31032026-LSTL-01.qxd 3/30/2026 8:41 PM Page 1 c m y b HOT eat VEGAN MEALS V amritsar EGAN and looking for a blend of taste and health? Amritsar has got you covered. Move over dairy-rich staple diets, city eateries are now offering conscious meals including Buddha bowls, vegan pastas, Thai curries and glutenfree ice creams. Small eateries like Gluten Free Rasoi, Hangries and even big chain restaurants like Grain offer these vegan, mindful options. play TRIBUNE Life The Iran-US showdown moves from battlefields to feeds, where clicks are ammunition chandigarh N EXUS Elante recently hosted the highly anticipated live concert by Sanam, bringing together music enthusiasts for an unforgettable evening. The Courtyard came alive as audiences gathered in large numbers to witness the band perform some of the most loved tracks, including Kya Hua Tera Wada, Gulabi Aankhen and Lag Jaa Gale. laugh Mona I T doesn’t start with sirens — it starts with a scroll. You’re leisurely watching cat videos when suddenly, a strike flashes across your screen, cut to a trending beat. A cartoon salutes. A hashtag explodes. In that moment, conflict enters a new battlefield: your feed. Welcome to the age of the meme war! In 2026, tensions between the United States and Iran are no longer confined to military bases. They are unfolding across timelines, shaped through GIFs, AI-generated visuals and captions. Official communication has evolved — leaders are not just making statements; they are producing content designed to be shared. IRANIS GET TOGETHER It’s not just Iran and the US that are upending each other in digital warfare. Social media has seen countless creative edits from other corners of the world including India. A recent viral clip features actor Boman Irani referencing the US President Donald Trump talking to three Iranis — Aruna, Smriti and himself. He goes in his signature deadpan expression: “I have only one problem, I won’t go to Washington. I think it would be best if Trump sahab and his delegation come to Dadar Parsi Colony. We'll feed them dhansak...” Soon an AIgenerated picture of the three Iranis and Donald Trump made it to WhatsApp groups! JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY SHAYAR SPECIAL ludhiana LUDHIANA | TUESDAY | 31 MARCH 2026 The meme frontline SANAM LIVE L Dance moves Hirav Mehta, known for the viral Flipperachi dance in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, praised Akshaye Khanna’s magnetic presence and Ranveer Singh’s energy on set, calling the sequence an unforgettable experience. ISTOCK WHAT’S UDHIANA is all set to host Main Shayar Toh Nahi – Manhar Seth, a unique blend of poetry and comedy that promises laughter, nostalgia, and heartfelt moments. Scheduled at Nehru Sidhant Kender on April 4 at 7 PM, this two-hour special invites audiences aged 16 and above to experience Manhar Seth’s signature storytelling, emotional depth, and humour. It’s an evening designed to make you smile, reflect, and celebrate the magic of words. Sample the American side. A video referred to as ‘Justice the American Way’ resembles a trailer more than a formal announcement. It blends real military footage with movie scenes, action sequences echo video games. This catchy content surely is going viral, but not everyone is comfortable trivialising human life. In early March 2026, actor Ben Stiller asked the White House to remove a clip from his film Tropic Thunder after it was used in a social media post, highlighting the blurred lines between entertainment and official messaging. intelligence to shape its narrative. Social platforms have been flooded with animated leaders and parody-style edits that mix satire with political messaging. One AI-generated video titled ‘One Vengeance For All’ BEN STILLER went viral. It presents a series of symbolic, scenes depicting conflicts from around the world. It opens with ONE VENGEANCE FOR ALL imagery referencing events in Japan, VietThe digital push isn’t one-sided. Iran has nam, Yemen and Gaza, displacement of responded with its own style of online messag- indigenous peoples in North America and ing, using humour, exaggeration and artificial the controversial Epstein Island episode, all framed as part of a larger narrative of grievance. The video culminates with a dramatic, fictional strike on the Statue of Liberty. All of this points to a larger shift. Conflict is now styled, edited and packaged in ways that feel familiar to anyone raised on fast-moving media. In this “gamification” of war, real-world events are turned to flashy content. Another term doing the rounds is AI Slopaganda, referring to digital propaganda spread through AIgenerated visuals aimed at grabbing eyeballs. These posts travel fast — far faster than traditional press conferences or official statements. They attract millions of views, Bollywood shines @IPL spark reactions, and shape opinions within hours. They don’t just deliver information; they influence what people believe. Yet beneath the surface, something feels deeply unsettling. This approach risks masking real suffering. When snazzy edits and celebratory tones appear alongside news of casualties, the disconnect becomes hard to ignore. The goal is no longer just to