18082026-LSTC-01.qxd 8/17/2026 7:34 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE SPIDER-MAN HITS $2 BILLION Gone too soon Life Tom Holland’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day has crossed USD 2 billion worldwide in 17 days, becoming the second-fastest film to reach the milestone after Avengers: Endgame. It is also 2026’s first USD 2 billion release and the highestgrossing Spider-Man film, surpassing Spider-Man: No Way Home. Hollywood actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for Heroes and Nashville, died at 36, her family confirmed. Her cause of death remains undisclosed as tributes pour in. LUDHIANA | TUESDAY | 18 AUGUST 2026 WHAT’S HOT dance Parvin Dabas is back with G ET ready for Scam Sangeet at Romeo Lane, SAS Nagar. It’s a sangeet experience like no other. Dress up in your finest ethnic wear and get ready for an unforgettable night filled with Bollywood beats, high-energy music and vibrant celebrations. On 10pm onwards. Nonika Singh chandigarh play ‘L NSD SPECIAL T HE National School of Drama Repertory Company Theatre Festival is perfroming at Chandigarh. Catch Taj Mahal Ka Tender on August 18. At Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, Chandigarh, 6:30pm. Entry free. love ASHISH MALHOTRA LIVE A LMOST Famous is a stand-up comedy solo by Ashish Malhotra where he takes you through his weird observations overthinking habits and the way he hilariously sees the world through his eyes. If you enjoy real stories real struggles and unreal levels of overanalysis then this show is for you. On August 22, 8:00 pm at The Laugh Club, sector 26, Chandigarh. istock chandigarh Khosla Ka Ghosla 2 istock mohali SCAM SANGEET OG kya sochenge…’ is a thought that doesn’t cross talented and good looking actor Parvin Dabas’ mind. Hence as his iconic film Khosla Ka Ghosla is ready with a sequel he is not unduly perturbed by comparisons which come riding with it, giving the stupendous success of the prequel. Using the analogy of cricket, ‘joh Bharat samajhata hai’ he elaborates, “A cricketer plays a new ball unmindful of who the bowler is, how many people are sitting in the stadium and whether they won the previous match or not. Similarly, I too take each film, rather each scene, as it comes to me minus the baggage of great expectations.” Of course, reimagining the cult classic’s second outing without Cherry his character is impossible for “there can’t be a Khosla Ka Ghosla without ghosla ahem Cherry.” Reprising the part of Cherry after a gap of nearly two decades is a huge challenge. He shares, “The trick lies in making it fresh. Yet I have to be conscious of the fact that Cherry is still the same person, so I can’t turn him around 180 degree for we all evolve and yet we don’t. We all carry the same germ of the idea.” But the actor in him has certainly changed from the one who was dead serious and duly took down notes to the one who is more instinctive and organic. Whether the new director Prashant Bhagia has been able to create the same magic which Dibakar Banerjee did in 2006 Parvin answers in the affirmative. Besides, he adds, “With due respect, while Dibakar is great director, the credit for the success of the film has to go to the writer and the cast too, all of whom pitched in their very best.” He recalls how those were the days when there were no vanity vans and yet, “We never complained and went about our jobs with passion.” As the same team of actors reunited for the second part they took off exactly from where they had left and as Parvinn puts it “It seemed like yesterday.” But the fact is much time has elapsed since and so does the sequel tap into nostalgia or is aimed at new generation? He admits, “It’s difficult to arrive at the balance between the two. Yet you would be surprised to know how many young people have seen the original and are looking forward to watching Khosla Ka Ghosala 2.” Nearly two decades after the cult classic, the actor returns as Cherry, revisiting a much-loved character and reuniting with the original cast The prequel and the character of Cherry got immense love. “Precisely for Cherry is a com- ❝ plex character and in Ragini MMS 2 as “We all have a comedy where significant too. middle class values. everyone else The actor who We all like our dal has funny lines, finds as chawal. That’s why Khosla he doesn’t.” much joy in Pravin’s reabeing a famKa Ghosla resonates and sons for signily man is so would its sequel for the ing up any all excited idea of something being project are about his taken away from you in always instincnext project, the wrong way still tive. He said yes a big ticket rankles.” to a cameo in Sharproduction, majee Ki Beti for he details of which he believed in the makers can’t reveal at the and the project, never mind moment. that it was essentially driven by But if you think the actor who has women characters. survived decades in the competiBack in time Mira tive filmdom has any regrets about Nair’s Monsoon Wed- not becoming a superstar, well he ding taught him many believes in the ‘attitude of gratilessons and the memo- tude.’ Sceptics might deride ‘Bolries of the film winning lywood ke log,’ he busts presumpthe prestigious tions and states, “Like any Golden Lion profession people in the film indus(Leone d’Oro), at try, from top to bottom, work very the 58th Venice hard to provide entertainment.” International Film Hence, he beseeches the trollers to Festival and missing show some respect. Meanwhile, its date with TIFF for with ‘due respect to all’ he is hap9/11 happened are still py with the appreciation which has fresh. The aroma of home come his way for his varied portraycooked food prepared by als. Reposing faith in life’s timing, Mira’s mother too he continues to time his shots. lingers on. If an opportu“If you don’t push the envelope… nity to work with the gift- toh fayda kya hai. Whenever a film is ed director presents again, made with heart and unwavering pashe would drop all things to seize sion, it finds it audience,” he believes. the chance. In his vast filmograKhosla Ka Ghosla 2 is set to phy he considers his comic part in release on August 28. No ‘haiwaan’ but a ‘wonderful insaan’ Producer Jerry Bruckheimer hints at talks with the American actor for Pirates of the Caribbean 6 Johnny Depp to return as With Assam floods creating devastation in recent times, the disaster of last year’s Punjab comes to mind. The floods had ravaged thousands of homes and had left 40 people dead. Akshay Kumar had stepped in to extend help, pledging to build 100 homes, out of which 80 have been completed. Actor Gurpreet Ghuggi, who shared the screen space with Kumar in films like Singh Is Kingg (2008) and Cuttputtli (2022), says, “Akshay bhaaji got in touch with me, asking how he could help. Since people were getting assistance with food supplies, I suggested that the real help Captain Jack Sparrow? Hollywood actor Johnny Depp is in talks to reprise his iconic role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the potential sixth instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. There has been no official announcement regarding Pirates of the Caribbean 6. However, producer Jerry Bruckheimer recently revealed that the film’s script is in development and confirmed that discussions with Depp are underway. “We’re talking with Johnny, we’re working on a screenplay, and trying to get this done,” Bruckheimer said at the D23 event. Depp has played the eccentric pirate Captain Jack Sparrow in all five previous Pirates of the Caribbean films. The franchise began with The Curse of the Black Pearl in 2003, followed by Dead Man’s Chest in 2006, At World’s End in 2007, On Stranger Tides in Haiwaan play kar rahe hain (in his upcoming film), real life mein he is a wonderful insaan. Woh nahin chahte the unka naam saamne aaye. He said, ‘Iss mein koi badi baat nahin hai. Help karna aur phir logon ko batana, mujhe theek nahin lagta.” Haiwaan is scheduled for September 21 release. Gurpreet Ghuggi reveals how Akshay Kumar quietly stepped in after the 2025 Punjab floods, helping rebuild homes for affected families would be needed after the floods, for those whose houses were destroyed.” Speaking of Akshay Kumar’s pledge to build 100 homes, he adds, “I assembled a team to identify the people in need. These houses are mostly in the Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts. The work on the pending houses will be completed soon. It was all Akshay bhaaaji’s doing.” The project has been carried out under the aegis of the Hari Om Foundation, founded by Akshay in memory of his late father, Hari Om Bhatia. Recalling Akshay Kumar’s generosity during times of grave need, he shares, “Akshay bhaaji sirf on-screen hi Somy Ali defends Govinda amid Roopa co-star controversy Somy defended Govinda against the criticism over his appearance with his Roopa co-star Rani Swarnkar and also spoke about the actor continuing to work despite all the backlash. Somy, who has worked with Govinda, shared a collage of old pictures with the actor on Instagram. Calling him a “great talent” and “humble”, she said, “I am going to chime in here as no one else will and show support whenever it’s necessary: I 2011 and Dead Men Tell No Tales in 2017. The role of Jack Sparrow remains one of Depp’s most recognisable performances and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for The Curse of the Black Pearl. The Pirates of the Caribbean films follow the adventures and misadventures of Captain Jack Sparrow, combining historical pirate lore with supernatural elements. The franchise features treasure hunts, sea monsters, undead villains and battles across the high seas. Collectively, the five films have grossed more than USD 4.5 billion worldwide. Dead Man’s Chest and On Stranger Tides were particularly successful, with both films crossing the USD 1 billion mark at the global box office. c m y b ‘Talent has no expiry date’ have known Govinda personally and professionally which is why I can say a few things about him from both ends. Chichi is one of the greatest talents in the Hindi film industry and he is one of the most humble actors I got to know during my time in the industry.” Somy also spoke about the criticism around Govinda working with a younger actress. “I have immense respect for both Chichi and Sunita. However, there is nothing ageist about an actor accepting a role with a younger actress. Talent doesn’t have an expiration date. At a time when work may be difficult to find, choosing to keep working is something to respect—not ridicule. An actor’s worth isn’t determined by his age or by the age of his co-star. It’s determined by his talent, professionalism, and willingness to keep going,” she said. She called the decision to keep working “admirable” despite the challenges in the industry. — ANI