26082026-LSTL-01.qxd 8/25/2026 10:12 PM Page 1 c m y b ZOMBIE REDDY ONCE MORE On the occasion of superstar Teja Sajja’s birthday, the makers of the blockbuster Zombie Reddy at People Media Factory have officially announced its highly anticipated sequel, titled Zombie Reddy Nxt Lvl. TRIBUNE Home is… Life Sandeepa Dhar’s Kashmir visit uncovered cherished family treasures, forgotten travel keepsakes and enduring memories, while the Valley’s beauty added poignancy to her emotional journey. LUDHIANA | WEDNESDAY | 26 AUGUST 2026 Portrait of a divided PHOTO: PARDEEP TEWARI ON THE SAME PITCH Strangely enough in Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga too Naseeruddin Shah’s character is yearning for his roots and in Rehmat too he returns to his homeland. Gurvinder laughs, “Perhaps, it’s time when people are thinking about these things. I was not aware of what Imtiaz was making nor did he have any clue about my film. I guess Partition continues to haunt us.” PUNJAB NonikaSingh “I Taapsee gets irked over reporter’s question on past feud with Kangana Ranaut ‘Khatam kyun nahin hone dete yeh baat?’ Taapsee Pannu is tired of being asked by the media about her past feud with Kangana Ranaut. On Tuesday, Taapsee attended a press meet for her upcoming film Gandhari. However, she appeared irked when a reporter brought up her past war with Kangana. “Aadmi kyun aisa question puchta hai aurton ko? Aap khatam kyun nahin hone dete yeh baat? If all of you stop asking both of us questions about this, the issue will also come to an end. You all seem to enjoy watching this, which is why you keep asking the same question. If you stopped asking such questions, this matter would have ended long ago,” she said. DON’T tweak or create films for Western audiences,” says celebrated filmmaker Gurvinder Singh, whose films are toast of prestigious international film festivals. As his latest film, Rehmat, became the only Indian entry in the competition section at Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, the response was indeed overwhelming. But he has no hesitation in admitting that Indian critics understand his cinema better than their foreign counterparts, for Indians can relate to the cultural context better. As Rehmat brings to the fore not only the plurality of Punjab but also opens layers of present to past. It brings migration, memory and trauma together in the most poignant way. Like his earlier film Chauthi Koot, Gurvinder does not believe in showing the tragedy but evoking the emotion. He says, “It is indeed a loss that we are living in a divided region.” One day, he hopes, we connect with the Pakistani Punjab, at least culturally. Till then, he has made this film whose central characters are not just Sikhs but Hindus too, and a Punjabi Muslim. Casting veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah as Rashid was indeed a departure from his usual way of casting lesser-known faces. Surprisingly, Naseer came on board without even reading the script. In fact, Gurvinder began to write his character only after Naseer said yes, which turned out to be a big boon for he could build in inflections which he knew the brilliant actor alone could pull off. “His interpretation of Rashid gave it an edge even I could not have imagined.” As a rule, whether they are seasoned actors or debutants like noted poet Jaswant Zafar, who has made his acting debut at 60 in Rehmat or his Chauthi Koot actor Suvinder Vicky, also seen in Rehmat, Gurvinder doesn’t feel the need to guide his actors. But then, much in his cinema is organic. He feels strongly about how people outside Punjab continue to believe that only Sikhs live in Punjab and blames Jat-dominated Punjabi film industry, ‘immersed in their grandness’ for perpetuating this myth. Yet, he did not deliberately start Rehmat with a story of a Hindu family. Gurvinder Singh, whose film Rehmat was the only Indian entry at Locarno Film Festival, says the film is less about depicting Punjab’s trauma and more about evoking the emotions it has left behind While reading all of indomitable Ajeet Cour’s short stories, he selected four, wove them in three different strands and a pattern emerged. For someone who has previously adapted works of male authors such as Gurdial Singh, Waryam Singh Sandhu, he was not unduly conscious of Ajeet Cour’s feminism. He says, “I find this male/female gaze very limiting, ultimately things have to rise to become universal.” Interestingly, for someone who believes cinema and literature are two different beasts, he has returned to literature for inspiration time and again, for there is a lived-in authenticity in the authors’ writings. Rehmat, however, also has his own experience of Punjab, which he has been touring/ researching since 2001. Over the years, whether his cinematic language has become less abstract or not, the writer in him has certainly emerged strongly. Adaptation, anyway is not just literal celluloid translation but involves a lot of reimagining. In the near future, possibility of his original writing leaping on to the screen is very bright. But the niggling query ‘what next’ doesn’t bother him. Nor does he waste time in worrying about why and what mainstream cinema does. Yes, OTT could have changed the landscape of Indie films, created