outmanoeuvre an opponent physically, but to control the narrative digitally. In a world overflowing with content, the message that survives isn’t always the most accurate — it’s the one people remember. Increasingly, that message comes in the form of a meme. Sayani Gupta turns producer Actor Sayani Gupta is stepping into a new phase as she launches her production house, Sayani Gupta Movies (SGM). Leading the slate is her directorial debut short film Aasmani, which becomes the first project under the banner. After spending over a decade working across films and streaming, the actor says the shift towards production comes from a growing need to be more involved in storytelling from the ground up. “It has been a long dream. I’ve been wanting tell a certain kind of stories and the idea is to be able to create an enabling space for collaboration. We will go slowly but steadily, concentrating on one film at a time. For us the quality of writing, craft, storytelling will always take precedence... and for that to happen, the right kind of time, care and attention needs to be given to every project.” Starring Revathy along with Daria Bedi and Abhay Kaul, Aasmani has been written, directed and produced by Sayani. While she has earlier co-produced projects like Where the Winds Blow and Upar Neeche, and various short films like Dear Men & Oscar qualifying Shameless, Aasmani was her first full blown production. Sayani spent over a year scouting locations across Maharashtra. Pune eventually became their base, given her connection to her alma mater, FTII. Handling both production and directing for the first time, was a mammoth task. Sayani also revealed that she is currently working on two international co-productions in different genres, further expanding her work as a producer. CHAT UP PEECEE’S DESI OUTING The 19th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) has been going on in full swing, with players putting their best foot forward and keeping cricket fever alive across the country. And just like every year, the Indian Premier League continues to witness a strong dose of Bollywood glamour and star-studded presence. On Sunday, a slew of stars stepped out in Mumbai to watch Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders match at the famous Wankhede Stadium. Dhurandhar fame Sara Arjun was spotted cheering for Mumbai Indians from the stands. While exiting the venue, she was papped with actor Ishaan Khatter. Jannat fame Sonal Chauhan, too, cheered for Mumbai paltan from the stands. Lending support to KKR squad, Bol- Kapoor. She was also joined by her cousin Alia Chhiba. The girls were dressed in KKR jersey. CO-PARENTING DONE RIGHT lywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan attended the match with her BFFs Ananya Panday, and Shanaya Former Bollywood couple Ranvir Shorey and Konkona Sen Sharma were spotted together at the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, along with their son, Haroon Shorey. Ranvir shared a selfie on Instagram showing the trio celebrating MI’s win. Fans praised the family moment online. Despite separating after their 2010 marriage, they maintain a friendly bond. On-screen, Ranvir is set for the Khosla Ka Ghosla sequel, while MI achieved their highestever successful IPL chase. c m y b Actor Priyanka Chopra has once again delighted fans with a peek at her India trip, this time celebrating Punjab’s rich culinary heritage from Amritsar. She shared a colourful Instagram story featuring a traditional North Indian thali, captioned “Just Amritsar things…” The post was set to Diljit Dosanjh’s song Sohni Lagdi, adding to the cultural vibe. BOY FOR VIVIAN & NOURAN Actor Vivian Dsena and his wife Nouran Aly welcomed a baby boy. Vivian shared on Instagram: “Went a little off the radar… not without reason. Some stories aren’t announced, they’re lived first. The silence said enough… The kingdom just got bigger… and this time… it’s a Prince.” Vivian is already a father to three daughters and has two stepdaughters with Nouran. CHOCOLATE HEIST @EUROPE ANIL KAPOOR IS NANA AGAIN Nestlé confirmed that over 12 tonnes of KitKat bars were stolen during transit from central Italy to Poland in a major European heist. Authorities are investigating, but the company assured that consumer safety isn’t affected and supplies remain stable. Amid the ongoing investigation, social media users couldn't resist turning the situation into a meme fest. "This is what happens when your transit people 'take a break'," a social media user commented. "We've seen all kinds of robberies... but this one definitely breaks the internet," another X user wrote. The theft occurred just a few days before Easter, a time when many people enjoy the chocolate hunt, a tradition where chocolate eggs or bunnies are hidden for children to discover. Veteran actor Anil Kapoor is overjoyed as his daughter Sonam Kapoor and son-in-law Anand Ahuja welcomed their second child, a baby boy, on March 29. Anil shared a heartfelt Instagram post celebrating becoming a nana again. Sonam and Anand announced the birth with a serene digital illustration and a caption expressing gratitude. Their elder son, Vayu, now has a little brother, completing their family of four.