Eastern Eye got the award-winning British maestro to select highlights from his action-packed career
By Eastern EyeOct 14, 2023
MASTER percussionist Gubzy Singh Lackhanpal has had a magnificent career filled with magical moments.
The dynamite dhol player and tabla maestro has performed in over 46 countries, with leading artists that include Malkit Singh, DCS, Apache Indian, Beverly Knight, AS Kang, Sukshinder Shinda, Hans Raj Hans, Surinder Shinda, Balwinder Safri, Bally Sagoo, Jasmine Sandalas, Manmohan Waris, Kamal Heer, Pardesi, Ranjit Bawa, Amy Virk and many others.
The Birmingham-based talent has played on hit songs and expanded his career into music production. He is currently working on a world music album set to release in 2024.
Eastern Eye got the award-winning British maestro to select highlights from his actionpacked career. Gubzy said: “From being guided by my father Jaswant Singh Lackhanpal as a youngster to learning from great masters and performing globally with international artists, I have been blessed with great memories. Here are 10 in no particular order.”
Orchestra: I have performed with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) on numerous occasions, including Citizen Khan: Under The Sitars, which was a unique show connected to the sitcom at Birmingham Symphony Hall. In 2023, it was taken to another level at the BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall in London, where I performed with the CBSO for a sold-out Lata Mangeshkar tribute concert, celebrating the late great singer’s magnificent legacy.
Award: It is always great to be recognised for your hard work. The best musician trophy at the 2018 UK Bhangra Awards was particularly special because it was voted for by the public. It was a great reminder of all the hours of hard work I had put into my craft.
Learning: It takes a lifetime to learn different aspects of music and even that is not enough. I had no intention of teaching until my high school music teacher Mrs Williams asked me to do a workshop for students at Shireland Collegiate Academy. It turned into a full-time job from 2007-2019, which I balanced with my music career. It was so very satisfying for me to give back to the community. In many ways, it led me back into education after a successful career and enabled me to graduate in 2016 with a first-class degree in music production and performance. It was something I had always wanted to achieve and was inspirational to other students.
Malkit Singh: I have had many great performances with bhangra legend Malkit Singh, which included The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles – to be on a stage that great legends like The Beatles had performed at was magical. I also performed with him and The Pussycat Dolls at the golden jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, which was an amazing early experience.
The cover of his single Midland Boy
Apache Indian: I have performed with Apache Indian all over the world, including his 30th anniversary tour in 2023. Between 2004-2006, I did a world tour with the music legend, which took us to 26 countries. This included world-famous festivals like Womad and Summer Jam, along with international venues like Lincoln Centre in New York. This world tour was one of the best parts of my career – to perform in front of mostly non Asian crowds was challenging but rewarding. Taking folk instruments of tabla and dhol globally to promote the culture is always an honour. Performing with Apache Indian, Fleur East and the Reggae Revolution Band in 2021 on the BBC’s One Show was also memorable.
Debut single: Producing and releasing music was something I always had a passion for. My first single in 2012 was Midland Boyz with my father Jashi. The video was shot in Birmingham featuring leading names like Malkit Singh, Apache Indian, Shin DCS, Musical Youth and Kash ‘the flash’ Gill. The track went to number one in the world music charts within a few hours of release.
Melas: I have been blessed to perform at some of the world’s leading venues and biggest stages. The Birmingham & Sandwell mela was special because it was my home city. We performed with students in front of 80,000 people. Taking students from the local academy to gain experience and confidence in front of massive crowds was an amazing thing to be part of.
Songs: From a very young age, I have been fortunate to be around recording artists and subsequently got a very good understanding in studios. I have been lucky enough to record for some of the biggest bhangra anthems to date, including Captain Bhangre Da (Ravi Bal & Daljit Mattu), Mama Bada Great and Maa (Malkit Singh), Hoor (Balwinder Safri), Punjabi & U Know It (DCS) and many more. Being able to perform on many recordings, which have now become classics has been a blessing.
Movie: It was great to be approached by one of the music directors to perform on some songs for the Punjabi film Shadaa. The 2019 film starring Diljit Dosanjh was a huge success around the world.
Concert: I recently performed at the year’s biggest bhangra concert at Birmingham Symphony Hall, headlined by Panjabi MC and Tru Skool. Being on stage with the artists, recreating classic tracks and performing them live was magical. It adds to the wonderful moments I have had on stage. I hope to have many more.
In the wake of businessman Sunjay Kapur’s sudden death on 12 June 2025, attention has turned to Karisma Kapoor’s personal life and her past marriage. The former couple, who tied the knot in 2003, split in 2014 and finalised their divorce in 2016 after a long legal battle. Their marriage had been fraught with tension, and Karisma’s father, veteran actor Randhir Kapoor, had openly voiced his disapproval of the union.
