29082026-LSTC-01.qxd 8/29/2026 12:37 AM Page 1 c m y b WHAT REALLY MATTERS… Kriti Sanon’s Raksha Bandhan post seems to be a playful, indirect dig at the trolls who criticised her outfit in a Rakhi ad. Sharing a picture flaunting the Rakhis that she and her sister, Nupur Sanon, tied to each other, Kriti wrote on Instagram, “While the Rakhi fashion committee is still in session, we’re focusing on what really matters.” TRIBUNE Helping hand Life Beyonce has announced a personal donation of $1 million to extend her support for relief efforts in Colombia after the country’s recent earthquake. The donation will provide food and housing. CHANDIGARH | SATURDAY | 29 AUGUST 2026 CHAT UP Every film reveals ROADIES REBIRTH ANNOUNCED a new me After a long wait, fans of MTV Roadies have a reason to look forward to the next season. The adventure reality show is returning with its 21st season, titled Roadies REBIRTH, and Rannvijay Singha is coming back as the host. The makers announced the new season on Friday by unveiling its logo on the social media handles of MTV and JioHotstar. Sharvari on finding her groove with Main Vaapas Aaunga AMAAL TAKES A BREAK Amaal Mallik has announced a break from film music to focus on his health and mind. In an X post, Amaal said, “I am all good & I will go all the way in, this time, to do what is best for me & only do what is important to my heart & for my health. Need a break for my mind, body, soul and overall physical healing. Need to rise, recuperate and bounce back soon with a heart full of melodies for you all my dearest #Amaalians.” You have been trying to find your place for some years, and it has finally happened with Main Vaapas Aaunga. Your feelings? I wouldn’t quite call it “finally finding a place”. Every film has helped me discover a new part of myself as an actor. But yes, Main Vaapas Aaunga does feel special. What makes it emotional for me is that this film wasn’t built around spectacle or trends, it was built around feeling: love, longing, memory, separation, hope. The kind of emotions that stay with people. To see audiences connect so deeply with that has been moving. HREHAAN MAKES MUSIC DEBUT Hrithik Roshan has a special message for his son Hrehaan Roshan, who has commenced a musical journey. Hrithik shared a video on his Instagram story and praised Hrehaan as he made his debut as an independent artist with his first English single, This Heavenly Place. Along with the video, Hrithik wrote, “You are born with an innate wisdom Ray. I trust it so much. It makes me fearless.” Did you expect the film and your character to be validated so profoundly by the audience? As actors, we spend years hoping a character will truly resonate — you prepare, you give a piece of yourself to the role, but ultimately the audience decides what they carry home. The love that my char- Were you devastated when the film opened poorly? Of course! When you’ve poured your heart into something, you want people to discover it immediately. But with Main Vaapas Aaunga, I think all of us always knew it was the kind of film that would find its audience through emotion rather than noise. What gave me faith was the reaction of people who actually watched it. Every conversation after the first few screenings was moving people talking about specific scenes, songs that stayed with them, memories the film brought back. That kind of response is special because it comes from a genuine connection to the story. Sometimes audiences need time to discover a film and make it their own, and it’s been lovely watching more people embrace Main Vaapas Aaunga in such a personal way. In the film you play a woman willing to wait endlessly for love. How far would you go for love in your own life? What drew me to Jiya was the depth of her emotions. She values love deeply, but also understands that life has its own journey and timing. I believe love is about being there for the people you care about while still being true to yourself. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now — still an actor? I hope and believe I’ll keep growing and pushing myself as an actor. That is my aspiration, and I work towards it every day. I’d like to keep exploring different stories and characters as an actor. What’s next for you? I’m really looking forward to Yeh Prem Mol Liya. Working with Sooraj sir (Barjatya) and sharing screen space with Ayushmann Khurrana has been a wonderful experience. When Butter Chicken Isn’t Butter Chicken Parbina Rashid I T needs courage to name a dish Not A Butter Chicken and serve it in the very heartland of Butter Chicken. It needs courage to do away with tomatoes in the gravy and present it to people who have grown up eating almost everything drenched in buttery tomato gravy. This is precisely why it warrants attention. Just to see how it looks, tastes and, lo and behold, if the words of Executive Chef Rajiv Vatsyayan are anything to go by, thrives in Chandigarh! So, on a rainy day, as I head to Kaanan, the Indian restaurant of The Oberoi Sukhvilas, amidst the lush green Siswan forest range in New Chandigarh, expectation and anticipation soar in equal measure. There I meet Chef Rajiv, excited to talk about Kaanan’s most popular dish — Not A Butter Chicken. “One of the questions we’re asked often is, ‘Why is it called Not a Butter Chicken?’” he begins. “The answer lies in its inspiration. While it pays homage to one of India’s most celebrated dishes, this is not intended to be traditional Butter Chicken. We begin with chicken roasted in the tandoor, allowing the fire to impart a delicate smokiness and beautiful caramelisation. One of The Oberoi Sukhvilas’ most popular dishes, Not A Butter Chicken, feels both familiar and unexpected—comforting in its flavours, yet contemporary in its expression Rather than conventional gravy, we finish it with a carefully balanced emulsion of cultured butter and fresh cream, creating a texture that is both light and luxurious. “Guests may recognise echoes of the iconic butter-laden chicken