15032026-LSTL-01.qxd 3/14/2026 8:10 PM Page 1 c m y b ‘MY FOREVER SIKANDER’ Aamir Khan on Saturday turned 61. Aamir received a heartfelt wish from his ex-wife, Kiran Rao. She reposted a special reel on her Instagram showcasing his iconic on-screen moments. “HBD to my forever Sikander,” Kiran wrote. TRIBUNE Life chandigarh B play WOMEN & EARTH C ELEBRATING women who are driving climate action, Vatrukh Foundation is set to organise Doraha Dialogues on March 15 from 11 am at Mangat Industries, Guru Tegh Bahadar Road, Doraha. The gathering will spotlight women contributing to climate resilience in Punjab through flood relief, plantation drives, waste management and female health initiatives. The programme begins with a welcome note, followed by honouring women climate leaders, an open-mic dialogue at 12:30 pm, and lunch with traditional Punjabi folk music at 1:30 pm, encouraging collective reflection and action. Nonika Singh F IFTEEN million views and counting! Netflix’s Accused has emerged as one of the top global hits since its release on February 27. Like its viewers across the world, its young director Anubhuti Kashyap too was taken in by the one-line story brief — a woman accused of sexual misconduct. Placing the lead (played by Konkona Sen Sharma) in the world of gynaecology wasn’t a conscious choice by the maker, who earlier gave us Doctor G, which was about a male gynaecologist. As Netflix’s Accused has emerged as one of the top global hits, the young director talks about how a one-line story brief eventually grew into a sensitive plot Yes, the MeToo movement emanated from Hollywood but its ripples were felt in our entertainment industry too. Anubhuti, however, never intended the film to be about MeToo, but what an accusation does to person and those close to him/her. Many real-life incidents shaped the plot and she discovered similar examples of women in the dock, as well as how social perceptions were easily and erroneously formed and social media trials quickly pronounced them guilty. Making the accused guilty in her film was never on the table. But having a same-sex couple at the front and centre of the story came in rather early. One of the biggest highlights of the film is how sensitively Anubhuti dealt with a queer couple. She stayed away from portraying sexual intimacy. And, there were two-fold reasons for the same. She explains, ANUBHUTI KASHYAP (CENTRE) WITH HER LEADS PRATIBHA RANTA (L) AND KONKONA SEN SHARMA “For one, we never wanted the audiences to be distracted by anything, rather stay with the basic premise.” Besides, though the film has trended in many countries, she had Indian audiences on her mind. She states, “At no point did we want to sensationalise or make Indian viewers uncomfortable.” The strategy not only opened the film to more people but also normalised lesbian relationship in the most organic way. Keeping things natural is a lesson she might have imbibed from her illustrious brother Anurag Kashyap. But as she recalls working as an associate director with him for Gangs of Wasseypur, she shares, “He is super-chaotic; call it method in madness but for GoW there was zero planning. Unlike him, I learnt to be more organised and communicative.” Of course, she is acutely aware that it was a love F chandigarh huge privilege to have started out with her exceptionally gifted brother and a film that today finds itself in the anal of cinematic history. But doors didn’t open automatically because of big brother. She laughs, “Look at my work record, these are people he had never worked with.” Interestingly, she had forbidden her brother with whom she shares a close bond to not produce at least her first two films, lest the nepo baggage stuck. The insider-outsider binary, however, she doesn’t quite endorse. Anurag, according to her, is still an outsider though in the industry for decades. Similarly, Karan Johar whose Dharmatic Entertainment produced her Accused, seen as the ultimate insider, even nepo king, she feels is mere assumption. Today, as much hinges on societal judgement, she is perturbed, “We Sharvari says she dreamt of starring in Imtiaz Ali’s films FESTIVE EDIT ESTIVE shopping gets a stylish update as Red Rose Events presents Chand TaaraEid Special Designer Showcase, a summer edit fashion and lifestyle exhibition at Taj Chandigarh. The two-day showcase will feature a curated mix of designers and lifestyle brands presenting festive ensembles, breezy summer wear, jewellery, accessories and gifting picks ideal for the Eid season. The exhibition will open on March 20 and 21 from 11 am to 8 pm. LUDHIANA | SUNDAY | 15 MARCH 2026 Anubhuti finds her own voice PERFECT SLICE RINGING a burst of global comfort flavours to Zirakpur’s buzzing food scene, Xero Degrees at Oxford Street offers a lively mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian indulgences. The menu spans pizzas, wraps, tacos, pasta and momos to a variety of burgers, garlic breads and loaded fries, catering to both quick bites and hearty cravings. Guests can also explore their special veg or chicken cracker buckets, along with Indian, continental and non-veg continental platters. Shakes, coolers and a selection of hot coffees round off the