03102026-LSTL-01.qxd 10/2/2026 7:40 PM Page 1 c m y b SALMAN BACKS PREM KEETANU Salman Khan attended the Mumbai screening of Prem Keetanu supporting actors Veer Pahariya and Aafiya Sayed ahead of its release. The superstar greeted and hugged the newcomers, while patiently posing for paparazzi. The romantic comedy released nationwide on October 2. chandigarh GO SAATVIK E NJOY the Saatvik Bhoj Navratri Thali at 24/7 and Baluchi at The Lalit. Available from October 11 to 19, from 12 noon to 11 pm. Indulge in a thoughtfully curated spread of festive, saatvik flavours, crafted especially for the Navratri season. Price: ~999. play IT’S A DREAM! mohali Courageous Life WHAT’S HOT eat J ASMINE Sandlas brings her Dream Girl India Tour to Mohali for an epic musical journey of soulful melodies and powerhouse Punjabi hits. Expect raw energy, bold vocals and backto-back bangers, with fans singing along to every word. Catch her at the Outside Arena, CP67 Mall, Mohali, on October 10. lOVE DIFFERENT STROKES chandigarh TRIBUNE T HE University Institute of Film and Visual Arts (UIFVA), in collaboration with five noted artists from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, presents From Peaks to Perception, a group painting exhibition showcasing nearly 80 works under one roof. The exhibition is on display at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16, Chandigarh, until October 5, 2026. Varun Dhawan has praised Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage during the FlyDubai mid-air crisis. “Salute to our Capt. Smit Machchhar. Your courage and bravery fills all of us with pride,” he wrote. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 3 OCTOBER 2026 From scans to screen Mona F OR nearly 25 years, Dr Mandeep Garg has been a part of the world of medicine at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. A radiologist by profession, he has spent most of his adult life immersed in the demanding world of medicine. Now, he is stepping into an entirely different world — the movies. Garg makes his acting debut with the Punjabi film The Last Treatment, a suspense thriller in which he plays a renowned surgeon caught in a moral dilemma. For someone who has spent decades navigating medicine, playing a doctor on screen has been an unexpected yet deeply personal journey. ER, After nearly 25 years as a radiologist at PGIM a Dr Mandeep Garg makes his acting debut as bi surgeon facing a moral dilemma in the Punja suspense thriller The Last Treatment His medical background naturally gave him familiarity with the professional environment portrayed on screen. But he approached the role as an actor, describing Dr Raman Kataria as a gentle and refined character. WHEN MEDICINE MEETS CINEMA FROM STAGE TO SCREEN Dr Garg is originally from Bandi, a small village in Bathinda district. He completed his primary schooling there before moving to Bathinda and eventually Chandigarh. After his MBBS from Government Medical College, Faridkot, he pursued his MD and further training in radiology at PGI, including three years of senior residency, before joining the faculty. But alongside medicine was another side of his personality. During school and college, Garg participated in stage performances and hosted events. He also had a brief stint in modelling. “There was always something burning deep inside me — a flair for acting,” he recalls. Medicine eventually took over, but he never wanted to abandon that creative instinct. FROM DUBAI TO A FILM SET His entry into cinema came by chance. About two years ago, Garg was approached by a Bollywood production team for a music video for a legendary singer. He travelled to Dubai for the shoot, but the song was eventually held up by copyright issues and never released. The experience, however, opened another door. Members of the crew noticed his screen presence and later approached him for a film. “I just grabbed the opportunity.” That opportunity became The Last Treatment. BALANCING BOTH WORLDS Taking on a lead role did not mean stepping away from medicine. Instead, the film had to fit around his professional commitments. A substantial portion was shot during his summer vacation, while the remaining scenes were completed during his winter break. For Garg, medicine and acting represent two very different but equally meaningful parts of his life. He credits medicine with giving him his identity, respect and social recognition, while acting has allowed him to keep alive a passion he has carried since childhood. DOCTOR CAUGHT IN MORAL DILEMMA While the film is a crime thriller, Dr Garg says its emotional heart lies in the relationship between a father and daughter. The story follows an ethical doctor who finds himself trapped in circumstances where protecting his family could mean compromising his principles. “How he survives through it — that is what you have to watch in the movie,” Garg says. Medical thrillers often portray hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and doctors through stories of corruption and ethical compromises. As someone who actually works in the medical profession, Garg believes such films inevitably draw from real-life situations, even as filmmakers dramatise them for entertainment. “At the end of the day, it is commercial cinema,” he says. For him, cinema borrows from everyday life but adds twists and dramatic elements to make those stories engaging for audiences. LEARNING FROM THE VETERANS As a first-time actor, Garg says working with experienced Punjabi performers was an important part of the journey. “When you work with experienced actors like Hobby Dhaliwal, you learn a lot,” he says. Their presence, he adds, also motivated him to raise his own performance. COMING HOME TO PUNJABI CINEMA Dr Garg’s family has been central to his new journey. His