preparations from the historic lanes of Old Delhi. We acknowledge that heritage with great respect, while choosing to express it through a more refined balance of smoke, spice, richness and acidity. The result is a dish that feels both familiar and unexpected; comforting in its flavours, yet contemporary in its expression. It honours tradition without seeking to replicate it. That is why we call it Not a Butter Chicken.” That is one long answer I get without even asking the question. SILVER SPOON What I deduce is that he is about to cook a dish that involves succulent tandoori chicken, charred over PHOTO: PARDEEP TEWARI tandoor, enveloped in a refined emulsion of cultured butter and fresh cream rather than the traditional gravy. The chicken was marinated beforehand. It was the conventional butter marinade that had chilli, mustard oil, coriander, and all those usual spices. As the chicken pieces roast in the tandoor, Chef Rajiv talks about Kaanan, his home for the past one year. “At Kaanan, we do Punjabi cuisine in the progressive way. We follow all the classical recipes. The authenticity in terms of taste is there. However, you might find the dishes served in a different manner,” he says. Isn’t there a term for it, which by now we all are familiar with — fusion? “We do not like to call it fusion, it’s more of a progressive way of serving it. The dishes which you see on our menu are authentic Punjabi cuisine with a modern twist. We do Sarson Ka Saag and serve it with creamy Burrata c m y b Ab akkha India khelega with What kept your faith going? cheese. So, in that sense, it’s a little bit of fusion,” he says. Can’t say I find the Sarson Ka Saag and Burrata combo interesting enough, but the aroma of the tandoori chicken combined with emulsifying butter and cream in a pan is mouth-watering. The white creamy sauce, with a hint of colour that comes from the red marinade as he put the pieces into the pan, looks rich and creamy. The plating is done in a jiffy. For Chef Rajiv, the idea is to make the dish look attractive, not very complex. He drizzles a bit of smoked chilli oil and fresh coriander leaves and it is good to go. The tasting phase, however, throws quite a surprise. The missing tomato! It pops up in a sundried tomato kulcha, which comes as an accompaniment! Cherry tomatoes, but tomatoes nevertheless. So, no Punjabi food is complete without the tomato? “I think the sun-dried tomato blends very well with the soft texture of bread. And then the whole combination of it gives a proper balance of spice and smokiness, richness and acidity.” Chef Rajiv has a point. That little hint of citrus flavour goes well with the chicken. It’s interesting the way he deconstructs the conventional curry and reconstructs it with a twist. It takes me by surprise. And, despite my initial reservations about the name, I am not complaining. What’s in a name, after all! Anil Kapoor! Weekends are about to get a whole lot more exciting as India Ke Top 1% premieres on Star Plus on September 19 at 8 pm. Hosted by the ever-jhakaas Anil Kapoor, this one-of-a-kind reality show will bring 100 participants together for 13 increasingly surprising rounds. Each player will begin with ~1 lakh, but every slip-up will add to the collective prize pot, taking it all the way up to a whopping ~1 crore. Inspired by the globally popular format The 1% Club, the show will feature fun challenges drawn from everyday life, playful pahelis, and interesting twists. With Anil Kapoor bringing his signature energy to the stage, India Ke Top 1% is all set to become India’s refreshingly new weekend obsession. Kapoor shares, “I recently completed a couple of mock shoots for India Ke Top 1%, and I can already say that it is one of the most exciting projects I have taken up in recent times. Interacting with 100 participants and discovering their unique stories brings an incredible energy to the set.” WHAT’S HOT play chandigarh S HARVARI is a prominent actress, who works primarily in Hindi films. Before transitioning to acting, Sharvari built a foundation behind the camera by working as an assistant director for prominent filmmakers like Luv Ranjan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. She marked her theatrical debut with Yash Raj Films’ Bunty Aur Babli 2, earning her the prestigious Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Solidifying her leading lady status, she starred in Imtiaz Ali’s romantic drama Main Vaapas Aaunga. A KAHANI BAAZ SHISH Vidyarthi takes the stage in Chandigarh with a captivating live storytelling show that journeys through stories drawn from life, experiences, and human connections. It’ on at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16 at August 30. learn chandigarh ‘PROUD TO BE HIS GRANDSON’ Neil Nitin Mukesh remembered his late grandfather, the legendary playback singer Mukesh, on his death anniversary. Neil penned a note on Instagram, “My beloved grandfather, the legendary Mukesh Ji, left us 50 years ago today... and yet, it feels like he is amongst us. I never had the privilege of meeting him, but I have grown up surrounded by his divine voice and the incredible legacy he left behind. I feel honoured and immensely proud to be his grandson.” acter Jiya and this film have received feels like a huge blessing. More than validation, it gives me confidence, that if you commit honestly to a story and trust your instincts, audiences recognise the sincerity. A BEDAZZLE DD some sparkle to your weekend at the Bedazzle Art Workshop at Deepakriti Institute of Creative Arts. This two-hour introductory session focuses on stress relief and fun as participants place rhinestones to create a dazzling, textured canvas. On August 29 & 30. laugh MAGIC TIME chandigarh Subhash K Jha W HAT if your mind could be manipulated without you even realising it? Kabir Sharma, a true master manipulator, blends magic, mentalism, and comedy into one wild ride. Expect shocking predictions, clever manipulation, sharp humour. At The Laugh Club on September 6.