11112026-LSTC-01.qxd 10-11-2026 23:29 Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE AWARD FOR RICKY KEJ Three-time Grammy Award winner and Padma Shri recipient Ricky Kej will receive the Srajan The Spark Lifetime Achievement Award in Udaipur on November 15. mohali WHAT’S HOT love GOOD VIBES, LIVE J ASHANPREET fills a two-hour evening with soulful vocals, mesmerising melodies and your favourite Bollywood hits. At Studio XO on November 12. laugh chandigarh mohali UNROMANTIC HARYANVI R ONIT RAO serves up the raw humour, desi attitude and unapologetic flavour of Haryanvi culture, and everyday struggles into extraordinary laughs. It’s on at North Studio Live on November 14. learn P GOLD ART AINT simple artwork and add gold foil details for a premium finish in a 1.5-hour workshop. No prior experience needed. At Sector 7 Social, Chandigarh, on November 15. Life NonikaSingh “B EYOND a point, writing is a lonely job and gets to you….” says Pink and Sardar Udham-fame writer Ritesh Shah. However, that alone is not the reason for him turning a director with Gajab Raat. Rather, as the subject, co-written by him and his producer Neeraj Pandey, presented itself, the idea seemed compelling enough. And he stepped forward to, ‘take responsibility for his written word and put an end to backseat driving’. Wielding the directorial baton has been as much a rude awakening as reckoning of sorts. He smiles, “I apologised to my directors a zillion times as I walked in their shoes. I realised only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.” Despite the challenges, he finds it a very satisfying job. Add to it the heart-warming response to the film, which trended on Netflix in Numero Uno position for a week, and the aftertaste has been equally savoury. While writing the film, was he taking a chance with his male protagonist, who is a corrupt police officer? Ritesh explains, “The trouble is, filmmakers suffer from delusions of innocence. I presume the world and my audiences are aware of the social reality and the lapses of institutional systems. If I don’t grant them (viewers) the Diljit dismisses rumours of Indore concert cancellation over security concerns aa rahe hain, 101 per cent aa rahe hain! Sabse pehle aakar poha khaayenge, phir energy lekar fir chak de phatte,” Diljit said. “Koi jo marzi bole, main 15 tareekh ko zaroor milunga. Aap bas Tisha Campbell attended the 2026 Ebony Power 100 Gala at Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California. She wore a black strapless gown paired with matching opera gloves. CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 11 NOVEMBER 2026 No more backseat driving Whatever you write, your own life influences it. And I don’t wear rose-tinted glasses. Besides, perfect ending did not suit Gajab Raat or its lead protagonist. Writer Neeraj Pandey, who made his directorial debut with Gajab Raat, says he took on the director’s role to take complete responsibility for his written word intelligence, what is the Of course, when you insert point of talking to them?” a word like ‘gajab’ in your Cinema for him is about title, which came after conconveying an idea. troversy trailed the origi“Plot,” says Ritesh Shah “was never Hence, whatever may nal Ghooskhor Pandit, the strength of Gajab Raat, rather the be his genre; rom.com, isn’t there a danger of character was, hence we went with thriller, political dracritics taking a jibe at character-driven title, Ghooskhor Pandit. ma, history, factual Gajab? Ritesh says, But if you pluralise the name and make it subjects, social reality “Indeed, it’s like a about the community, then there is a barrier between what viewers understand invariably is the comhoney trap for critics and what we care to communicate. So, mon thread. He adds, who then love to create we changed the title in sync with the “As in Gajab Raat, the a pun around the word. If storyline in which events take thriller format is merely a critics don’t like a film, place over one night.” guise to say something more they will anyway find a way important, it’s like a sugar to take pot-shots at you. Why, coated pill.” there was a critic who even Marrying black humour ry off any part, Ritesh says, wrote limericks on titles.” with social issues is tricky, “You can be braver with your To those busy writing the yet it comes with his convic- choices.” But those who epitaph of Bollywood, he tion, “When you want to give might have felt Manoj was chuckles, “We have been a sermon, you write a long spectacular and Gajab Raat hearing this since Indepenjoke.” And when you have a not so much, he chips in, “An dence, yet we go on for brilliant actor like Manoj Baj- actor can’t shine in a badly there is an inherent urge to payee, who can virtually car- written or directed film.” gather around the campfire TITLE TWIST ‘Koi jo marzi bole, main aa rha hun 101%’ Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh on Tuesday went live on Instagram, addressing rumours that his upcoming Indore concert could be cancelled over reported