BOLLYWOOD HOLLYWOOD TELEVISION MUSIC FASTING, FOOD, FERVOUR

Television stars talk about the month of Ramzan, how they observe their rituals and their memories of the holy month

or many, the month of Ramzan is about fasting, abstaining, praying, and then gorging on delicacies during iftar. HT Café gets a few television celebrities to share their experiences during Ramzan — from the number of rozas they keep and visits to Mohammed Ali Road to their memories of iftaris and sehris. I fast every year 30 days, no matter if I am shooting or not. I also try and follow everything that one is required to do during the holy month of Ramzan as per the Quran. Rozas are a pillar of Islam in the month of Ramzan. During my childhood, when I wanted to fast but I couldn’t, my mum would tell me to fast between breakfast and lunch and then between lunch and dinner. I wouldn’t eat or drink between meals as a kid, and that’s how it gradually started. Iftar would be grand, and I always looked forward to my mum’s phirni. The early morning meal, sehri, would be a full-fledged meal, which we don’t do anymore. Now, I end up eating a protein bar or toast and jam. I have been breaking my fasts on the sets of my TV shows for many years. This year, I will not be fasting the whole month, but I will fast on the important days. This year, I am shooting for my ongoing TV show and iftari has been fun on the sets, Inshallah. I remember my dad would get iftari food from Mohammed Ali Road daily, and it would be something we all looked forward to. During Ramzan, I always visit Mohammed Ali Road and gorge on dishes from my favourite restaurant, the Noor Mohammadi Hotel. I usually go three to four times in the month. During the days when I fast, I stay up and play PlayStation 4 with friends till iftari; that helps distract me. As an actor and with my schedule, I can’t keep all rozas, but I make sure the people who fast have proper food. Ramzan is always peaceful, but the evenings mean eating a lot and meeting friends. Iftari is always fun, as all of us eat together as a family; that may include friends and family and people who have kept rozas and even ones who have not. It does not matter what your religion is, as many friends come over for iftari, and that is what I love the most. Ramzan is about learning self-control. Your normal routine is set aside, as you wake up early in the morning for sehri around 4am, and then your next meal is after sunset. It’s also a detox process. You pray more than usual, and one follows the scriptures, which say we shouldn’t watch movies or listen to songs, among other things. Basically, you don’t do things you enjoy to practice self-control. This year, I have a hectic shooting schedule and I am unwell, so I won’t be fasting. My wife and my daughter would be this year.

PHOTO: ANDREW H. WALKER/GETTY IMAGES PHOTO: PRAMOD THAKUR/HT