a subsection for niche films like his which otherwise struggle for theatrical release. But sadly the question ‘where can we watch your GURUGRAM MARATHON ON ITS WAY WHAT’S HOT Kangana Ranaut takes a dig at Kriti Sanon’s Rakhi ad learn Why would you tie your brother a rakhi in your bikini: Kangana chandigarh PAINT THE GLASS T RANSFORM plain glass surfaces into beautiful works of art at Glass Painting Art Date. Using colourful, translucent paints, participants can explore the techniques of painting on glass guided step by step — beginners and art enthusiasts equally welcome. Olive Cafe and Bar, Chandigarh. It starts from August 30 till September 27. play chandigarh BOOTS OF THE DEVIL A musical drama that explores the tension between poverty, moral integrity, and the allure of wealth comes to Tagore Theatre. The story centres on Fyodor, a struggling cobbler drowning in debt while trying to provide for his family. At Tagore Theatre on August 28. laugh PRITISH NARULA LIVE mohali P RITISH NARULA, known for his viral comedy special Pichhe Ki Vajda Hai, brings his unique blend of observational humour and storytelling to Mohali. His effortless delivery and relatable punchlines have made him one of the most loved comedians. Presented by LOL Factory at CP67 Mall, on August 30. Kangana Ranaut has questioned Kriti Sanon’s choice of outfit in a recently released Raksha Bandhan jewellery advertisement, saying the actor had several styling options available to her. The advertisement, which features Sanon in an Indo-Western ensemble comprising a bralette-style blouse, cape and draped skirt, has drawn criticism on social media over its styling for the traditional festival. Joining the debate on social media, actor and BJP MP Ranaut shared a note on her Instagram Stories on Monday evening. She wrote, “It’s a wonderful time to be a woman. Our closets are full of variety of clothes, today’s woman is a global woman. From cocktail dresses to lehenga cholis, jeans to saris, bikinis to salwar kameez, from all the options that are available to us today why would you tie your broth- er a rakhi in your bikini/undergarments? Where are all your styling options? Ha ha the advert looks intentionally creepy!” Several social media users had also questioned Sanon’s outfit in the festival-themed advertisement. One user wrote, “Have the guts to put same attire for other festivals?” Another commented, “Nonsense dressing sense. Try showing it on some other festival. Just objectifying women to such extent.” A third user wrote, “No traditional wear, no puja thali, no tilak on brother’s forehead, no sweets .. nothing... only show off .. what kind of festival is this?” — ANI KRITI HITS BACK Kriti Sanon has now responded sharply to the criticism of her outfit in the jewellery advertisement tied to Raksha Bandhan. The ad shows Kriti in a bralette-style blouse, a look that had drawn mixed reactions online for straying from traditional festive wear before Kangana weighed in. Kriti pushed back against the idea that a woman’s connection to her culture can be judged by her outfit, arguing that culture and traditions live in the heart, not in a neckline. She wrote, “Also, when will we stop telling women what to wear? Ethnic Actor Milind Soman launched the Fit Gurugram initiative and unveiled the campaign’s jersey. He announced a Fit Gurugram Marathon, which will take place on October 4 at Cyber Hub. This event is a part of Fit Gurugram by Fortis Hospital Gurugram, a first-of-its-kind citywide health and wellness movement aimed at fostering a sustained culture of active living and preventive healthcare across the Millennium City. Pregnant & powerful At the Chennai pre-release event for Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, Kiara Advani spoke about the strong support she received from star Yash and director Geetu Mohandas throughout the film’s journey. Kiara said, “When I got pregnant, after my family, you were the first two people I shared the news with. In that moment, you didn’t think about how will we finish the Kiara Advani says Yash and Geetu made her feel that she could do anything through her Toxic shoot fashion has evolved over the years, but still a woman’s respect for her culture is measured by just her clothes!! Culture & traditions are in her heart, not in her c m y b neckline! The essence of festivals is not in the clothes you wear, it is in the emotions and meaning you hold for the traditions,” she wrote on Instagram. films’ which haunted his teachers like Mani Kaul still looms large. Yet, after the festival round when Rehmat releases in cinema halls later this year, he hopes it would find audiences. While patriarchy is one discomfiting truth we need to confront about Punjab, to know all of Punjab’s redeeming qualities, he says, “You have to watch Rehmat.” Gurvinder not only changes the lexicon of Punjabi cinema but also what Punjabis are all about. A lesser person would perhaps go to town about his achievements but this reticent maker, gentle slayer, winner of National Awards, Golden Peacock and more, would rather evoke admiration… with his pensive thoughts and thoughtful cinema. film. You both smiled with tears in your eyes, congratulated me and said, ‘We’re going to have the time of our lives now, Kiara,’” she shared.