20012026-LSTL-01.qxd 1/19/2026 7:57 PM Page 1 c m y b NEHA KAKKAR SPARKS CONCERN Singer Neha Kakkar alarmed fans after posting and quickly deleting emotional Instagram stories hinting she might step away from her career, relationships and responsibilities. The cryptic posts, now removed, sparked concern and speculation about her wellbeing amid ongoing public scrutiny of her recent work. TRIBUNE Mardaani 3 Life Actor Rani Mukerji recently visited the sets of The Great Indian Kapil Show, where she promoted her film Mardaani 3. Netflix shared a fun promo of the episode, which will be out on January 24. LUDHIANA | TUESDAY | 20 JANUARY 2026 CHAT UP Living the ZOE SURPASSES JOHANSSON Actor and writer Colin Jost joked on Saturday Night Live about his wife Scarlett Johansson being overtaken by Zoe Saldana as Hollywood’s highestgrossing actor. Reacting to a graphic comparing their box-office totals, Jost quipped that Johansson’s earnings would drop if his own films were included, drawing laughs from the audience. Saldana’s record is driven largely by the success of James Cameron’s Avatar franchise, with her films grossing about USD 16.8 billion worldwide. Johansson previously held the top spot. DREAM Mona B EING part of Border 2 feels nothing short of living a dream for Vansh Bhardwaj, fondly known as Rocky. Having grown up watching Border and listening to its iconic songs, stepping into the world of its sequel is deeply sentimental for the actor. Vansh speaks with immense gratitude about becoming part of a legacy he admired as a child, calling the experience “unreal”. Vansh will be seen playing a Haryanvi soldier in Border 2, directed by Anurag Singh, with whom he shares a long-standing association. He describes Anurag as an elder ‘Chalamet stays humble despite stardom’ Kevin O’Leary, who starred alongside Timothee Chalamet in the muchtalked-about film Marty Supreme, opened up about how Chalamet handles super “stardom.” Kevin O’Leary, best known for his role on Shark Tank, spoke about his experience acting alongside Chalamet and how the young actor is handling massive fame. “He’s very well-grounded. He’s a very normal guy,” O’Leary, 71, said. O’Leary went on to share how he met Chalamet’s mom and spent time with her in New York. He explained how family and discipline keep the actor focused. “I’ve met his mother. I hung out with her in New York. We had a great time. He is focused on work and doesn’t screw around until he’s got it nailed down. I think that’s a good attribute. He hasn’t let any of the stardom stuff affect him at all. He’s the same guy I met at the beginning. Eight months later, he’s the same guy.” — ANI brother and mentor. Inspired by true events, Border 2 brings together narratives from the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. The film largely tracks the story of Major Hoshiar Singh (PVC), played by Varun Dhawan, with the climax following his journey and that of the troops. What makes the film special for Vansh is its authenticity. The shoot took place at military locations, including Babina Cantonment near Jhansi. Tanks, Army spaces and real soldiers formed the backdrop of the film. Out of the entire unit, only a few actors were junior artistes — the rest were actual soldiers. The scale was massive, the discipline uncompromising and the atmosphere charged with what Vansh calls true “fauji josh, jazba and discipline”. Produced under the legacy of JP Dutta, the film stays true to realism. There was minimal reliance on special effects, with a strong focus on real military setups. War films, Vansh shares, take time — nearly two months of action-heavy schedules, long hours and physically demanding sequences. Preparation for Border 2 went beyond physical training. His Chandigarh circle helped him step into the role. Vansh learned Sanskrit under the guidance of Gunanidhi Sharma. To convincingly portray a Haryanvi soldier Subedar Santram, he worked closely with Sunil Saraswat on diction and accent. Fitness and discipline, however, were already ingrained in him. “Discipline has been part of my life since childhood,” he says, “making the physical transformation into a soldier felt natural.” One of the most surreal moments for Vansh was singing on screen. Being part of a film where music carries legacy and emotion felt extraordinary. To sing Sandese Aate Hai, he says, is something he never imagined growing up. Alongside Border 2, COLLINS CLAPS BACK AT RUMOURS With Border 2 set for release this Friday, Vansh Bhardwaj recalls the journey so far Vansh also awaits the release of Punjab 95, in which he plays a prominent role. He is thoughtful about choosing projects, often discussing decisions with mentors and people he considers family within the industry. Honey Trehan, whom he refers to as “Bhaji”, is especially close to him, and Vansh values guidance over