experience, making it an ideal stop for relaxed catch-ups and flavourful treats. RajKummar Rao will soon be seen together in a new film titled Raftaar. Amazon MGM Studios took to Instagram to announce that the film is set to arrive in theatres on July 24. FromGoWtoAccused: WHAT’S HOT eat ludhiana Rao in Raftaar Dream come true Sharvari went down memory lane and recalled attending a masterclass by Imtiaz Ali, where she wished to feature in one of his films, years before she was approached for his upcoming directorial Main Wapas Aaunga. The actor shared a post on her Instagram handle on Friday. It featured a picture of her alongside the filmmaker, followed by a note. “To say that I have been a huge fan of your cinema would be an understatement. Today as our teaser drops, I can’t help but go back to the day when I attended a masterclass three years ago that you were conducting for Mani sir,” she wrote. “I remember I put up a story on Instagram that day manifesting to be a part of your films someday. Little did I know I would see a teaser that ends with ‘A film by Imtiaz Ali’ which stars me,” she added. Also starring Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina and Naseeruddin Shah, the film is billed as a cinematic experience, filled with a contemporary and witty narrative that explores the depth of human connection. — PTI The 55th All-India Bhaskar Rao Nritya & Sangeet Sammelan enthralled Tricity audiences with gayan, vadan and nritya Sadhika Sharma One of Chandigarh’s oldest and most prestigious classical arts festivals, All-India Bhaskar Rao Nritya and Sangeet Sammelan, was organised by Pracheen Kala Kendra, from March 12 to 14 at Tagore Theatre, Sector 18. For the first time, the 55th edition of the festival will also be organised in Vadodara from March 21 to 22, marking an expansion of the long-standing cultural event beyond Chandigarh. The Vadodara leg of the festival is being organised as a tribute to Bhaskar Rao Bhakhle, who had served as a faculty member at the All things classical Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda during his lifetime. A celebrated platform dedicated to Indian classical music and dance, the Sam- melan brought together the three principal streams of the classical tradition — c m y b gayan (vocal), vadan (instrumental) and nritya (dance). The performances in Chandigarh offered audiences three evenings of classical recitals by eminent artistes. The opening evening featured a vocal recital by Vidushi Indrani Mukherjee, followed by a Bharatanatyam performance by Vidushi Vidhya Subramanian and troupe. The subsequent days presented performances by distinguished artistes, including Pt Purbayan Chatterjee (sitar), Guru Sharmila Biswas (Odissi dance), Pt Ronu Majumdar (flute), Pt Nayan Ghosh (tabla) among others. Speaking about the festi- val, Sajal Koser, secretary of Pracheen Kala Kendra, said, “The Sammelan has played a significant role in placing Chandigarh prominently on India’s cultural map.” Koser also highlighted the scale of the institution’s outreach, noting that Pracheen Kala Kendra has more than 3,800 affiliated institutions across India and abroad, with over three lakh students appearing in its examinations. Sharing the future plans, Koser said, “We are planning to include theatre and Western classical music in the festival, and we are also in the process of building a Centre for Cultural Excellence.” don’t want to deal with real information, sit with facts or analyse things.” As she is reading every review, including Anurag’s post ‘which didn’t praise the film unnecessarily’, she thinks many critics have been rather fair about their arguments. Anyway, she is taking criticism ‘with a positive heart and hope to disappoint less in future.’ As a woman she would certainly like more women voices, especially in the technical department. Personally, she would like to dabble in every genre, including action. Cinema can’t change the world. But just as she tried to subvert the seemingly abrasive lead woman character in Accused, in a small but significant way she wanted to convey, “Be a little more patient with your observations.” In future too, hear Anubhuti speak with a voice, very much her own. CHAT UP PALESTINIAN ACTOR TO MISS OSCARS Kaouther Ben Hania’s docudrama The Voice of Hind Rajab is nominated for Best International Feature at the Oscars. However, Motaz Malhees, who plays a lead role in the docudrama, won’t be able to attend it. He wrote, “Our film is nominated for an Academy Award. I had the honor of playing one of the lead roles in a story the world needed to hear. But I will not be there. I am not allowed to enter the United States because of my Palestinian citizenship.” REMI NOMINATION FOR ASSAMESE FILM Assamese feature film Moi Eti Nixhasor, directed by the National Award filmmaker Bidyut Kotoky, has received the nomination for the prestigious WorldFest Remi Awards at the upcoming 59th Houston International Film Festival. LISA RAY’S POEM ON DUBAI Lisa Ray expressed concern about the ongoing conflict in the West Asia that has affected the UAE also, voicing her views through a thoughtful poem. “Watching events unfold in our second home, Dubai, has been difficult...,” she wrote on Instagram.