01012026-LSCC-01.qxd 12/31/2025 8:19 PM Page 1 c m y b BHABIJI CAST WISHES NEW YEAR As 2026 rings in, the cast of Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! sent warm New Year wishes to fans. Shilpa Shinde, reprising Angoori Bhabhi, greeted viewers in character, while Aasif Shaikh and Rohitashv Gour shared heartfelt messages. Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! 2.0. marks a fresh chapter for the beloved show. TRIBUNE Loki returns Life Tom Hiddleston calls Avengers: Doomsday “absolutely brilliant,” praising its central story. The film, releasing December 18, 2026, reunites Thor, Loki, and MCU stars, with Doctor Doom as antagonist. CHANDIGARH | THURSDAY | 1 JANUARY 2026 From Mrunal and Siddhant to Kartik and Sreeleela, here are the most anticipated on-screen jodis set to shine in 2026 Fresh faces, new sparks MasterChef RAM CHARAN AND JANHVI KAPOOR Romantic notes Kartik Aaryan and Sreeleela LOOKING Kartik Aaryan and Sreeleela are gearing up to share the screen in Anurag Basu’s upcoming romantic musical, now titled Tu Meri Zindagi Hai. Originally planned under the name Aashiqui 3, the film has been retitled and is set for a May 2026 release, creating strong buzz around this fresh pairing. AHEAD W ATCHING fresh on-screen chemistry bloom is always a delight for audiences. While 2025 introduced several new pairings that struck a chord, 2026 is shaping up to raise the bar even higher. With an exciting slate of brand-new jodis ready to make their mark, the year promises chemistry that lingers long after the credits roll. From sweeping romantic dramas and rom-coms to edgy thrillers and horror comedies, filmmakers are unveiling distinctive pairings across genres. Love blooms Mrunal Thakur and Siddhant Chaturvedi One of the most anticipated and promising fresh pairings of 2026 is Mrunal Thakur and Siddhant Chaturvedi, who will come together for the romantic drama Do Deewane Seher Mein. Directed by Ravi Udyawar and backed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film is slated for a Valentine’s Week release on February 20, 2026, adding to the excitement around this new on-screen duo. Mass magic Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor Global star Ram Charan teams up with the stunning Janhvi Kapoor in the action–sports drama Peddi. Their first song from the film has already offered a glimpse of their crackling chemistry. Written and directed by Buchi Babu Sana, Peddi is set to hit theatres on March 27, 2026. Ramayana reimagined Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi come together in Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious project Ramayana, with Ranbir portraying Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita. The epic will unfold in two parts, with the first part releasing in Diwali 2026. Winning pair Ibrahim Ali Khan and Sreeleela Ibrahim Ali Khan is set to join Sreeleela in the sports drama Diler, directed by Kayoze Irani. This fresh pairing has already sparked strong anticipation, with audience eager to watch the duo share the screen for the first time. Shilpa Shetty lights up SIDDHANT CHATURVEDI & MRUNAL THAKUR Recently, actress Shilpa Shetty lit up the sets of MasterChef India, adding a touch of glamour and warmth to the upcoming season. Shilpa looked effortlessly elegant as she soaked in the vibrant energy of the MasterChef kitchen, perfectly complementing the celebratory mood on set. Visibly thrilled while getting clicked, Shilpa summed up her excitement with a radiant smile, saying, “Bohot excited!” Speaking about the brand-new season, she added, “Is baar MasterChef India mein dikhega naye India ka rang aur dhang. Aa rahi hain jodiyan, aur har plate mein hoga India.” Her words beautifully echoed the essence of the season — where unity, ambition, and identity come together on a powerful national platform. The upcoming season of MasterChef India will introduce a unique jodi format, with contestants competing in pairs such as mother–daughter, brother–sister, and more. Rooted in the spirit of Desh Ab Front Foot Pe Chal Raha Hai, the season celebrates partnerships, progress, and pride. Judges Ranveer Brar, Kunal Kapur, and Vikas Khanna return to guide contestants through this dynamic new chapter. Mel Gibson, Rosalind Ross part ways RANBIR KAPOOR AND SAI PALLAVI SREELEELA AND KARTIK AARYAN CHAT UP IBRAHIM ALI KHAN AND SREELEELA Nayanthara’s first look from ARUN FOR LIFE Mukesh Khetarpal, Arun Khetarpal’s brother, could not stop crying after seeing his brother’s life unfold on the big screen in Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis and he praised Agastya Nanda for perfectly embodying his late brother. In the film, Agastya portrays Arun Khetarpal, the youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient in history. He was killed during the 1971 IndiaPakistan war at the age of 21. Mukesh said, “Whatever else you are, you will be Arun for life. There is no taking that away from you. Well done!” TOXIC The makers of Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups have shared the first look of actor Nayanthara from the film. The actress will be seen playing the character Ganga in the upcoming movie led by actor Yash. The new poster shows Nayanthara in a strong and serious look. The actress, in the poster, can be seen holding a gun while standing at what looks like the entrance of a large casino. The image gives a glimpse of her role as a powerful and fearless woman in the film. Director Geetu Mohandas expressed her views about casting Nayanthara and said that she wanted to show the actor in a different way on screen,”We all know Nayan as a celebrated star with a commanding screen presence, and a remarkable career spanning two decades but in Toxic, audiences will witness a talent that had been quietly waiting to explode. I wanted to portray Nayan in a way that she’s never been showcased before. But as the shoot progressed I began to see how closely her own personality echoed the soul of the character.” The film has already revealed the first looks of other actors. Kiara Advani was earlier introduced as Nadia, while Huma Qureshi was shown as Elizabeth. The film marks Yash’s return to the big screen after KGF: Chapter 2. The project has been in the news for a long time and is being made in both Kannada and English. The film is written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on March 19, 2026, during the festive weekend of Eid, Ugadi, and Gudi Padwa. — ANI KAREENA CLICKS SAIF Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan has taken time out from her busy work schedule to spend some fun time abroad with her family. Ever since her vacation began, Bebo has been sharing glimpses from her getaway to give fans. Kareena recently posted a picture of her husband, actor Saif Ali Khan, enjoying a snowy day. The photo showed Saif looking calm and happy against the white background. Referring to how hard it can be to get a perfect shot, she wrote, “Finally got him to pose, and this is what I could manage.” c m y b Oscar winner Mel Gibson and Rosalind Ross have separated after nine years together, a representative from Gibson’s legal team confirmed. The couple had split about a year ago, but chose not to share the news publicly until now. The couple, who first began dating in 2014, added they planned to continue co-parenting their 8-year-old son, Lars. “Although it’s sad to end this chapter in our lives, we are blessed with a beautiful son and will continue to be the best parents possible,” the couple wrote in the statement. The Mad Max actor, 69, and Ross, 35, a film director and former equestrian vaulter, were never married. Gibson has seven children with Robyn Moore, his wife from 1980 to 2011. The Lethal Weapon actor also has a 16-year-old daughter with songwriter Oksana Grigorieva. Gibson is renowned in Hollywood as an actor, director and producer who has steered the action drama genre with popular titles including The Patriot, Blood Father, and Braveheart, which in 1996 won the best picture Oscar and best director for Gibson.