impulsive choices. Despite working in films, theatre remains central to Vansh’s identity. He continues to stay associated with theatre, often juggling rehearsals, performances and film schedules. He also assists friends in direction and works as an actor-director when possible. “Theatre keeps me busy, keeps me honest,” he says. Vansh moved to Mumbai in 2009 and fell in love with Bombay instantly — the chaos, traffic, madness and unstoppable energy. “Mumbai doesn’t let you fall,” he says. “It keeps pushing you.” At the same time, Chandigarh remains home. He misses the city when away far too long — the evening gedis, early morning workouts near the lake, smooth roads, calm routines and reconnecting with childhood friends after long gaps. Chandigarh, for him, is peace; Mumbai is momentum. Connected closely to the Punjabi theatre and film community, especially through Panjab University and Indian Theatre Department circles, Vansh believes that his professional world often feels like extended family. Collaborators turn into friends, and friendships turn into lifelong creative partnerships. As Border 2 prepares to revive the emotion, patriotism, and legacy of a classic, and Punjab 95 waits to meet audiences, Vansh Bhardwaj stands at a meaningful point in his journey. Rooted in theatre, disciplined in preparation and grateful for every opportunity, Rocky is quietly but confidently living the dream he once watched unfold on screen. Bal Tanhaji enters AI era Ajay Devgn along with Danish Devgn, has stepped forward to take storytelling into a new era of technology through Lens Vault Studios (LVS), the next-generation entertainment studio founded by the duo. Entering a new chapter of Unsung Warriors, LVS has officially unveiled its inaugural original property, Bal Tanhaji, a generative AI-driven narrative that signals a decisive shift in how Indian stories are imagined, expanded and consumed in the digital age. Rooted in the legacy of the blockbuster Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, Bal Tanhaji pushes the universe into unexplored narrative terrain, reimagining the franchise for a generation that engages with stories far beyond theatrical screens. The project reflects Lens Vault Studios’ core ambition — to create enduring story worlds that live across platforms, formats, and technologies. c m y b Sharing the studio’s broader vision, Ajay Devgn, chairman, Lens Vault Studios, said, “Lens Vault Studios was created to move beyond conventional boundaries of storytelling. Our focus is on discovering formats and mediums that are still largely untapped, while applying the discipline and scale of mainstream cinema. Bal Tanhaji represents the beginning of this journey into futureready content creation.” Country singer Karley Scott Collins has firmly denied rumours linking her romantically to Keith Urban following his divorce from Nicole Kidman. The 26-year-old artist called reports claiming she was dating and living with Urban “absolutely ridiculous and untrue” on Instagram. The speculation arose after Collins opened for Urban on his 2025 tour. ‘DON’T ASK ME ABOUT THE RAFT’ Filmmaker James Cameron has once again addressed the decades-old debate surrounding the ending of Titanic, making it clear that he is exhausted by questions over whether Jack could have survived by sharing the floating raft with Rose. Despite his exasperation, Cameron revealed that experiments were conducted to assess whether both characters could have lived and the answer is ‘No’. BREAKING THE GOOD-MAN IMAGE Sharad Kelkar, long known as the dependable “good man,” stunned audiences with his Netflix drama Taskaree.Playing a ruthless mastermind in a smuggling syndicate, Kelkar deliberately broke from his wholesome image. “Television creates longterm intimacy. People feel they know you for years, almost decades. When you enter a morally dark space after that, the reaction is stronger. No one could think of me as the bad guy and I love that for this role!” he said. “Early motherhood grounded me” Actor Sophie Turner has spoken candidly about the unique advantages of becoming a mother in her 20s, describing the experience as fulfilling and grounding despite its professional challenges. The Game of Thrones star, who shares daughters Willa, 5, and Delphine, 3, with ex-husband Joe Jonas, reflected on how early motherhood shaped her personal life. “It’s really nice,” Turner, 29, said, highlighting that having children young relieved her of concerns many women face later in life. “It just felt like the right break to focus on me, because I’d been a character for so long,” she said. However, the actor acknowledged that the pause came with professional consequences. “The flipside of it was that this was a big break from the career. You don’t realise how important momentum is in a career, and I stalled it a bit.” — ANI