‘She doesn’t need to remarry, she’s content being a mother’
Following their split, Karisma’s name was occasionally linked with businessman Sandeep Toshniwal, though neither ever confirmed a relationship. In a 2017 interview, Randhir Kapoor was asked whether Karisma planned to marry again. He replied that she was happy, settled, and completely devoted to her children, Samaira and Kiaan.
Randhir Kapoor once said Karisma is happy and well-settled as a single motherGetty Images
“I think Lolo is very well settled and happy. I have never discussed marriage with her, but if she ever wants to marry again, she will always have my blessings. That said, I don’t think she wants to. She’s a happy mother and there’s no step in that direction,” Randhir had said. He added that Karisma is an “excellent mother” and that her love for her children seemed to fulfil her completely.
Despite growing speculation at the time about a new chapter in Karisma’s life, Randhir’s words reflected a family that supported her decision to live life on her own terms.
Randhir Kapoor once said Karisma Kapoor may never remarry after divorceGetty Images
‘I never wanted her to marry Sunjay’
Back in 2016, during the divorce proceedings, Randhir had spoken about how he never approved of Karisma’s marriage to Sunjay. “Sunjay is a third-class man. We are Kapoors. We don’t need anyone’s money. He never cared for Karisma. He lived with another woman while giving her nonsense,” Randhir had said.
He added that everyone in Delhi knew Sunjay’s reputation, and he didn’t want to say more. Post-divorce, Karisma won custody of her children. Reports stated that Sunjay paid ₹70 crore (£6.6 million) in alimony and set aside ₹14 crore (£1.3 million) in bonds for the children’s future.
Though Sunjay later married Priya Sachdev, Karisma has remained single. She returned to the screen with selective work but kept her personal life private. Through it all, she’s maintained grace, and, as her father once said, she continues to live life the way she chooses.
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Nagarjuna reveals Sekhar Kammula told him to unlearn stardom for Kuberaa
Veteran actor Nagarjuna Akkineni is shedding his star persona to play a middle-class man with emotional complexity in Kubera. But that didn’t come easy. In a candid moment from the set, director Sekhar Kammula told him bluntly: “I don’t want to see confidence in your eyes.” That line stuck with him. “It reminded me I had to strip back everything I’ve built up over the years and just be the character,” Nagarjuna recalls.
In Kubera, releasing 20 June, Nagarjuna plays Deepak, a character wedged between a beggar played by Dhanush and a billionaire played by Jim Sarbh. The film is set across three social classes, something the actor believes will strike an emotional chord. “We’re not playing to the gallery. We’re becoming the people in the story,” he says.
This is Nagarjuna’s first outing with director Sekhar Kammula, known for his socially rooted storytelling. Despite being long-time admirers of each other’s work, they had never collaborated, partly because Sekhar didn’t see big stars fitting into his universe. But Nagarjuna believed otherwise. “Stars can bring people to the theatre. The story will keep them there,” he says.
He praised Sekhar’s craft, particularly how his songs arrive unexpectedly but feel completely natural. “His stories uplift, challenge, and entertain. Love Story did it with caste and gender. Kubera does it with class.” The actor also shares how Jim Sarbh stunned the crew by delivering pitch-perfect Telugu lines despite not knowing the language. “He was the most hardworking among us,” Nagarjuna says.
Playing the bad guy with no regrets
While Kubera sees him as a restrained, empathetic man, Coolie flips that completely. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film casts him opposite Rajinikanth as a suave, remorseless antagonist. “He’s a double alpha, no redemption, no soft edges,” Nagarjuna says. “He believes he owns the world. It was liberating to play someone so unapologetically bad.”
As he approaches his 100th film, Nagarjuna reflects on staying relevant across four decades. The key, he says, is to evolve with the audience, especially younger viewers. “You can’t preach. You have to adapt or step aside.” And despite the rise of OTT and shrinking theatre windows, he remains confident: “A good film still belongs in a cinema. The experience is unmatched.”
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Danny Boyle returns with 28 Years Later as critics praise Ralph Fiennes and Jodie Comer in gripping infected sequel
It’s been over two decades since 28 Days Later redefined zombie horror, and now director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland have returned with 28 Years Later, a sequel that critics describe as strange, thrilling and unlike anything else in the genre right now. Reviews across the board agree on one thing: this isn’t a typical follow-up. Instead of repeating past glories, 28 Years Later throws viewers into a mutated Britain trapped in isolation, where the infected are evolving, and survival feels like medieval warfare.
A bold, chaotic mix of horror, politics and family drama
Critics highlight how the film combines multiple genres like apocalyptic horror, folk survivalism and emotional family storylines. Many reviewers noted that Boyle’s visual direction still feels urgent and stylish, especially in the intense chase scenes through forests filled with new mutated variants: the sluggish “Slow-Lows” and terrifying Alpha berserkers.
