Bollywood Stars & Their Diwali Plans

Lata Mangeshkar: “Considering what the  entire  world has gone through Diwali this time is definitely low-key for everyone including me and my family. My sisters and I love to do the rangoli. Putting colours into auspicious shapes used to be a big thing for us. Ab woh utsah kahan raha?

The destruction and loss of human life all around us doesn’t quite put us in a festive mood.  I remember my mother used to bathe  oil and anoint with uptan  all of us children  on  Diwali…It used to be  a big occasion in our home. Diwali  meant family and friends, home-made mithai and hand-made diyas…The phool jharis and patakas were so appealing .Now they’re simply a public nuisance. Now everything is made-to-order…You call a  shop, you get flowers sent to friends…You call a sweet shop and they have mithais sent  in fancy designer-packets and expensive matkas….It’s not about feelings and warmth any longer. It’s all about how much you can show rather than how much you can feel…Nowadays people prefer to send dry fruits rather than mithai…That’s because dry fruits are more convenient and less perishable. ..I miss my mother .

She represented the Diwali spirit for me.  I miss the Diwali smells at home…the mithai being cooked on the chulha, the ghee in he diyas, the scent of burning camphor…All those aromatic feelings associated with Diwali are long gone…Now it’s all about getting the steps rather than  the feeling right. It’s strange. But I can’t remember a single Diwali song of my own…at least not any happy ones! Maybe that’s an indication  of how difficult  and different Diwali has become now .

Shabana Azmi:  “Jadu(husband Javed Akhtar) has joined me in Delhi and we are having a small intimate gathering at a close friend’s home here . Will miss the big family bash in Mumbai but keeping Covid precautions in mind this seems to be the best option. There is an NGO that makes crackers that turn into flowers .. those are the ones we will light . It is very very important that we take utmost care in minimising pollution and celebrate festivals in a sustainable manner.”

Tiger Shroff: “It’s a working Diwali for me. I am in  the UK  shooting for Ganapath. I  will miss being with my  family this  Diwali. But Dad always says work is the  best  way to celebrate  any special  occasion.”

Sonu Sood:  “Diwali  is always with  family.  But this time there are lots of visitors  from all over country  to meet me , waiting  below  my apartment. These are  people who  want to thank me for  helping them in whatever capacity  I could . Spending time with these people  who love me is the  best Diwali gift I  can give  myself.”

Vijay Deverakonda:  “Diwali this year is  with  family  . I feel Diwali would  be meaningful only when we eradicate the darkness in  our hearts.Noise and air  pollution  caused by  arbitrary  bursting of crackers must stop. Babies and  animals are a big part of the population. Make Diwali peaceful  for them.”

Vishal Krishna: “I have a big Diwali release Enemy this  year.So  my friend and co-star Arya  and I  are  promoting the  film with  all our  energy . Rajini Sir has a release also(Annaatthe). I wish his film all  the  best . Of course his film has an upper-hand. Please see Annaatthe and then see my film too. They are  two different experiences.”

Adivi Sesh: “I get to do puja with my mom and dad. Which I used to as a kid in the US. Nice to have some old traditions come back .I  will be spending the day   with my parents.”

Hema Malini:  “Diwali is  my favourite festival. It means being with my family, dressing up in beautiful new clothes, making rangolis and eating mithai. And there is no greater  joy for me than spending time with my children and grandchildren. I wish not a single home in our country would go without light this Diwali.”

Asha Parekh: “Diwali has changed.  That excitement  and  the spirit  of  joy and festivity are missing.But this year  the Covid threat  has receded  so I will have  a few  close friends over. But no crackers. Only  phooljhari, and sweets.”

Shatrughan Sinha:  “There is  no greater joy this year than to  see  a  light of  hope burning in every house. We’ve been through some  terrible times recently and this year Diwali is relatively less stressful than last year, thanks to Covid Maharaj’s  withdrawal from our lives . But I  advise  utmost caution during the festivities.Do not  celebrate with friends. Restrict your  celebration to family. I also want to  wish my friend Rajinikanth  all the  best on the  release  of  his  new  film Annaatthe, also  Akshay  Kumar and Rohit Shetty all the  best   on the release  of Sooryavanshi. On  the success  of this film depends  the   future  of  movie theatres in North India.”

Aahana Kumra:  “I will be  performing in  my play  Sir Sir Sarla on Diwali evening.”

Mohit Raina: “I’ve lost a  lot of loved ones , friends and family.So will  just light a Diya and pray  for everyone’s peace  and health.”