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FESTIVAL MEANS FAMILY FOR STARS
For Bollywood, Diwali is a time to be spent with loved ones
Like every Diwali, most Bollywood celebs will indulge themselves this festival of lights. What’s common to all is having their near and dear ones close, whether at a glittering do or a more private ambience.
TAAPSEE PANNU: TIME FOR EXTENDED FAMILY
Taapsee Pannu is taking a twoday break to visit Delhi, her hometown, to celebrate Diwali. Taapsee says, “Like every year, I will take time off from work and go to Delhi to celebrate with my family. Though this is my first Diwali in my Mumbai apartment, I don’t want to miss meeting my entire extended family. I celebrate Diwali with traditional things like making a rangoli, painting diyas and decorating the house. We do a small puja in the evening followed by a dinner with the entire extended family. This is our annual ritual.”
Taking about the festival, the actor adds, “Diwali is unique because this is the only festival when we end up taking time out to spend together at one place. This is what I would suggest to everyone.”
MANOJ BAJPAYEE: ONE WITH NATURE
Two-time National Awardwinning actor Manoj Bajpayee will have a unique Diwali — much like the choices in his professional life.
Manoj has been working round the clock this year, travelling across the film festival circuit and shooting for upcoming projects. To rejuvenate himself, a source tells us Manoj has planned a peaceful Diwali and left for an ashram for a month with his wife and daughter, to meditate in the midst of nature.
Manoj left for the ashram after attending the Dehradun International Film Festival. Commenting on his unique way of celebrating Diwali, the actor says, “This year has been very fulfilling yet hectic and I thought of this to get in touch with my body and soul. Nature is very important for us to relieve ourselves of day-to-day stress. I also wanted my daughter to learn the importance of nature and peacefulness, so this year I thought of celebrating Diwali in a peaceful way with my family and spending some quality time with them. And whenever I’m with my family, every day is a celebration.”
SIDHARTH MALHOTRA: BEING CONTENT
Every year, Sidharth Malhotra tries to take some time off in Diwali to either spend with his family in Delhi or soak in the revelry in Mumbai. However, this time the actor will, in all probability, have a working Diwali as he is in Lucknow shooting for Jabariya Jodi. Far from being upset about missing the filmy Diwali parties, he is hoping to squeeze in sometime to pay a quick visit to his family in Delhi.
“I am in Lucknow and will be shooting on Diwali, spending time with my director and my team. Diwali means celebrating prosperity and whatever you have and being happy with it. That is what I’m doing this year. It does not matter if you can’t meet your family or friends. When you work on a film set, those people become your friends and family. So we are going to celebrate Diwali and we are going to be jolly and happy. Yet, I am trying to see if I can meet my family in the second half as Lucknow is close to Delhi. If that works out, it will be great.”
YAMI GAUTAM: FESTIVE MINUS POLLUTION
Yami Gautam is off to her Chandigarh home to spend time with family and friends as usual. However this Diwali will be different as Yami plans to spread awareness about an eco-friendly and pollution-free Diwali in her Chandigarh neighbourhood with help from her friends in the city.
Yami says, “Diwali is a festival that always brings me back home, each celebration is even more special than the previous one. This time too I’m looking forward to festivities back home. However, the growing concern of pollution in the last few years is something we mustn’t ignore. That’s why this Diwali, with my friends, I have taken an initiative in our neighbourhood to spread the message. The idea is to keep the festive cheer alive without compromising the environment in any way.”
Rishabh Suri, Sneha Mahadevan and Pooja Sharma
IT WAS A STARRY NIGHT AT THE ABODE OF KING KHAN, WHERE A HOST OF CELEBS CAME IN THEIR DIWALI BEST. THE KHAN FAMILY POSED TOGETHER, THOUGH ELDER SON ARYAN WAS AWAY.