security concerns. In his trademark humorous style, Diljit took a dig at news channels for sensationalising the reports, saying they had added their own ‘masala’ to the story. He also reassured fans that he would definitely perform in Indore on November 15. “Fifteen tareekh ko Indore Black magic meri baat par vishwas rakho,” he added. His upcoming Indore concert has also made headlines after reports emerged that the organisers and venue authorities had allegedly been instructed to ensure that Diljit does not perform songs that could negatively influence children. On October 30, Diljit kickstarted the Indian leg of his Aura Tour with a jampacked show at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi. — ANI Fifteen tareekh ko Indore aa rahe hain, 101 per cent aa rahe hain! Sabse pehle aakar poha khaayenge, phir energy lekar fir chak de phatte. and tell stories. After roti, kapada aur makaan, listening to stories is an urgent requirement.” Showrunner of his next JioHotstar series, he dwells upon whether story telling on OTT is targeted at a different set of audiences and requires another kind of skill set. He avers, “Well, you have to create a hook in the first 15 minutes, ensure the second act doesn’t sag. The dwindling attention spans of audiences do make our job more challenging. Since wheels of time move forward, we learn to cope.” As he loves to write and would care to direct all kinds of films, ‘seeti maar’ dialoguebaazi too is not an anathema for him. But in movies like Gajab Raat and more importantly Sardar Udham, in which he was asked by Shoojit Sircar to create ‘lyrical bridge between events,’ hyperbole would have been like poison. Wearing many hats, writer director, occasionally an actor too, he is ready to take on any role as long, ‘it is food for his soul’. Wisdom-laced monologues or pithy one-liners, Ritesh’s sense of humour crackles in real life too. But, he takes his cinema seriously with deep belief, “only if you marry the plot with a theme, you have a good story.” Expect many more from his pen and directorial signatures. Perfect endings or not, his cinema stays with you… A bond sealed with tilak! Childhood banter, unbreakable bonds and festive rituals take centre-stage as celebs reflect on what Bhai Dooj means to them Bhai Dooj celebrates the special bond between brothers and sisters, a relationship built on love, trust, endless memories and unconditional support. Beyond the traditional tika and festive rituals, the occasion is a reminder of the little moments, shared experiences and promises that make sibling relationships truly special. Celebs open up about their cherished childhood memories, their equation with their siblings and the traditions that make the festival meaningful to them… (Clockwise from left) Rinhee Suberwal with sister, Amal sehrawat with sister, Suraj Sonik with sister, Bhakhtyar Delnaaz & Paurus LOVE, MADNESS AND FRIENDSHIP Delnaaz Irani DILJIT DOSANJH My bond with my brothers, Bakhtiyar and Paurus, is a beautiful mix of love, friendship and unconditional support. Growing up, both have always been protective of me in their own ways. If I had to describe our bond in three words, they would be love, madness and friendship. Paurus is currently in London, so we may not always be together physically, but that doesn’t stop our celebrations. We make sure to connect over video calls and continue our Bhai Dooj celebrations virtually. PROTECTIVE SISTER Suraj Sonik One memory I will always cherish is how my elder sister has stood by me through every phase of life. I still remember the little things she did for me, even supporting me with whatever little money she had so I could enjoy something as simple as a vada pav. Today, I realise that it was never about the money; it was always about the love behind those gestures. Those little c m y b moments have stayed with me forever. No matter how old I grow, I will always be her little brother. For me, festivals are all about family, love and togetherness. we are all equally protective of each other in our own ways. This Bhai Dooj, I am in Delhi, while my sisters are elsewhere, so we will celebrate over a video call. HAVING EACH OTHER’S BACK Amal Sehrawat I WILL BE THERE FOR YOU Rinhee Suberwal One childhood memory that I cherish is the time spent with my sisters, when we would share everything, laugh over the smallest things and always have each other’s backs. I have always shared a very transparent and comfortable bond with them, where there is no fear of being judged. If I had to describe our relationship in three words, I would say friendship, trust and unconditional love. I think I don't have many memories of Bhai Dooj celebrations from my childhood, apart from the fact that my mother would perform the tika ritual for my mama, as they are siblings. However, when I think about my own bond with my sister, I cherish the fact that we have always been there for each other. I make sure that whenever she needs me, I am there for her, just as she is always there for me.