wife, a dermatologist, has supported him throughout the process, making personal sacrifices along the way. A real doctor, playing a reel one, though one whose ethics are tested in circumstances far removed from his own professional life… The Last Treatment releases on Chaupal on October 3. ‘A very special CHAT UP TRIBUTE TO moment MAHATMA GANDHI in my journey’ Manoj Tiwarireturns toRamlila stage The actor-singer and politician turns Kewat as Luv Kush Ramlila goes hi-tech AnshitaMehra This Dussehra, Manoj Tiwari will trade the political stage for the Ramlila stage, stepping into the role of Kewat at the Luv Kush Ramlila. The actorsinger and BJP MP who has , previously played Parshuram and Angad, will portray the boatman who helps Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman cross the river, performing the sequence with songs in his own voice. For Tiwari, the role also continues a childhood association with the tradition. “My good fortune is that I have been associated with Ramlila in my village since childhood, and that tradition continues even today,” he said. The role is part of an ambitious 2026 production that seeks to bring together the traditional Ramayana narrative with film-style technology and large-scale visual effects at the Red Fort grounds. Luv Kush Ramlila Committee president Arjun Kumar said the production would use technology to create a more immersive presentation, “This time, you will see many new things. We are using AI, 3D mapping, visual effects and other new technologies to present the Leela in a new way.” The committee said this year’s production will also feature an eight-track digital sound system. Around 50 film-industry artistes will join nearly 250 local performers from Delhi, while costumes and make-up are being handled by artists from Mumbai’s film industry. The stage itself will be 150 feet long, 60 feet wide and 45 feet high. One of its key attractions will be a large Meenakshi Devi templeinspired set, created with the involvement of artists from Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mathura, Vrindavan and Delhi. The structure will feature handcrafted detailing and lakhs of LEDs, with the action unfolding across three levels. The organisers are also taking the action into the air. Two large cranes will be used for aerial sequences, including a presentation of Hanuman flying around 250 feet above the ground with Ram and Lakshman on his shoulders. The Sita Haran sequence will also be staged at height. The RamRavan battle, meanwhile, will use 3D mapping, simulated sparks and lightning effects to heighten the spectacle. The celebrations begin before the main Ramlila. On October 9, school students from Delhi-NCR will present the complete Ramayana, followed by a devotional programme and Bhajan Sandhya on October 10. The main Ramlila will run from October 11 to 21, with Dussehra and the burning of Ravan, Kumbhakarna and Meghnath scheduled for October 20. The festivities will conclude with Bharat Milap and Ram’s coronation on October 21. The committee is also giving this year’s edition an environmental and youth-focused touch with the slogan, “Ghar Ghar Ram, Ghar Ghar Tulsi”. It plans to distribute 5,100 tulsi plants. Tiwari’s return adds a familiar face to a production that is looking firmly towards the future, using technology to reimagine one of India’s oldest performance traditions. c m y b Anil Kapoor’s Subedaar has won Best Feature Film for India at the Asian Academy Creative Awards, while the actor has been nominated in the Best Actor in a Leading Role category for his performance in the movie. Kapoor plays retired soldier Subedaar Arjun Maurya in Suresh Triveni’s actiondrama. “A very special moment in my journey. Honoured to be nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Subedaar at the @asianacademycreativeawards, representing India. Grateful to the entire team and everyone who has supported the film,” he wrote. Subedaar was released on Amazon Prime Video on March 5. Meanwhile, films fronted by international star Jackie Chan and Kapoor were among the 335 national winners announced by the Asian Academy Creative Awards. The Shadow’s Edge won Best Feature Film for Chinese Mainland, while Subedaar won the same category for India. The grand winners will be announced at the gala awards final at Singapore’s Capitol Theatre in December. — ANI OLIVIER ACCUSES HALLE BERRY Students of sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik’s Sand Art Institute created a sand animation in Puri on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on Friday. The artwork also showcased the students’ ability to create a sand-based animation within a short period, with the student highlighting that the work took around 30 minutes to complete. Halle Berry has been accused of physically abusing her 12-year-old son by her ex-husband Olivier Martinez, who has filed a petition seeking a temporary restraining order against the actress and sole custody of their son. Martinez alleges that on September 26, Berry “physically abused our son Maceo, by jumping on him, putting her hands around his neck choking him.” LIFETIME AWARD FOR JULIANNE MOORE BIG B SUFFERS KNEE INJURY Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 21st edition of the Rome Film Fest, which is set to take place from October 13 to 25. Moore will be honoured during the Rome screening of her new film The Debut, which is part of the festival’s Grand Public section. Amitabh Bachchan recently revealed that he suffered a knee injury while shooting for Kaun Banega Crorepati 18. “Godwa mei humara chot lag gaya hai. Kya bataye bhaisahab. Kal shooting shooting mei fisal gawa paa, gire dhadam se… (I’ve hurt my knee. What can I say? Yesterday, while shooting, my foot slipped, and I fell down with a thud),” he said.