05102026-LSTC-01.qxd 10/4/2026 8:00 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE The leading lady Life Yukti Thareja has signed on as the female lead for Farzi Season 2. “I am playing the main female lead. I am the only central female protagonist this season. My character is a fearless Gen-Z woman who speaks up against the system,” she said. CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 5 OCTOBER 2026 As Akshay Kumar explores a darker side in Haiwaan, here’s a look at the stars who left a lasting impression by playing antagonists W E’RE used to seeing Bollywood’s biggest stars as the hero — saving the day, winning hearts and taking on the bad guys. But every once in a while, they switch sides and step into darker roles, and that’s when things get interesting. Over the years, some of Bollywood’s biggest leading men have taken on villains and grey characters, giving audiences performances they still remember. With Akshay Kumar now exploring a darker role in Haiwaan, here’s a look at some of the stars who showed that being the bad guy can be just as memorable as being the hero. Bollywood’s good guys gone bad AKSHAY KUMAR: Haiwaan Akshay Kumar is taking that turn again with Haiwaan. The actor, who has moved comfortably between action, comedy and drama over the years, is playing a character that is far removed from his usual hero image. What makes the role interesting is that Akshay has described his character as outright dark, with no grey shades at all. It is a clear departure from the kind of leading-man roles audiences are used to seeing him in, making his turn in Haiwaan all the more interesting to watch. Diljit Dosanjh’s Aura India Tour to rock 7 cities SHAH RUKH KHAN: Darr Diljit Dosanjh is set to take his music to more Indian cities with the Aura India Tour 2026, which will travel across the country in November and December. The India leg of the tour will begin in DelhiNCR on November 1, followed by shows in Indore, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Lucknow. Chandigarh will also be part of the tour, with details of the show to be announced later. Ahmedabad was earlier announced as the first Indian stop of the tour, with Dosanjh set to perform at the Narendra Modi Stadium on November 21. The tour will now cover seven cities over a period of six weeks. Dosanjh, who has built a strong fan base in India as well as overseas, said he was looking forward to performing in different cities across the country. Sharing his excitement, the singer-actor, as per a release, said, “Apne desh vich perform karan di vibe hi hor hundi aa. Iss tour de naal ik vaar phir Delhi ton Indore tak apne desh de shehraan vich apne fans de naal milan da mauka mil reha hai, te main is safar layi bahut excited haan. Tuhada pyaar hamesha mere naal reha hai, hun vaari aa tuhade shehar aaun di. November te December milde aan, poori vibe de naal!” During the tour, Dosanjh is expected to perform some of his popular songs, including G.O.A.T., Ikk Kudi, Lalkara, Lover, 5 Taara, Case and Water. Dosanjh has performed at venues including Madison Square Garden and Wembley Stadium.— ANI WHAT’S HOT eat chandigarh ROLLED AND READY A STALL in Sector 43’s Western Court is turning heads with its loaded rolls, generously stuffed and dripping with mayo-rich filling. The special butter chicken roll is the standout, packing smoky, buttery chicken and fresh greens into every wrap. Messy, indulgent, and worth the napkins. SHAH RUKH KHAN AMITABH BACHCHAN: Don Amitabh Bachchan’s Don remains one of the most recognisable characters in Hindi cinema. The character was ruthless, confident and always seemed to be one step ahead. Bachchan gave him a cool, effortless quality that made Don more than just the villain of the story. It was the kind of role that suited his towering screen presence and eventually became a part of his legacy. AKSHAY KUMAR AJAY DEVGN: Kaal SANJAY DUTT: Khalnayak Sanjay Dutt was at the centre of Khalnayak as Ballu Balram, a criminal with a reputation that precedes him. The film gave Dutt the chance to play a character who was rough around the edges and firmly outside the conventional hero mould. His natural screen presence did much of the work, turning Ballu into one of the memorable characters of 1990s Hindi cinema. AMITABH BACHCHAN BOBBY DEOL: Animal Bobby Deol’s Abrar Haque became one of the most talked-about parts of Animal, despite having limited screen time. The character’s quiet menace, intense expressions and imposing presence made him stand out without relying Diva’s day out Janhvi Kapoor brought Indian craftsmanship to the global fashion stage as she attended the BoF 500 Gala in Paris, dressed in a custom creation by Pankaj S Heritage, styled by Rhea Kapoor. The ethereal off-white ensemble reimagined the classic sixyard silhouette with a contemporary, low-slung drape, bare shoulders and an elegant floorskimming pallu. Crafted from 460-count Bengal muslin, the look celebrated the beauty of Indian textiles while keeping its aesthetic distinctly modern. The understated ivory canvas was contrasted with elaborate handcrafted adornments featuring gold beads, pearls, shells, emeralds, polkis and tassels, creating a dramatic shoulder-to-arm jewellery moment. — TNS laugh RELATABLE AND REAL kharar SANJAY DUTT Ajay Devgn took a different route with Kaal at a time when he was already a well-established leading man. After films like Company, Gangajal and Yuva, he had built a strong image around intense and serious hero roles. Playing Kali Pratap Singh gave him a chance to explore something much darker. Kali is mysterious, unpredictable and has an unsettling presence, and the performance stays quiet rather than overdoing it. His screen presence added a sense of mystery throughout the film and made the character one of the most memorable parts of Kaal. ISTOCK chandigarh MUSIC & VERSE C Shah Rukh Khan was already making his presence felt in the early 1990s when he played Rahul Mehra in Darr. Rahul is obsessed with Kiran and his love gradually turns into something far more disturbing. Taking on such a dark role so early in his career was a risk, especially when Khan was still establishing himself as a leading man. But his intense performance, along with the charm he was already known for, made Rahul one of the most memorable characters in the film. It also showed that Khan was willing to take chances rather than get stereotyped into one kind of hero. Janhvi Kapoor brings desi drama to the BoF 500 Gala in Paris play HANDIGARH hosts Rangan Di Ustat, an evening of Punjabi music and poetry featuring composer-performer Manpreet Singh, known for compositions like Poshak and Mehman (sung by Babbu Maan). It’s on October 10 at Tagore Theatre. BOBBY DEOL M ADHAV MEHANDRU brings his stand-up show Kalakaar to North Studio Live, spinning everyday Punjabi life, family and overthinking into an evening of relatable stories and jokes. At North Studio Live on October 10. c m y b on long dialogues. Deol also brought a sense of unpredictability to Abrar, making audiences curious about what he would do next. The role became a major talking point after the film’s release and gave Deol one of the most memorable characters of his career. AJAY DEVGN These performances are very different from one another, but they have one thing in common: each star was willing to experiment and step outside the image audiences had come to expect. And sometimes, that change of direction is exactly what makes a character stick. CHAT UP WEDDING BELLS AVNEET MEETS CRUISE More than two months after tying the knot with actor Cody John, Emma Roberts has shared a closer look at their wedding day. The actor shared a post on her Instagram. In the photos, Roberts and John can be seen exchanging vows. Avneet Kaur crossed paths with Hollywood star Tom Cruise at the world premiere of his new film Digger in London on September 23. Much of their exchange centered on a standout scene from the film, a lengthy monologue shot without a single cut. ‘USE IMAGES IN ORIGINAL FORM’ With the use of AI-generated and AI-edited images on the rise, Yami Gautam has urged the media to refrain from altering her photographs. On X, she wrote, “A sincere request to the media. Please refrain from using AI to alter or enhance my photographs from public appearances. Kindly use images in original form.”