30102025-LSTC-01.qxd 10/29/2025 11:11 PM Page 1 c m y b PRICE OF FAME & SUCCESS Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas star in Power Ballad, a music-driven drama about friendship and ambition, set for June 5, 2026. The film follows a pasthis-prime wedding singer and a fading boy-band star who bond over music, but their friendship is tested when one finds success. CHAT UP TRIBUNE Life Dancing queens The Delhi Theatre Festival returns for its sixth edition from November 14 to 16, featuring theatre legends Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur and Anupam Kher. The three-day festival, organised by Alchemist Live, will showcase seven plays across four venues. Highlights include Shah’s Einstein, Kapur’s Dreamz and Kher’s autobiographical Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai. EMMA VS AI Actor and screenwriter Emma Thompson has voiced her frustration with artificial intelligence (AI), calling it “annoying” during her appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.The Oscarwinning writer said she prefers writing longhand, believing in the “connection between the brain and the hand”. Thompson shared that AI tools in Word often try to rewrite her work, prompting her to exclaim, “I don’t need you to rewrite what I’ve just written!” Recalling her Sense and Sensibility days, she said technology once turned her entire script into hieroglyphs. SCOTT IN GURUGRAM British singer-songwriter Calum Scott will perform live in Gurugram on January 23, 2026, as part of The Avenoir Tour. The concert will take place at Huda Gymkhana, with tickets opening on October 30 at 12 pm. Expressing his excitement, Scott said India holds a “special place” in his heart after the overwhelming love from his previous visit. Scott promises an evening of “music, emotion and genuine connection” for his Indian fans. Bollywood actor Mahima Chaudhry, a cancer survivor, joins breast cancer awareness initiative in Mumbai, promoting early detection, regular checkups and empowering women with knowledge about timely diagnosis. CHANDIGARH | THURSDAY | 30 OCTOBER 2025 A story of six spirited sisters Badaa Karara Pudna blends humour & emotion in one vibrant package Mona STAGE LEGENDS UNITE Survivor... A story of six sisters, dealing with their own challenges, coming together to participate in a giddha competition in the heart of London — is the plot for the soon-to-bereleased Punjabi film Badaa Karara Pudna. In Chandigarh, on Wednesday, the team came together to present not just their dance moves, but also the fun-filled journey of the film. Led by director Parveen Kumar and backed by producer Madhuri Vishwas Bhosale, the cast of Badaa Karara Pudna — Upasana Singh, Kulraj Randhawa and Mannat Singh — took to the stage to perform their energetic title song, an old Punjabi ditty in a modern makeover. Winning over those present was Upasana Singh with her swift moves. Looking resplendent in a colourful suit-dupatta, very mindful of her long braid, she had people in splits. “Parveenji came to me with a role but I insisted on playing Angrez Kaur for which he had cast someone else. Just about six days before the shoot, he called and lo and behold, the role was mine.” The project marks a sig- nificant milestone as it continues Punjabi cinema’s evolving trend towards heroine-oriented stories, reflecting a strong shift from the conventional male-led narratives. “I have been part of the Punjabi industry for long. My first film, Badla Jatti Da, was also a heroine-centred film. What marks this difference is that Badaa Karara Pudna is an all-women poster too. Even in heroine-centred films, heroes take the cake but here is a heartfelt story of six sisters.” Actress Kulraj Randhawa, known joined this project on the insistence of a friend, whom she couldn’t say no to. “I do not like to label a film hero or heroine-centred; first and foremost, it’s entertainment packed in a feature film.” Dividing her time between Punjab, Mumbai and Canada, Kul- raj, who won acclaim with Kareena Kareena, has moved on to produce and direct, with a couple of international projects in different stages of production. “I am keen on making biopics and bring stories from our rich literature to the screen,” she shares, looking ravishing in a plum suit with golden embellishments. Mannat Singh, with her theatre and singing background, brings authenticity and passion to her role. The ‘fukri’ of the group labels herself as being simple at heart, a claim totally rejected by the team amongst loud guffaws. She tries to pay tribute to Upasana Singh’s long innings, saying, “I was very young when I saw Badla Jatti Da,” to be interjected by Upasana Singh, “I was also very young at that time.” If the infectious camaraderie of the team is any indication, the film promises to be a laugh riot. Interestingly, Badaa Karara Pudna is a remake of Marathi hit Baipan Bhari Deva and brings on board a Marathi producer, Madhuri Bhosale. “When we thought of a remake, Punjabi was my first instinct. Knowing as much as I did, I thought it will bring bhangra to the forefront but was rightly corrected it to be giddha when we started to work on it.” In its two-year journey, she can now mouth every dialogue. “It was a huge learning experience filled with love, dedication and creativity,” she says. Director Parveen Kumar says the film balances entertainment with emotion — a mix of folk dances and heartfelt family bonds. “Every