Movies
Harbhajan Mann’s Punjabi film to release on 29 May
NEW DELHI: Punjabi singer-turned-actor Harbhajan Mann will soon be seen in the suspense Punjabi thriller Gadaar-The Traitor, which is slated to release on 29 May.
Talking about the film, Mann said, “It is always good to play with characters as people have a tendency to get bored with things after a point of time. It is very important to entertain people with something different each time.”
Directed by Amitoj Mann and produced by Sumeet Singh, the film also stars Evelyn Sharma and Manpreet Grewal.
The film is produced under the banner of Saga-Unisys Infosolutions and Grandsons Films and will have a fresh concept amidst comedy and romance.
Mann said that the movie is likely to break stereotypes of storylines that has been set for so long and will be a complete package of action, romance, suspense and thrills.
Mann will portray a character named Jay Singh, who is an adventurous business tycoon.
The German model turned actress Evelyn Sharma’s looks and talent paved ways for more more roles in Bollywood. Sharma said, “My acting has grown as I have done many Hindi films. No doubt it was difficult but at the end of the day you are happy because you end up learning something new and delivering Punjabi dialogues was like a challenge for me. It is not everyone’s cup of tea. Your past experience makes you confident enough to take the challenge and it ultimately helps you to realise your potential.”
Grewal, who won the title Miss Australian Punjaban in 2012, will be debuting in the film as the female lead playing the character of a journalist. “This is my very first movie that too as a lead so I was actually shocked and excited at the same when the director approached me for the role. Also the character I am playing is very challenging and working with such great people in your first film is itself an opportunity to learn so many things from them,” she said.
Amitoj Mann, who has directed films like Haani, Hawayein,Kaafila and many music videos said, “It is time to change the face of Punjabi cinema and with this film, the audience will see more than just romance and love. The film has action, romance, suspense and thrill. It is a film that can potentially open more doors for other film makers. The audience will see good, clean cinema with thought-provoking and tastefully done stories.”
The film is shot in locations of Punjab, Goa, Mumbai and Toronto.
Hollywood
Who won what at the Oscars 2026? Full winners list from the 98th Academy Awards
A night of history, high drama, and gingery wit at the 98th Academy Awards
LOS ANGELES: If the 98th Academy Awards taught us anything, it is that Hollywood still loves a tortured genius and a well-timed ginger joke. While the night was technically a coronation for Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling war drama One Battle After Another, the real battle was fought in the stalls of the Dolby Theatre as host Conan O’Brien unleashed a monologue that was part roast, part group therapy session.
The evening belonged to the cinematic heavyweights. One Battle After Another lived up to its title, clinching Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Anderson, the perennial bridesmaid of the Oscars, finally took home the big prizes, cementing his status as the industry’s favourite auteur.
In the acting categories, Michael B. Jordan made history. Winning Best Actor for his visceral performance in the supernatural thriller Sinners, he became only the fourth Black man to win the trophy. His speech was a masterclass in humility, though he spared a moment to thank his trainer for “making me look like I could actually fight a demon.”
The history books were rewritten several times over. Autumn Durald Arkapaw shattered a long-standing glass ceiling by becoming the first woman to win Best Cinematography for Sinners. Meanwhile, the newly minted Best Achievement in Casting category saw its inaugural trophy go to the ensemble of One Battle After Another.
Returning to the stage with his signature quiff and self-deprecating bite, Conan O’Brien did not hold back. He began by acknowledging the elephant in the room: his own presence.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he quipped. “Why is the ghost of a Victorian chimney sweep hosting the Oscars? It’s because AI is too expensive and I work for sandwiches.”
The controversy kicked off when he turned his sights on the Best Visual Effects nominees. Pointing at the Avatar: Fire and Ash table, he remarked:
“James Cameron has spent so much money on blue people that the actual ocean is now jealous of his budget. Jim, at some point, you have to admit this is just a very expensive aquarium hobby.”
He also took a cheeky swipe at the trend of method acting, specifically targeting Sean Penn.
“Sean stayed in character for so long that his own family had to serve him a subpoena just to get him to come to Sunday roast,” O’Brien joked, to a mix of nervous titters and Penn’s trademark stony glare.
The night was not without its “did he really say that?” moments. During a bit about the length of the telecast, O’Brien noted that the show was running so long that:
“By the time we get to Best Picture, the winner will have already been rebooted as a gritty limited series on Max.”
He also touched on the industry’s obsession with youth, pointing at a young starlet and saying:
“You’re so young that your first memory is actually a TikTok of this monologue.”
While most took it in stride, some critics on social media called the joke “typical boomer energy,” though O’Brien seemed entirely unfazed.
The full winners’ circle:
Best Picture: One Battle After Another
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons)
Best Animated Feature: K-Pop: Demon Hunters
Best Original Song: “Golden” from K-Pop: Demon Hunters
As the curtains closed and the A-list headed for the after-parties, the mood was one of relief. Hollywood had managed to celebrate its past while poking fun at its increasingly digital future. Whether the night belonged to the war heroes of PTA or the witty barbs of a tall redhead remains a matter of debate.
