoyed over a glass of Chandon with dash of fruity twist? Well, come November and Amritsar’s lounge scene offers you a steller, layered mix of cocktails that are increasingly becoming popular among the connoisseurs. From a heady Negroni to Aperol Spritz that allows you a European experience, to a customised Tiki Amritsar, a city inspired cocktail at The Bagh, Amritsar has some interesting winter mixes. Lord Elgin too is a place where one can find some innovative cocktails to warm up the winter brunch scene. play CELEBRATING CINEMA T dharamshala HE 14th edition of Dharamshala International Film Festival begins on October 30 at the picturesque Tibetan Children’s Village. This year’s opening night film is Homebound, which is India’s official entry to the 2026 Oscars. This year’s highlights include a conversation with celebrated filmmaker Kiran Rao and a masterclass with award-winning actor Adil Hussain. The son of legendary Russian director Andrey Tarkovsky, Andrey A Tarkovsky, will also be present to discuss the work and legacy of his father. The festival will conclude on November 2. love WATCH OUT FOR THIS! W ANT to pursue art work which can be much satisfying? Then Aangan Cafe, Jalandhar, is your go-to place. A resin clock making workshop is being organised by artiste Naina. The expert will guide the participants during the twohour session to be held on November 2 between 1 pm to 3 pm. Seal your acrylic art work with resin as you create a new wall clock to deck up your living space. jalandhar TRIBUNE ROM writers not getting enough credit to whether they should get credit for writing a talk show, our questions for writer Jessica Khurana are as many as the ones which jostle in her latest project — Two Much With Kajol and Twinkle. As one of the three co-writers of the show that is currently grabbing eyeballs, our very own Ludhiana di kudi takes us behind the scenes as to what does it take to write/structure a show which rides largely on impromptu responses of the guests. She is candid enough to admit, “Indeed, I too had this niggling doubt that while in fictional narratives we create a new world, here we don’t have control over how the show would ultimately flow. So, should we even be asking/ getting acknowledgment?” Yet, she also lets us in on the extensive research involved. As she puts it, “After all, we are dealing with such noted celebrities: there is no room for error.” The fact that it’s not one or two but four celebrities in the fray, only adds to the challenge. Jessica reminds us, “Our anchors are not regular interviewers but famous people who have been on the other side. Questions have to be framed according to their celeb status and their individual personalities. However, since they are insiders, they are privy to so much information and have many anecdotes to tell.” Yet, at no point, the idea behind the show was to spice it up or make it gossipy or even have click-bait headlines. In a world teeming with so many shows in the same space, what makes theirs different is woman creator Mrinalini Jain at the helm, two female anchors and the largely feminine gaze. While viewers have quite enjoyed the episode with Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan as guests as also the one featuring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, Jessica’s personal favourite is Govinda and Chunky Panday special. She gushes, “Govinda sir is such a big superstar and has the ability to make for such endearing conversation without stirring a hornet’s nest or roasting anyone.” How does this girl from Ludhiana fit in among the bevy of stars? She says, “It’s easy to be part of this world, provided Ludhiana girl Jessica Khurana, who is co-writing Two Much With Kajol and Twinkle, says it’s easy to be part of the show biz, only one needs to be true to oneself and not wear a mask I WAS ASSISTING VIKRAM BHATT AND AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, THERE WAS A WRITERS’ CRISIS AND HE ASKED ME TO STEP IN FOR WEB SERIES HADH. JESSICA KHURANA you are unpretentious, true to yourself and don’t wear a mask.” Since so many Punjabis are already making a mark in Tinsel Town makes her doubly proud. Meeting Vicky Kaushal, also one of the guests on the show was even more special, since, “he can converse so well in Punjabi.” On how this fashion designer landed in Bollywood and more importantly began writing, well to cut a long story short, her first writing assignment came from Vikram Bhatt. She recalls, “I was assisting him and as luck would have it, there was a writers’ crisis and he asked me to step in