30092026-LSTC-01.qxd 9/29/2026 10:51 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Spiritual call Life Kristen Stewart has bagged a pivotal role in French director Olivier Assayas’ Spiritual World. The film will also feature Vicky Krieps, Riley Keough and Wagner Moura. CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 Mona F OR Jitin Gulati, acting was not a career choice that came suddenly. It was something that seemed to find him early. He stepped onto the stage for the first time, playing Lokmanya Tilak in a school Independence Day play when he was just four. Decades later, the stage and the camera remain the places where he feels most completely at home. “Every time I’m on the stage and I’m in front of the camera, I don’t want to be anywhere else.” ‘It’s been slow but steady’ Actor Jitin Gulati reflects on his journey, his roles in Mahakali and Fauzi, and the lessons he has learnt along the way… An evening in Paris The journey, however, was far from straightforward. Before becoming a full-time actor, Gulati spent nearly nine years as a banker in Delhi and Noida. The move to Mumbai in 2008 proved to be an important turning point. “At the time, opportunities outside Mumbai were limited, and the idea of making acting a livelihood seemed distant.” Auditions soon became a regular part of his life. Gulati describes himself, with a laugh, as “a professional auditioner”. His first advertisement came after a month of auditioning, but it took several years of advertisements and countless auditions before his first film came along. For Gulati, those auditions were more than just a means to an end. “It’s a great practice place, honestly, auditions,” he says. The persistence eventually began to translate into opportunities, including his work in Broken But Beautiful and the projects that have now put him on the cusp of a new phase in his career. Looking back, Gulati describes the journey as “slow but steady”. From the outside, the progression might appear smooth, but he insists that it has involved its share of uncertainty and setbacks. “It’s marred with a lot of ups and downs and stuff,” he says. What matters to him is the direction. “The one Celine Dion performs at star-studded Paris Fashion Week, Aishwarya grooves to her iconic voice Paris Fashion Week 2026 kicked off on a high note as L’Oreal Paris’ Express Your Worth show unfolded against the stunning backdrop of the illuminated Eiffel Tower. From Jane Fonda and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Kendall Jenner, women from different generations, backgrounds and fields came together to walk the runway. However, what made the starstudded showcase truly memorable was the appearance of iconic singer Celine Dion. Celine Dion performed her classic hit I’m Alive before being joined on stage by fellow L’Oreal ambassadors. In visuals that have surfaced online, Aishwarya can be seen sharing a warm hug with Celine before grooving to the singer’s performance, adding another memorable moment to the evening. Sharing pictures of Celine from the show, L’Oreal Paris on Instagram wrote, “A voice that inspires. A strength that speaks volumes. Global icon @celinedion brings her iconic voice to Le Defile 2026 with I’m Alive, celebrating a moment of empowerment, resilience and worth.” Recently, Dion returned to the stage for her first full concert in more than six years. Her career had been put on hold first by the Covid-19 pandemic and later by her diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome. During the milestone show, Dion broke down in tears moments after taking the stage, and she later addressed fans in an emotional moment about her “promise” to return to the stage for them. —ANI Khusha Kapila and Sheeba Chaddha have teamed up for an Instagram series, Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe. The 14-episode Tulsea Original series pivots around a unique penpal relationship that forms between two women navigating emotional turbulences. The plot begins when one woman attempts to dispatch a letter addressed to an old friend, which inadvertently lands in the hands of a tenant currently residing in that house. Ahead of the show’s premiere, Kapila shared, “Working on Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe has been a meaningful journey and an important milestone.” thing that I’m glad about is that it’s an upwards journey and I’m moving forward.” That forward movement has brought him to two major panIndian projects — Mahakali and Fauzi — while also opening the door to work across languages and genres. In Mahakali, a mythological fantasy drama, Gulati has a role he is not yet at liberty to reveal. What he can talk about is the extraordinary process of creating the character. The makeup alone could take around eight hours a day. “It was another level of art WHAT’S HOT play love TIME FOR REMINISCENCE THE POETS OF DECCAN FESTIVE CELEBRATIONS Fauzi, an epic war drama in which he has worked alongside big names like Prabhas. Gulati describes the scale of the film as “massive”, recalling days when at least 500 people could be part of a scene. Set in the 1940s, the film has given him an experience that he calls “equally epic”. There is a Hindi film waiting in the wings too — a wedding story that will mark Gulati’s first lead character in a Hindi title. For an actor who has spent years patiently building his career, it represents another significant step. In Ludhiana, actress Dia Mirza walks the ramp for Noor-E-Mehfil Shivani Bhakoo ET ready for a festive celebration this October! Diwali & Dussehra Fest is happening on October 18 at Paragon Waterfront, Ludhiana in collaboration with Shiana Kothari — a festive celebration for little ones and grown-ups alike! c m y b patience, I think, that I’ve learnt while doing Mahakali,” he says. Yet, the experience was rewarding. “If a mythology film doesn’t make me feel closer to who I believe in, I don’t think that it’s done its job,” he says. For him, the challenge is to use technology without allowing it to overshadow the emotional core of the story. Having watched director Prasanth Varma’s Hanu-Man, Gulati says he was drawn to the filmmaker’s approach and wanted to become part of that cinematic universe. His other major project is Grace, glamour & heritage G ludhiana U RDU Club Amritsar will host its monthly meet up on October 3 as it travels South to the fascinating literary world of the Deccan. Long before Urdu found its familiar literary home in the North, it was evolving in the courts and cultural centres of Bijapur, Golconda and Hyderabad. The event, Dakkan Ke Shayar, will explore the lives, poetry and legacy of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah and Wali Dakhni, and the remarkable journey of Urdu from the Deccan to the wider subcontinent. On October 3, from 5 pm onwards at Bunglow No. 63, Police Lines Road, Amritsar. amritsar B ILANDA - Walk Through Reminiscence, solo art exhibition by Ghazali Moinuddin, presented by Gallery Sree Arts x Artiure, is on October 1 to 5 at Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Open for all. delhi Kusha Kapila’s new venture ISTOCK It was an altogether different experience for many women from the city as they got an opportunity to walk the ramp with Bollywood diva Dia Mirza. Organised by the FLO Chapter of Ludhiana, the event, Noor-E-Mehfil, celebrated India’s timeless heritage Conceptualised around the theme, Where Heritage Meets New Horizons, the fashion show brought together the grandeur of couture, the richness of Indian craftsmanship and a strong message of women empowerment. Dia Mirza, the show-stopper at the event, mesmerized all with her elegance, poise and beauty. Known for combining her influence in the world of cinema with her commitment to environmental and social causes, Dia has consistently used her public platform to champion issues close to her heart. The afternoon witnessed the participation of FLO members, the city’s leading doctors, prominent influencers and distinguished women from different walks of life, who came together to walk the ramp and celebrate the essence of Indian fashion and femininity. Their participation added a personal and empowering dimension to the show, making it a celebration not just of couture, but of the women who shape the community. Beyond the glamour and grandeur, Noor-E-Mehfil carried a meaningful social purpose. The funds generated through the fashion show will be utilised towards the education of underprivileged girls. Aishni Sethi, Chairperson of FLO, also walked the ramp.