Alfie Williams, who plays 12-year-old Spike, has been widely praised for anchoring the story. His journey across the infected mainland with his dying mother Isla is described as the film’s emotional spine. Comer’s performance drew strong acclaim, with some critics saying she gives the film its most grounded moments.
There’s also a consensus that Garland’s script tries to pack in big ideas, touching on Brexit, COVID-era isolationism, and climate dread, but doesn’t always manage to develop them fully. Still, the ambition is appreciated.
Ralph Fiennes delivers the film’s most memorable turn
While the film’s first half is loaded with action, the tone shifts completely when Ralph Fiennes appears as the enigmatic Dr. Kerson. Critics across the board say he steals the film, playing a soft-spoken, possibly unhinged survivor living in a bone temple. His eerie calm and philosophical monologues sparked comparisons to Apocalypse Now’s Colonel Kurtz.
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Radhika Apte stars in BAFTA-nominated Sister Midnight, now available to stream online
BAFTA and BIFA-nominated indie Sister Midnight is now available to stream on major digital platforms, including Altitude.film, Apple TV, Amazon, Sky Store, and Curzon Home Cinema.
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Apte plays Uma, a new bride forced into a life she didn’t choose, navigating nosy neighbours, a heat-soaked home, and a clueless husband she barely knows. With little support and mounting frustration, she begins drifting into the unpredictable world of Mumbai’s nights, where street dogs, shadows, and music accompany her search for identity and escape.
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With a soundtrack as unpredictable as the protagonist, Sister Midnight swings between classic rock, old blues, and raw punk, featuring legends like Howlin’ Wolf, Motörhead, and The Stooges, along with original music by Interpol’s Paul Banks.
Radhika Apte’s raw, magnetic energy grounds the chaos
While the film is full of jagged energy and eccentric moments, Apte’s performance ties it all together. She doesn’t just play Uma, she unravels her, one twitch, glare, and outburst at a time. Critics have called her work here “electrifying” and “oddly poignant.” The film clocks in at 110 minutes and carries a 15 certificate for its edgy themes.
But Sister Midnight is far from just gritty; it’s a rare mix of heart and havoc, offering a glimpse into one woman’s unravelling, with the city of Mumbai acting as both witness and accomplice.
It’s been 26 years since Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam hit the big screen, but Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s rich, emotional tale of love and longing still lingers in the hearts of movie lovers. Starring Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Ajay Devgn, this film was a cultural moment. Here are five things you may not know about this now-iconic musical drama.
1. KK’s Bollywood debut began with heartbreak
Before he became one of the most beloved voices of the 2000s, singer KK got his big Bollywood break with the heart-wrenching song Tadap Tadap. The track, composed by Ismail Darbar and written by Mehboob, captured the raw ache of lost love, and KK’s soul-stirring vocals made it unforgettable. Few know that Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was his first major entry into Hindi cinema, thanks to Bhansali's knack for spotting rare talent.
Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan in a still from Bhansali’s unforgettable love storyInstagram/bhansaliproductions
2. Tadap Tadap still strikes a nerve with heartbroken souls
Even decades later, Tadap Tadap remains a go-to song for anyone nursing heartbreak. Its haunting melody and painful lyrics have earned it a permanent place on every “breakup playlist.” It’s not just a song, it’s a punch to the gut, and Gen X especially holds it close, often revisiting it during nostalgic or emotional moments.
Aishwarya Rai’s performance brought grace and heartbreak in equal measureInstagram/bhansaliproductions
3. It was only Bhansali’s second film
Most directors take a while to find their signature style. Not Sanjay Leela Bhansali. After Khamoshi: The Musical, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was only his second directorial project, but it cemented his place as a filmmaker known for blending grand visuals with emotional depth. The film’s cultural textures, sweeping sets, and deep emotions became a Bhansali trademark.
Salman Khan’s raw vulnerability added soul to Bhansali’s tale of longing and lossInstagram/bhansaliproductions
4. It echoed the storytelling of Indian film legends
Many critics at the time drew parallels between Bhansali and classic directors like Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, and K. Asif. Like them, Bhansali crafted scenes with intense emotional weight, often using music, silence, and visual flair to convey what words couldn’t.
Ajay Devgn delivered quiet intensity in Bhansali’s emotionally charged love triangleInstagram/bhansaliproductions
5. The music album was a blockbuster on its own
Beyond Tadap Tadap, the film’s soundtrack was packed with gems. From the playful Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyaan to the devotional Albela Sajan, the album was a complete package. Ismail Darbar’s score, paired with poetic lyrics and powerful vocals, played a major role in the film’s emotional impact.
Bhansali’s next film is already making waves
Two and a half decades later, Bhansali remains a force in Indian cinema. His upcoming film Love and War, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal, is already one of the most anticipated releases. And while Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam remains a fan favourite, expectations are sky-high for his next chapter.