By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service
Mumbai, (IANS) Most Bollywood stars are in a mood to celebrate Diwali, but only a lucky few like Aftab Shivdasani, Sammir Dattani and Raveena Tandon will actually be able to do so. Others will be busy shooting in India and abroad.
Here’s what the stars have to say about the festival of lights:
Urmila Matondkar: My most favourite festival. I love the lights and positivity that come with Diwali. What I like best are the sweets, rangoli and crackers, not the noisy ones. I never play cards. I can’t relate to that activity.
Kangana Ranaut: I love to spend Diwali with my parents and sister. And that’s the biggest Diwali gift I can get. This time, when my sister Rangoli is in the hospital, I feel the need to be with them. But I’m in South Africa shooting with Suneel Darshanji, Bobby Deol and Upen Patel for “Shakalaka Boom Boom”. So, there’s no one at home to make the rangolis. I suppose work is worship. That compensates for my need to be near my family.
Priyanka Chopra: Diwali means family, friends and lots of sweets and celebrations. I’ve plenty of reason to celebrate, now that my dad is out of surgery and on his feet. But alas, I’ve butterflies in my stomach. “Don” releases this Diwali. So, the biggest gift for me? That people should like “Don” and me in the film.
Sammir Dattani: Diwali is a time when the entire Dattani clan gets together. We all become grown-up kids blowing up crackers and screaming at the top of our lungs in the most politically incorrect way. This year during Diwali I’m shooting for Vikram Bhatt’s film. It requires me to feel quite mean from inside. I hope Diwali will make me feel like myself again. Fortunately, I’m not shooting that day. I love getting gifts but not giving them. I’m sure I’ll get loads of stuff.
Arshad Warsi: We’ll be going to Mini Mathur’s house to bring in Diwali and then to Viraf of Wizcraft to party until morning. Because it’s like a reunion for all of us who used to hang out at the discotheque named Xanadu in the 1980s. What better gift than old friends for Diwali? As for anything else, I’m quite content with life. Don’t need anything else.
Shabana Azmi: Diwali this year also happens to be my mom’s birthday. So, it’s double celebration time. Though our house is currently broken down for renovation, I’m having a card party with family and friends. We’ll have marigolds and rangoli earthen diyas — not designed by an event management team, but by me personally.
Sameera Reddy: My sister Meghna is back in town especially for Diwali. So, all of us in the family will be together. What better gift can I hope for? I’m looking forward to spending time with family and friends, catching up on films. Diwali to me is about renewing old ties. Ostentatious spending on new clothes and crackers causing smoke pollution are definitely not my scene.
Upen Patel: This year I’m celebrating Diwali shooting for “Shakalaka Boom Boom” in South Africa. Miss my family. I’ve gifted myself a Sony Viao laptop for Diwali.
Sushant Singh: I’ll be with friends and family at home. The best gift that I can think of is to give much more happiness to all my loved ones.
Irrfan Khan: I generally gamble for small stakes with friends. Since I’m shooting in Pune this year, my family will join me here. We’ll be exploring Pune this year for Diwali.
Amrita Arora: Diwali is always spent with my family, and since I’m not working during Diwali, this year is no exception. I just gifted myself a house. So, I’m taking it easy on the gift front. But I wouldn’t mind receiving gifts from my friends.”
Randeep Hooda: Every year I spend Diwali in a different way. This year I’d be in my home in Rohtak. I haven’t done that in years. And since I’ve been shooting in Thailand for weeks I’m homesick. I want my whole family together on Diwali and that’s the greatest gift I can get.
Riteish Deshmukh: The last two years I’ve been shooting during Diwali. This year I’ll be in Cape Town shooting for Anubhav Sinha’s “Cash”. Ideally, I’d love to go back to my village where I’ve spent all my childhood Diwalis. That’s the best gift I can think of.
Bipasha Basu: The rituals for Diwali are invariable for me. I do a Laxmi-Ganesh puja followed by a quiet dinner with all my family and close friends. Simple and traditional. This year is no different. For once my entire family is in Mumbai. Mom, dad, my elder sister Bidisha and younger sister Vijayeta, my brother-in-law Rohit, my nephew Anitej and of course John, and my best friends Suzie, Vishal and Rocky S. I think this is the biggest Diwali gift I could ever hope for. Everyone I love together with me, including my sweet pet Poshto. I’m busy decorating my house for the occasion with lights and candles and diyas, so you’ll have to excuse me.
Koena Mitra: I always have a Kali Puja at home. We fast the whole day and eat after the puja. This year it’s the same. Maybe I’ll meet up with friends after the puja and go out. I don’t like noisy crackers. But I like to watch the fireworks. I’ve bought gifts for my entire family. My mother has sent me beautiful earrings and a sari.
Raveena Tandon: My husband is busy with the release of “Don”. So I’ll be dipped in “Don” rather than diyas. But yes there will be the regular puja at my parents and my in-laws’ place. And my daughter, Rasha, will dress up in her ghagra-choli and light up our lives.
Hema Malini: Though this is my first Diwali in my new home, I’ll be in Cape Town with my daughters Esha and Ahana.
Raima Sen: Normally, I celebrate with my family in Kolkata. We have a huge get-together there. This year since I’ve already been to Kolkata for Dussehra, so I’ll be celebrating Diwali in Mumbai. My dad will be coming over to Mumbai. I’m gifting myself a new car as a Diwali gift. I’m sure my parents will give me something too. They always do, for every festival.
