16012026-LSTC-01.qxd 16-01-2026 00:34 Page 1 c m y b RYAN HURST IN GOD OF WAR Ryan Hurst tapped to play Kratos in Prime Video’s God of War. Hurst played Thor in PlayStation’s God of War Ragnarök, bringing established familiarity with the franchise to the role of Kratos. He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for his performance. TRIBUNE Celebrating cinema Life Leonardo DiCaprio calls cinema “our most definitive art form.” Speaking at the National Board of Review gala, DiCaprio recalled his childhood days when his father took him to the historic Vista cinema to watch the original King Kong. CHANDIGARH | FRIDAY | 16 JANUARY 2026 Stars step out to AISHA AHMED cast their Gulzar, John Abraham, Nana Patekar, Divya Dutta and Vishal Dadlani were among several prominent film and music personalities who cast their votes on Thursday during the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, using their presence to highlight the importance of civic participation. SOBHITA DHULIPALA ABHISHEK BANERJEE DIVYENNDU SHARMA From Abhishek Banerjee to Aisha Ahmad —actors whose characters deserve their own spin-off S OME characters walk into a story, steal every scene they’re in, and leave audiences wanting more. Whether it’s their attitude, mystery, humour or sheer screen presence, these roles feel too good to be confined to a supporting arc. Here are six characters who absolutely deserve their own spinoff series. Akansha Ranjan Kapoor as Dr Gargi — Gram Chikitsalay Dr Gargi didn’t just show up — she made an impression. Akansha Ranjan Kapoor brought sharp intelligence, emotional restraint, and quiet authority to the role, making Dr Gargi one of those characters viewers instantly trusted and rooted for. A spin-off exploring her world, Bring them back! her past cases, and the personal cost of being constantly composed? Sign us up. Abhishek Banerjee as Jana — Stree Jana is chaos, comedy and heart rolled into one. Abhishek Banerjee turned what could’ve been a stock comic role into one of the most memorable characters in the Stree universe. A spin- off following Jana navigating supernatural threats, village gossip, and his own hilarious fears would be a genre-bending riot waiting to happen. Divyenndu Sharma as Munna Bhaiya — Mirzapur Munna Bhaiya remains one of the most unhinged, unpredictable characters in Indian OTT history. Divyenndu’s explosive performance gave the role cult status, and fans are still obsessed. A spin-off diving into Munna’s rise, inner demons, or even an alternate timeline? The appetite is clearly there. Karan Tacker as Farooq Ali — Special Ops Karan Tacker’s Farooq Ali brought swagger and sharp wit to Special Ops. A spinoff centred on Farooq’s missions, personal life, and offduty banter would be action-packed with just the right dose of charm. Sobhita Dhulipala as Tara Khanna — Made in Heaven Tara Khanna is complex, ambitious, flawed and fascinating. Sobhita Dhulipala infused her with vulnerability and steel, making Tara one of the most lay- ered female characters on Indian streaming. A spinoff following Tara’s life post-Made in Heaven — professionally and emotionally — feels not just exciting, but inevitable. Aisha Ahmed as Dr Shreya — Single Papa Aisha Ahmed’s Dr Shreya brings effortless girl-nextdoor energy — warm, relatable, and emotionally grounded in a way that instantly feels familiar. Her calm presence and quiet empathy add depth to Single Papa, making Dr Shreya true comfort character viewers naturally root for. A sliceof-life spin-off exploring her world, relationships, and personal journey would be soothing, heartfelt, and deeply watchable. CHAT UP THE BLUFF TRAILER OUT Priyanka Chopra and Karl Urban-starrer The Bluff trailer is finally out, offering a glimpse into high-octane action drama which centres on the survival of a family on an island. The film is directed by Frank E Flowers with a script he co-wrote with Joe Ballarini. The two-minute and thirty-second trailer begins with Karl Urban’s entry, who is seeking a bounty which appears to be placed on Priyanka Chopra. Salman Khan & Ranbir Kapoor If you don't vote, you have no right to complain — say B-town celebs who turned up at Mumbai polling booths to exercise their electoral rights KARAN TACKER AKANSHA RANJAN votes MICHELLE IN AVATAR 4 FRIENDS FOREVER Filmmaker James Cameron has confirmed that Oscarwinning actress Michelle Yeoh will “definitely” appear in future Avatar films, provided the franchise moves forward beyond its third instalment. During the promotions for Avatar: Fire and Ash, Cameron said Yeoh is set to appear in Avatar 4, and potentially Avatar 5, if the films are greenlit. c m y b Teyana Taylor recently opened up about whether she has remained friends with Kanye West, despite all his controversies in recent years, including the antisemitic remarks and his 2020 presidential run. Taylor said she is not someone who cuts people off easily. “I don’t have to agree with everything that he does or says, but I’m not going to, like, abandon him and be like...,” she said in an interview. Gulzar arrived at a polling station in Mumbai to vote and appealed to citizens to actively take part in the democratic process. “We are rooted in our homeland, and your vote is to nurture those roots and to nurture democracy. So, be sure to fulfil this duty,” Gulzar said after casting his vote. John Abraham was also seen at a polling booth, exercising his right to vote. Aamir Khan, after casting his vote, spoke about the importance of voting and praised the arrangements at the polling booth. He said, “...I would tell everyone to definitely cast their precious votes. BMC has made very good arrangements here...” Akshay Kumar was among the first celebrities to vote on Thursday. His wife Twinkle Khanna also showed up to cast her vote. After casting her vote, Twinkle interacted with reporters. “I think it gives us a sense of control, a little bit of power over the narrative, and I am voting both out of habit and hope,” she said. Nana Patekar made an effort to participate, travelling nearly three hours from Pune to Mumbai early in the morning just to cast his ballot. Speaking to the media, the veteran actor said voting was a sign of one’s existence and responsibility as a citizen. Salman Khan, Paresh Rawal, Junaid Khan, Hema Malini and Sonli Bendre were amongst others who cast their vote. — Agencies Hema Malini & Sonali Bendre John Abraham, Shraddha Kapoor & Aamir Khan Kareena Kapoor Khan & Saif Ali Khan