18022026-LSTC-01.qxd 2/17/2026 8:29 PM Page 1 c m y b DEVITO WRAPS FINAL JUMANJI Dwayne Johnson announced Danny DeVito has wrapped filming on the untitled Jumanji sequel, marking the final chapter of the franchise. Johnson praised DeVito on Instagram. HOT dharamsala WHAT’S TRIBUNE Life LUDHIANA | WEDNESDAY | 18 FEBRUARY 2026 Sapna Bhavnani’s Wench Film Festival is giving witches, spirits and women storytellers centre stage India’s witching hour eat HIMALAYAN ASIAN HAVEN T HE NomadGao Cafe in Dharamkot village near Dharamsala specialises in Asian cuisine, offering Vietnamese and other Asiainspired hot pots, ramen, salads and noodle dishes. The café, a popular spot in the hillside settlement, also serves an all-day breakfast menu, catering to visitors seeking both regional flavours and familiar staples. NomadGao accommodates a wide range of dietary preferences, with dedicated vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available across its menu. Mona I N a country where romance and action dominate the box office, filmmaker and festival founder Sapna Bhavnani has been quietly — and fiercely — building a space for witches, spirits and the strange. Dressed almost invariably in her signature gothic black, striking tattoos and an unapologetic edge — she looks every bit the high priestess of the cinematic coven she has created. The sixth edition of the Wench Film Festival (February 19-22 in Kolkata; February 26-March 1 in Mumbai) is not just another genre showcase; it is a statement of intent. Long before she turned to horror, Sapna was one of India’s most recognisable celebrity hairstylists. That entrepreneurial chapter would later prove crucial. When she pivoted to independent filmmaking — and eventually to founding Wench. Over the years, as sponsors remained elusive, she returned to her roots to help fund and sustain the festival. “I did not want to wait for permission,” she says. “If the space didn’t exist, I would build it.” The idea for Wench crystallised when a horror project of hers was selected at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) market in South Korea — making her one of the first Indian women to achieve that distinction. The experience was eye-opening. “That’s when I realised how far behind we are in genre cinema — especially women,” she recalls. “Globally, horror and fantasy are thriving. But where are our voices? We needed our own space.” FESTIVAL WITH A FEMINIST SPINE play Unlike many festivals that relegate women filmmakers to a token sidebar, Wench flips the script. The 2026 edition features 54 films, 33 directed by women. Even films programmed in the “men’s section” must have women in key creative roles to qualify. The approach is both radical and pragmatic. In just six years, Wench has grown from a self-funded experiment into an internationally recognised indie genre platform. It has forged alliances with global powerhouses such as Fantastic Fest and Fantasia International Film Festival and is now part of the Meliès Federation of Fantastic Film Festivals, which opens pathways to the Fantastic Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival. “This year, we’re planning something big at Cannes,” Sapna teases, careful not to reveal more. Her approach remains characteristically independent. “The minute it becomes about big film stars, it kills the festival,” she says. “It’s about indie cinema.” HARSH‘O’ULLAS FT GUJRAL S mohali TAND-UP comedian and content creator Harsh Gujral will bring his popular Harsh’O’Ullas tour to Chandigarh-Mohali on February 23, 2026, promising an evening of highenergy humour and sharp crowd work. The nationwide tour begins on February 20 in Asansol, West Bengal, before travelling across the country. The much-awaited Tricity stop would be staged at CP67, Mohali. Known for his quick wit, spontaneous audience interactions and sharply relatable observations, Gujral has built a reputation for delivering fast-paced, laugh-out-loud performances. FROM SCARCITY TO SURGE When Wench first began, there were barely Screenwriter CHAT UP Salim Khan AMUL CELEBRATES FARHAN AKHTAR hospitalised love PAINT YOUR GLASS A two-hour glass painting workshop blending art with leisure will be held in Chandigarh from February 17 to February 20, 2026. Called Transfuse & Dab, the workshop will take place at Deepakriti Institute in Sector 44. The sessions are designed for participants keen to explore their creative side in a relaxed setting. Open to beginners as well as hobby artists, the workshop requires no prior experience. One can reserve seat via bookmyshow. Participants will leave not only relaxed but also with their own hand-painted glassware as a keepsake. chandigarh Action awaits Actor Sunny Deol is set to return to cinemas with Gabru, scheduled for release on May 8, following the commercial success of Border 2. The film is directed by Shashank Udapurkar and produced by Vishal Rana and Om Chhangani. Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan, credited for writing celebrated Hindi films such as Sholay, Deewar and Don with Javed Akhtar, was admitted to the ICU of Lilavati hospital in Bandra on Tuesday. The 90-year-old was taken into hospital in the morning; however, details about his health condition are not yet known. As concern mounted, his children, Salman Khan, daughter Alvira and sons-inlaw Atul Agnihotri and Aayush Sharma were seen going into the hospital. Khan, a household name in the 70s and 80S, turned 90 on November 24 last year. It was the day Dharmendra, the star of many of his films, including Sholay, Seeta aur Geeta and Yaadon Ki Baraat, passed away. Hailing from an affluent family in Indore, Khan arrived in Mumbai in his 20s. — PTI Amul India celebrated Farhan Akhtar’s Hollywood debut with a topical, as he prepares to portray sitar maestro Ravi Shankar in Sam Mendes’ The Beatles: A Four-Film Cinematic Event. The ensemble film, starring Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, Barry Keoghan, and Joseph Quinn, releases globally in April 2028. Akhtar, previously seen in Ms. Marvel, marks his first major international screen role. c m y b TAKING INDIAN SPIRITS GLOBAL Sapna’s own short film, Landfills of Desire, screens at this year’s edition. Shot during lockdown in Kashmir, it explores the folklore of the Rantas — local witches largely unknown outside the region. The film previously premiered at Fantastic Fest, introducing international audiences to a distinctly Indian mythos. “In the West, they have Dracula and their witches. We have ours too,” she says. “The world needs to know our ghosts, our spirits.” Her fascination with the unseen is lifelong. As a child, she says, she was never afraid of spirits. “It was always natural for me,” she shrugs. Horror, rather than romance or realism, felt instinctive. Before Wench, she directed music videos for artists including Kailash Kher and her feature Sindhustan travelled to 24 festivals, winning multiple awards. Yet it is horror she describes as her true home. One early Wench moment has already entered festival lore: during a screening of filmmaker Aruna Raje’s cult classic Gehrayee, the lights went out mid-exorcism scene at Whistling Woods Studio. Backup generators failed. The audience waited outside — and then returned to finish the film. “The spirits are with us,” Sapna laughs. “So this festival will never die.” THE ROAD AHEAD With global demand for genre content rising — fuelled by series such as Stranger Things — Sapna believes Indian storytellers are ready to claim their space. International programmers increasingly approach Wench for recommendations, recognising it as India’s most focused platform for horror, sci-fi and fantasy. “We own the spirit space,” she says, smiling. PETALS &PALETTE Chandigarh’s 54th edition of Rose Festival celebrates specially-abled artists MACRON MEETS BOLLYWOOD French President Emmanuel Macron met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai during a three-day official visit. He arrived Monday night with First Lady Brigitte Macron. After formal talks, Macron mingled with Bollywood stars, including Shabana Azmi, Anil Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, Zoya Akhtar, Richa Chadha and Grammy-winning composer Ricky Kej. Posting the photos no X (Formerly known as twitter) he said, “Alongside legends of Indian cinema. Culture brings us together.” enough Indian genre films to curate. Early editions leaned heavily on international programming. But the act of creating a platform has had a ripple effect. This year, the festival hosts 20 Indian films and had to turn away many more. “You build it, they will come,” Sapna says with a laugh. Beyond the annual festival, Wench now organises monthly screenings, pop-culture gatherings and more. Invitations are pouring in from other Indian cities, though Sapna jokes she may need “more witches” to expand operations. The 54th Annual Rose Festival is set to begin on February 20 at the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden with preparations in full swing and a wide range of events planned for visitors. Adding an emotional dimension to the festivities, the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi is organising an exhibition titled ‘Voices of Resilience’, featuring specially-abled artists from Tricity. The exhibition highlights the works of artists who have overcome physical challenges, taking visitors from the tangible world of form and colour into a metaphysical realm of meaning, emotion and spiritual consciousness. The exhibition features 23 talented specially-abled artists, alongside two guest artists, Parveen Kumar and Mandeep Singh Manu. It opened on Tuesday at 5.00 pm at the CKLA Underpass Gallery, connecting Sector 17 and the Rose Garden and would remain open until February 24. This year’s festival promises to blend natural beauty with artistic expression, celebrating resilience, creativity and the human spirit.