SHILPA SHETTY AND RAJ KUNDRA
Shilpa and her husband Raj are known to light up Diwali in style and an invitation to their party at their Juhu bungalow are much sought-after. It took off when the couple hosted a Diwali-cum-house-warming bash in 2010, inviting almost all of Bollywood’s A-listers. It was such a hit that from then, on a grand pre-Diwali celebration has been an annual event.
Shilpa’s morning starts with a traditional Man galore an religious ceremony. ‘We then dress in new festive clothes and prepare to welcome the steady stream of guests, many of who stay onto attend the evening party,’ she says. A guest from last year’s Diwali party remembers how‘ Shil pa played a gracious host, taking care of just about every need of the guests. The food was out of this world–a lavish spread of M ugh lai dishes – and therewere an unimaginable number of desserts. Therewere exclusive areas where professional masseurs offered foot and back massages to guests so no one had sore feet after all the dancing.’
Shilpa personalises gifts for her guests. Not one for crackers or noisy celebrations she says, ‘I always believe in the joy of giving during Diwali. I don’t spend on crackers. Instead, I donate that money to the needy.’