artiste, from Upasanaji to Mannat and Kulraj, brings life to each sister’s character,” he shares. The film also sees Kamaljit Neeru, Twinkle Saggu and Sheeba Agarwal in the sisters’ roles. Badaa Karara Pudna hits cinemas on November 7. Starry duet Actor and singer Kate Hudson has heaped praise on her Song Sung Blue co-star Hugh Jackman for his performance in the upcoming biographical musical drama, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The duo reunited at AFI Fest to premiere the film. Song Sung Blue will hit theatres on December 25. — ANI LOVE NOTE FOREVER Actor Siddharth melted hearts with a heartfelt birthday post for his wife, Aditi Rao Hydari, calling her his “best friend” and “greatest strength”. Sharing romantic pictures on social media, he wrote, “My love was born today… I am because you make me want to be.” Aditi replied, “My Siddhuuu bestest! Come back soon.” The couple, who began dating in 2021, married last year. On the work front, Aditi will next appear in Imtiaz Ali’s upcoming web series O Saathi Re. KULRAJ RANDHAWA, MANNAT SINGH, UPASANA SINGH & MADHURI BHOSALE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR When misogyny meets mass appeal,BO magic defies critics, exposing cinema’s romance with toxic masculinity Toxic love triumphs captures the essence of longing in Gustaakh Ishq Nonika Singh Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat has superhit written all over it. Critics are near unanimous — they see nothing but misogyny in its bizarre storyline, which they insist is both outdated and problematic. Yet, cinematic history repeats itself as the critically panned Milap Zaveri directorial emerges a box-office hit. Harshvardhan Rane, who regained stardom with the re-release of Sanam Teri Kasam, once again enjoys the spotlight — this time for portraying what many view as a male red flag. The divide between what audiences endorse and what critics appreciate is glaring once again. As the number of critics multiplies by the hour, most films end up with mixed reviews — but Ek Deewane… has faced near-universal derision. Even a trade analyst-turned-critic, usually attuned to audience pulse, dismissed the film outright. But who really cares what critics think? As one such reviewer myself, I know that in the grand scheme of box-office math, our opinions rarely matter. The real question is — why does misogyny still sell? Are we, as a society, drawn to male obsession disguised as passion? What we love reflects who we are. Not long ago, Kabir Singh’s volatile REWIND & RAMBLE Shehar Tere lover-boy found favour with both men and women alike. Even educated, empowered audiences deemed his psychotic love “relatable”. Then came Animal, where Ranbir Kapoor’s hero embodied unchecked male privilege — and audiences rewarded it. Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, unapologetic as ever, watched the more critics fumed, the more viewers flocked to theatres. Of course, audiences aren’t a monolith. Many on social media have slammed Ek Deewane… as regressive. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta was even trolled for a simple congratulatory tweet to Zaveri. His counterpoint — “Not everything is virtue signalling” — rings true. When Kabir Singh succeeded, experts claimed audiences weren’t decoding social messages — they were chasing engagement. Message is not the film… for majority of cinegoers. Sometimes, cinema finds balance — like Pink, with its iconic “No means no”, proving that strong messaging can coexist with entertainment. But then, films like Raanjhanaa, Kabir Singh, Animal and now Ek Deewane… blur the line between love and obsession, agency and control. As the late Satish Kaushik once said, “Dramatically right needn’t be socially correct.” Perhaps that’s why shock value still sells — it provokes, disrupts and dominates discourse. Dangerous trend or cinematic fantasy — the choice of lens is yours. Yet, amid the merry ringing of box-office cash registers, one truth endures: entertainment and social responsibility rarely walk hand in hand. c m y b After the overwhelming reactions garnered by Ul Jalool Ishq and Aap Is Dhoop, Manish Malhotra’s Gustaakh Ishq — Kucch Pehle Jaisa unveiled its third track, Shehar Tere. Manish Malhotra marks his first cinematic production under Stage5 Production with an ambitious film that celebrates classic love and passion, a tale that goes beyond fashion and storytelling for him. Longing and yearning for your beloved is magic in itself. It keeps the hope of reunion alive, and this is exactly what Shehar Tere is all about. It gives words to the distance and poetry to the unsaid emotions, bringing out the raw feelings in its best form. The song beautifully captures these feelings with the changing seasons in the background, with the stillness of winter and the time that passes through in the monsoon. The track comes alive with Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh’s strong chemistry, with unspoken emotions speaking volumes. Naseeruddin Shah and Sharib Hashmi add weight to the song with a magnetic screen appeal and acting range. With Vishal Bhardwaj’s soothing music, Jazim Sharma and Himani Kapoor’s expressive vocals and Gulzar’s deeply-moving lyrics, the track beams with feelings. Gustaakh Ishq releases in theatres from 21st November, 2025. After the overwhelming reactions garnered by Ul Jalool Ishq and Aap Is Dhoop, Manish Malhotra’s Gustaakh Ishq