17092026-LSTL-01.qxd 9/16/2026 8:40 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE 2 Eyes Life Guru Randhawa releases 2 Eyes with Nikita Dutta, swapping dance anthems for a breezy love ballad about a cricketfuelled meet-cute and romantic fantasy. LUDHIANA | THURSDAY | 17 SEPTEMBER 2026 Ambiecka Pandit on making Babita Singh Reporting a lived-in story of women, courage and change NonikaSingh I Sandlas finds Pyaar Jasmine Sandlas has often made music out of her most honest emotions — from heartbreak, longing to healing and self love as heard and celebrated in hits such as Dil Tutteya, Vachari, Jaiye Sajna and Sip Sip. Now, with her latest single Pyaar, the singer is exploring a distinctly happier chapter, with her fiancé Shekhar Chaudhary featuring in the music video. Known for her distinctive voice, Sandlas has built a career by blending Punjabi folk with contemporary pop, hip-hop and R&B influences. Born in Jalandhar and raised in California, she began writing songs as a teenager before making her mark with tracks such as Muskan and Gulabi. Her Bollywood breakthrough came with Yaar Naa Miley from Kick. Over the years, her music has frequently drawn from deeply personal emotions, giving her songs an intimate quality that has connected with listeners. That makes Pyaar feel like a meaningful addition. After years of singing about the complicated, painful and searching sides of love, Sandlas is now presenting love through a more personal and celebratory lens — with the person she loves sharing the screen with her! — Mona mohali WHAT’S HOT eat chandigarh FOUR-DAY FESTIVAL T HE CSNA 4 Days Tricity Theatre Festival takes over Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, Chandigarh, from September 21 to 24, with shows starting at 6:30 pm. Entry is free. Dr Gurtej Singh’s directed play Kesar Ganga will take centre stage on opening night. love C LUXE EDIT URATED by Prakshi Gupta and Raman Nagpal, The Luxe Edit is bringing a curated shopping experience to Ludhiana. Drop by Blaase, on September 22, 2026, 11am to 7:00 pm. everyday patriarchy el of separation between art and me.” Of course, the purpose of cinema according to her is not to educate, only ask relevant questions, may be examine and reflect. In this reflection those who felt the investigation arm of the film was not as gripping as Babita’s journey, Ambiecka is a bit piqued. She insists, “The film was not meant to be a thriller and I can understand if fans of the genre are disappointed. Investigation was only a vehicle. It isn’t even a CHAT UP AKSHARA SINGH VISITS BIHAR Akshara Singh visited flood affected areas in Bihar, urging people to contribute to relief efforts and support for those hit by the calamity. Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary transferred Rs 579.23 crore in ex gratia relief to over 8 lakh affected families, with floods impacting nearly 50 lakh people across 15 districts. Chandigarh to Mumbai KAPIL SHOW RETURNS The Great Indian Kapil Show Season 5 premieres September 26 on Netflix, show will return to celebrate Hasi Ka Tyo-haha-har (Festival of Laughter) with audiences. Kapil Sharma returns with Sunil Grover, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Archana Puran Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu for a festive season of comedy. Suchi Birgi on chasing dreams, cracking auditions & finding her place in showbiz SEYFRIED, SADOSKI SPLIT Amanda Seyfried and Thomas Sadoski have ended their marriage after being separated for a while, the couple said in a joint statement. They called the decision right for their family. The pair met in 2015, began dating in 2016 and eloped in 2017. They share two children. C play Challenging Ambiecka Pandit JIGGLE & BREW HELVIS Coffee in 3B2 is turning into a one-stop destination for cravings of every kind. Their pour-over black coffee sets the tone, but the real draw is the spread around it: jiggly Japanese cakes, gooey melted-cheese burgers and wood-fired pizzas, each dish as photogenic as the next. A solid pick for a long, lazy hangout. ludhiana T’s a man’s world… we all are acutely aware of this stinging social reality. But it’s a rare film which shows us subtle, nuanced, yet emphatic shades of patriarchy without shouting from the pulpit. Babita Singh Reporting is one such film which is creating a virtual storm what with every other Insta post delving into its many recesses and layers. National Award winning Ambiecka Pandit, director of the film might not have anticipated the overwhelming positive response to her debut feature directorial, but the lawyer turned filmmaker understands the dynamics of why and how the film has resonated so well. She reasons, “There is a Baby in me, in Nimisha Sajayan who plays her as well, as all those women who can relate to her.” But what is more gratifying for her is the response of male audiences who have called out Sharad for being uncaring, unkind and doing the bare minimum. She rues, “Society expects women’s career to be secondary to her domestic identity while for men their professional commitment always takes precedence.” Interestingly, when reading Amita Vyas’ script what fascinated Ambiecka the most was her character’s vulnerability and how beautifully Amita had changed the definition of courage. As the film captures everyday patriarchy, what Ambiecka finds most dangerous is women internalising it and self-censuring for “it means patriarchy is really working and tentacles have taken root among the subjects themselves.” Among the film’s many revealing scenes the one in which Sharad starts to cry and plays the victim card is what truly hit Ambiecka home and she quips, “Often the predator pretends to be a victim and starts to cry foul. This is something I had experienced and I had a great time directing this scene.” Perhaps this is what Sudip Sharma, producer of the film, had in mind when he felt that a woman would be more suitable to direct such a subject. Ambiecka adds, “Though cinema can’t be seen through gendered lens, as a woman this is a lived in experience for me and there is no lev- conventional cop drama and was always written as coming of age film of Babita, both as a cop and as a woman.” Nimisha, however, was always the first choice for playing this diffident yet brave cop. “Nimisha is a brilliant actor whose work I had seen in Chola and The Great Indian Kitchen.” While almost everything about patriarchy annoys her; mansplaining, this constant urge to talk down to women condescendingly she finds most off-putting. Yes, male-dominated film industry has similar undercurrents but as she puts it, “not in a disruptive manner.” Besides, she has been fortunate enough to find support and guidance in makers like Suresh Triveni, Vikramaditya Motwane and Sudip Sharma, all of whom she rates as not just great makers but wonderful human beings. Suresh and Vikramaditya even produced her second short Under The Waters and she even got a chance to direct an episode of Vikramaditya’s acclaimed series Black Warrant. Despite her legal background, she doesn’t think a courtroom drama would be more up her alley. Rather she wants to try all kinds of genres. Only subject she would say no to is; misogynistic content. “I won’t judge my characters but if the politics of the film does not align with mine, it would definitely be a big no.” On the surface like Baby, Ambiecka too might come across a gentle, soft-spoken person but has a mind that refuses to bend to any set rules. Watch out for Ambiecka Pandit directing in future projects. And in case you have yet not watched Babita Singh Reporting on Prime Video, check out Baby’s transformation, which runs oh so deep and real. More than one scene packs a punch and will stay with you for times to come… Anant Nag to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award Veteran actor Anant Nag, known for his impressive work in Hindi and Kannada cinema in classics such as Minchina Ota, Hamsageethe, Ankur and Manthan, will be honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, the government announced on Wednesday. With a filmography of more than 250 films in five decades across multiple languages, the 78-year-old is also a renowned name in the theatre world. He will be given the award, the highest recognition in Indian cinema, at the National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22. Last year, the recipient of the award was Malayalam cinema star Mohanlal. Veteran actor to receive the country’s highest cinema honour at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony Nag, a high profile actor who also dabbled in politics and served as a minister in Karnataka, grew up in a religious family in Bhatkal in coastal Karnataka. He was sent to Mumbai for higher education. His early influences of growing up in a math shaped his interest in stories. While in Mum- c m y b bai, Nag felt like a fish out of water but gradually became drawn to the theatre movement there. He started doing plays in Konkani, Hindi and Marathi for five years. There he met and was influenced by people like Satyadev Dubey, Girish Karnad and Amol Palekar. Nag made his cinema debut with 1973 Kannada movie Sankalpa and gradually became an integral part of the parallel cinema there in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a part of popular Doordashan serial Malgudi Days, the TV adaptation of R K Narayan’s popular work. Nag’s collaboration with Dubey led to classics Ankur, Nishant, Manthan, Bhumika, Kondura and Kalyugfollowed. His major hits in Kannada include Bayalu Daari, Na Ninna Bidalare, Chandanada Gombe, Aruna Raaga, Mududida Taavare Aralithu, Breaking News and Dashamukha, Godhi Banna and KGF Last . year, Nag was honoured with the Padma Bhushan. — PTI Ravleen Kaur There was a little girl who watched Govinda’s Raja Babu and was convinced that one day, she would become everything. A lawyer. A doctor. A pilot. Perhaps even all three. For Suchi Birgi, watching Govinda wasn’t merely entertainment. It was a possibility. Today, sitting in Mumbai, she is still chasing that same childlike possibility, only the costumes have been replaced by characters, auditions and cameras. At present, Birgi is part of Bareilly Ke Bacchan on Colors TV and JioHotstar, while also working on a SonyLIV series. Born in Kanpur and raised in Chandigarh, Birgi started with theatre after school. Suchetak Rangmanch in Mohali became her training ground. A Hindi short film with R Swami followed, and then came an advertising campaign with Ayushmann Khurrana — something she had manifested all along. “On November 18, 2023, I moved to the city of dreams. The city that has something for everyone,” she says as her eyes sparkle. Punjab, meanwhile, gave her a memorable breakthrough. Darya Walle by Rangle Sardar, featuring Birgi in a striking no-makeup look, crossed 10 million YouTube views and became a staple soundtrack at Punjabi weddings. The song opened doors to more regional projects, but Mumbai remained her larger canvas. However, she says, "I'm open to opportunities wherever they come from. For me, the destination matters less than the work. Whatever is written for me, I'm ready for it."