29092026-LSTC-01.qxd 9/29/2026 12:53 AM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Life Swiftcreates VMA history T AYLOR Swift broke records at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, as she is known to do. The pop powerhouse received the inaugural Artist Director Honours on Sunday night, becoming the most-awarded artist in VMA history. Previously, she was tied with Beyonce for the title, with 30 VMAs each. The new award is meant to recognise artists “whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling.” “I got to start making music videos and being a part of music videos 20 years ago,” Swift said in her speech, adding that she’s been involved in making roughly 60 music videos, 18 of which she wrote and directed.“You, the fans, make it so much fun,” she said. She also took home the top prize of the night — Video of the Year — for The Fate of Ophelia from her album The Life of a Showgirl. Swift dedicated the award to the “ultimate showgirl,” the late Dolly Parton. Swift also debuted the music video for her new song, Patient Zero, during the award show. She directed the visual, which stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson. Patient Zero is also her first single since marrying Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in July. The two-hour show was broadcast live on CBS from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Madonna opened the starry award show, and won big. “It is mother,” were the first words uttered by Madonna as she opened the VMAs with her 2026 single Bring Your Love alongside collaborator Sabrina Carpenter. Later in the night, the pair won the award for best collaboration for the song. “It is been a while since I did one of these things,” Madonna joked. “So, I’ve prepared nothing.” When it came time for her return to the stage to accept the award for Artist of the Year, Madonna began with, “First of all, I would like to thank my fingers because I can always count on them.” Returning a third time to accept for Best Dance, she said simply, “I came alive on the dance floor... We’re all equal on the dance floor.” If her aim was to bring the dance floor to the award show stage, Madonna did exactly in her opening number - and then some. The show, which was delayed 20 minutes by a tight NFL game, wasted no time getting heart rates up. Teyana Taylor then presented the first award for best pop to LISA for Dream, featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi. Nirvana took home the 2026 Video Vanguard Award. — AP The singer becomes mostawarded artiste in MTV VMAs history, dedicates top prize to Dolly Parton (From top) Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter & Madonna, PinkPantheress, Sienna Spiro & Normani PHOTOS: REUTERS Head turner Troye Sivan brought a softer, more romantic mood to the MTV VMA redcarpet. His dark, elegant ensemble had a distinctly Byronic quality, blending oldworld romance with a modern, gender-fluid sensibility. CHANDIGARH | TUESDAY | 29 SEPTEMBER 2026 M TV’s annual Video Music Awards 2026 was anything but understated, with stars embracing sheer fabrics, metallic glamour, feathers and romantic silhouettes for fashion’s biggest night. From barely-there ensembles to dramatic couture, the evening offered plenty of highimpact looks. Taylor Swift went the couture route in Tamara Ralph, appearing in a shimmering, sculpted black and silver creation that matched the celebratory mood of the evening. Her appearance came during a major night for The Fate of Ophelia. Sabrina Carpenter turned heads in a tiered vintage Dolce and Gabbana gown. Paris Hilton, who attended as a presenter, went full glamour in The Blonds, adding sparkle and theatricality in an all silver number. Teyana Taylor, who was nominated Best Collaboration for her song Hard Part with Lucky Daye, made a striking entrance in Zuhair Murad, delicate sheer detailing combined with an elaborate, feathered finish. RAYE brought in retro glam in a shimmery Georges Hobeika Couture. Lisa’s was the most stunning red look of them all. Taking home the Best Pop award for Dream, she brought in drama in figure-hugging crimson, Quine Li and The Attico dress with bouncy fur short jacket and matching trail. Fur and dare bare dressing weren’t gendered either. Sombr, the Song of the Summer nominee, leaned into rockstar dressing in ERL. The look had a deliberately undone, vintage-rock quality, though it stayed firmly within the familiar rock-god aesthetic he has embraced over the years. Troye Sivan brought a softer, more romantic mood to the carpet in Erdem. His dark, elegant ensemble had a distinctly Byronic quality, blending old-world romance with a modern, gender-fluid sensibility with feathers its finding rightful place. Normani stunned in a shimmering, sleek backless Robert Wun black gown featuring a structured skirt, a flowing train, and a dramatic flower accent on the shoulder. Shimmer it was all the way, Haley Kalil in a silver sequined Marc Bouwer gown to Sienna Spiro in custom champagne-hued Valentino gown. Taken together, the VMA 2026 looks showed just how wide the fashion spectrum can stretch—from sheer and skinbaring silhouettes to metallic sparkle, extrav(Clockwise agant feathers from top) Haley and moody Kalil, Lisa & romanticism. — Mona Paris Hilton VMA 2026 Ritesh Pal lifts the India’s Best Dancer 5 trophy Vikrant Massey to open Musafir Caféin hills Taking from reel to real, the actor-producer is already working on two cafés with artist residencies planned in Dharamsala and Uttarakhand National Award winner Vikrant Massey has been receiving appreciation for both his work on screen and as a producer with Homemade Stories, which has also struck a chord with audiences. His character in Musafir Café, Chander, received a lot of love from viewers, further inspiring the actor to explore ways of taking the world of the series beyond the screen. Massey has now begun work on two real-life Musafir Cafés, one in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, and another in Uttarakhand. Reportedly, the cafés will draw inspiration directly from the one seen in the series. “Work has already begun on it. The idea is to recreate the café seen in the show, along with spaces where artists can stay and work. Around 20 rooms are being designed as residencies for artists,” said a source. After months of spectacular performances, and unforgettable dance moments to the theme of India Wala Dance on Sony Entertainment Television’s India’s Best Dancer Season 5, Raipur’s Ritesh Pal, together with choreographer Pratik Utekar, crowned the winners of the season. From the very beginning, Ritesh’s journey stood out for his passion, versatility and determination. He consistently pushed his boundaries, won the coveted Battle trophy thrice this season. — TNS Massey revealed that the idea emerged following the “euphoric response we got for the show”. Although fans had expressed their desire to see him open a Musafir Café in the hills, the actor pointed out that similar cafés had already been created as a tribute to Divya Prakash Dubey’s book Musafir Café, which served as the source material for the series. “I was chatting with Divya, Sharanya Rajgopal (show creator), and Vijay Subramaniam (founder of Collective Artistes Network) about how it would be a great idea to recreate the onscreen experience of the show in real life,” explained the actor. The upcoming cafés are envisioned as spaces where visitors can enjoy food and coffee, browse books and spend time away from the pace of city life. — TNS c m y b Sheer, shimmer & feathers take over the CHAT UP ‘ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS...’ Jackie Shroff paid a heartfelt tribute to legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar on her 97th birth anniversary. “Lata ji always in our hearts (Red heart emoji),” he wrote on Instagram, accompanied by a heartfelt collage of vintage photographs of India’s Nightingale, Lata Mangeshkar. A SLICE OF FROZEN CAKE ISHA RIKHI EVICTED FROMBB Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco marked their first wedding anniversary on September 27, revisiting their wedding memories and sharing a slice of the cake they had frozen for the occasion. Rapper Badshah’s exwife Isha Rikhi has become the latest contestant to be evicted from the 20th season of Bigg Boss. Isha got the lowest number of fan votes.