Patrick Stewart dies at 86, Janhvi Kapoor confirms her relationship, and Ramayana releases Judi Jodi

Patrick Stewart, who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, died on Wednesday 28 October at his home in Los Angeles. He was 86. His spokesperson said he had been through “a brief and poignant journey” with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, as reported by AP News. Before Hollywood he spent two decades with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Marvel Studios has confirmed that his last screen appearance will be as Professor X in Avengers: Doomsday, due in cinemas on 18 December, and Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen and Marvel chief Kevin Feige were among those who paid tribute, according to Variety.

In Bollywood, Janhvi Kapoor confirmed on Koffee With Karan Season 9 that she is dating Shikhar Pahariya, after years of the two being linked without either saying so. Asked about marriage by host Karan Johar, she said: “Not for another two-three years for sure,” as reported by the Hindustan Times on 29 October.

The makers of Ramayana: Part One released a new song, Judi Jodi, on Karwa Chauth, 29 October. It features Ranbir Kapoor as Rama and Sai Pallavi as Sita against the backdrop of their wedding, with music by A. R. Rahman and lyrics by Dr Kumar Vishwas. It is out in Hindi, sung by Shreya Ghoshal, and in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, according to India Today. The film releases worldwide on 5 November, and Part Two is set for Diwali 2027.

On Pakistani television, Sheheryar Munawar told BBC Asian Network that his Dar-e-Nijaat character Abubakar “has always loved Zaryab”, Durefishan Saleem’s role, and that he added small hints such as Abubakar remembering she likes pasta on purpose. He also called Abubakar “a people pleaser” with real flaws, ARY News reported on 29 October. The full interview is due on BBC Sounds next Monday. Dar-e-Nijaat airs on ARY Digital on Friday and Saturday.

Ahsan Khan, whose HUM serial Aap Ki Izzat with Urwa Hocane ended last month, told Fuschia Magazine that women who choose to focus on their homes and children deserve the same respect as those with paid careers, and called for empathy for both homemakers and the men working to support families, as reported by Minute Mirror on 29 October.