for web series Hadh.” If from Vikram she learnt ‘less is more’ Ekta Kapoor with whom she worked in Fixer and XXX comes in for fulsome praise too. “Ekta is the best business brain and knows exactly what would work and what would not,” adds Jessica. Yet another creative mind she holds in great esteem is Niranjan Iyengar, executive producer of Two Much… “A former journalist and dialogue Punjabi aa gaye oye! Ayushmann Khurrana has offered a warm welcome to Aneet Padda, who is set to join the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe with Shakti Shalini. Taking to Instagram story, Ayushmann shared a screenshot of the post-credit scenes from his film Thamma, which revealed Padda's casting in the franchise. Ayushmann’s shoutout to Aneet Padda, who is set to join the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe "Welcome to the MHCU @aneetpadda Punjabi aa gaye oye!! From one dreamer to another - keep chasing what you want. Nothing is impossible… so proud to see someone from Punjab making us all proud. Can't wait to see you shine in Shakti Shalini! Onwards and upwards Aneet," the actor wrote. In response to Ayushmann's kind words, the Saiyaara star couldn't help but express immense gratitude. Aneet reshared the actor's post on her Instagram story and wrote, "Khurrana ji da munda is making waves like always. Thank you so much, it's a little extra special coming from someone I look up to so much. So so grateful for the warm wishes." It is worth mentioning that Aneet Padda's casting for the lead role in Maddock Films' upcoming project, Shakti Shalini, marks another exciting addition to the franchise. The teaser of Shakti Shalini was recently shown in theatres alongside Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna's Thamma. —ANI writer of movies like Kal Ho Na Ho, My Name is Khan, Jism et al, he is someone I truly admire because of his ability to write across multiple genres.” The kind of writing she would like to stick to, well, her answer is, “progressive ideas without being preachy, dysfunctional love stories and how big issues are normalised in some families. In short, basic simple issues but ones which matter.” On the anvil is a courtroom drama as well as Kajol-starrer Maharagni: Queen of Queens. Fast climbing the ladder of success? Only she interjects, “It’s been an eight-year haul.” Dispelling notions that Bollywood is a big bad wolf, her advice to aspirants is, “Just go for it; grab it with both hands.” Just as she has seized the opportunity to be ‘two much’, ‘three much’ and more. Chandigarh mesmerised as French silent classic film Paris Qui Dort reawakens with live music by Stéphane Scharlé An evening in Paris A century-old French silent film came alive in Chandigarh last evening as Paris Qui Dort (The Crazy Ray) cast its timeless spell at the Café Théâtre, Alliance Française, Sector 36. The screening was accompanied by a live performance by Stéphane Scharlé, celebrated French drummer, composer and founder of the jazz collective OZMA. Presented by the French Institute in India in collaboration with the Alliance Française network, the cine-concert offered audiences a dreamlike fusion of cinema and music. Scharlé’s self-invented Augmented Drum, blending percussion, loops and electronic textures, gave new life to René Clair’s 1924 masterpiece — one of the earliest science fiction films in French cinema. The audience was transported to a Paris frozen in time — a city held still by a mad scientist’s mysterious ray — as Scharlé’s hypnotic rhythms filled the hall with modern energy and emotion. The restored 4K print of the film, courtesy of the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation, retained its haunting charm while the live score added a fresh contemporary pulse. “We were thrilled to welcome Stéphane Scharlé and his poetic reinterpretation of Paris Qui Dort as the first event in our newly refurbished theatre. It was a c m y b meaningful way to reopen this space to Chandigarh ’ s audiences and to celebrate the vitality of French creativity,” said Fiona Guerra, Director, Alliance Française de Chandigarh The Chandigarh showcase was part of Scharlé’s India tour, which includes performances across New Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, and other cities. He has performed over 500 concerts across 40 countries. The evening concluded with resounding applause as audiences celebrated this meeting of nostalgia and innovation — a vivid reminder of how art continues to transcend time, language and form. — TNS PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI