Family reunion, conversations and bonding makes it the best festival

In India, there's a festival every full moon-lit night, but no time of the year are the halwais as busy as during this festival that falls on Amavasya. On Diwali even the most self-conscious have their strict diet regimens flying out of the window, as they bite into an array of delicacies. In fact even the health and calorie conscious B-town brigade has already started indulging even as they tell Films & TV World, how they are gonna celebrate and what's on their wish list.

Rishi Bhutani

Actor

Diwali was more about holiday when we were in school. Now still it's the same when you are shooting for long hours and you get break it's very relaxing and we get time to spend with our family and friends. It's fun. Celebrations are as usual like every year which starts with a Laxmi pooja. Yeah but this year after pooja we are going to our friends place for fun. On my wish list is to buy Maa Laxmi Murti with Ganesha. Movies? Shivaay or Ae Dil Hai Mushkil? None at the moment as I am shooting back to back - so diwali is a good time for me to relax.

Hira Mehta

Actor / Journalist

Ye Deepwali ka tyohaar hai. Khoob saare diye jalaakar, pure ghar ko sajaa kar, achi achi mithaiyaan baantkar, sab rishthey daaro ko bulakar, sundar sundar rangoli banakar, khuub diye hum sab jalayenge, Maa Laxmi ji ko bulayenge, kheel batashain mithaiyan phool malayen chadayenge aur sab khushi khushi deepawali manayenge. I’m not very fond of crackers but sometimes due to the seasons I enjoy them safely. As I am a movie buff, this Diwali I will be watching both Shivaay and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil with family and friends.

Anand Arnold

Body Builder/Actor

It is the time of the year to celebrate the "Triumph of Good over Evil" and the zeal and fervor of the festival is very evident seeing the streets and nukkads. The time of the year to let go off all egos, bitterness and pessimism and embark on a new journey amidst the gleam of Diyas and the echo of the chants. It is the time to begin new ventures, spread light, burst crackers, counts your blessings and share your happiness. Isn’t this real essence of Diwali...the festival of lights? And a special piece of advice to the workaholics who are blindly engaged in competing to be a part of the rat race and are getting entangled in the materialistic web with each passing day. Spend time with your family, friends and children. Make them feel special...Indulge in fun and frolic. And you will surely feel a new sense of vigour and vivacity in whatever work you are engaged in for the entire year. As for seeking pleasure in material things, well, they don’t fascinate me anymore. I have won the Mr. World body building championship and I am looking forward to win Mr. Universe.

Sumit Bansala

Producer

A daily ritual, my Diwali will start with puja at home, a thanksgiving prayer to the lord for all that I have received till now, and then gorge on sweets and namkeens with family and friends. Would also go out and meet relatives and friends, and it’s a trend to catch on some good movies that is released this Diwali weekend. For me it would be Shivaay as I am a devout Shiva bhakt. And no way it would be “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” as it goes without saying it would be super bore. Though I am very much a part of this industry, yet I will be home but, I’m sure going to enjoy to the hilt. Wishing you all a safe and Happy Diwali.

Nishant Singh

Actor

Besides food, it has to be decorating our home with beautiful lights and diyas. It's the only time of the year when every moment looks like a celebration. This year I will spend it with my parents. We will finish the pooja and the go out for dinner and we'll watch the whole town lit up with beautiful lights. On my wish list is to be able to have all the sweets that I can possible gobble up. As for the releases, Ae dil hai mushkil, tickets booked :)

Krishan Hooda

Director

Besides lights, deeyas and mithais, the best part about Diwali is I love the nip in the air - it's so warm and welcoming. The colorful and cheerful celebrations in every household are something I really enjoy. I'll be celebrating with my family like every year. Shivaay or Ae Dil Hai Mushkil - I'll watch Shivay because I would love to see a story telling of an actor. 

Deepak Wadhwa

Actor

Besides food and mithais, I would say the vibe makes it special. Family reunion, conversations makes it the best festival for me. The way the whole city lights up to the festive mood is very charming. As usual, I am in Delhi with my family and being with your own makes anyday special. On my wish list is to have my own home in Mumbai. I am def going to watch Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

Armaan Khan

Model / Actor

This is the first Diwali that I am celebrating outside home and Hyderabad without friends and family and missing them all. Yet, I will be celebrating it here in Delhi with my relatives, friends and my extended family who are based here. I just wanna wish all of you lots of love and togetherness as I’m yearning for my close ones. Have a pollution free Diwali. This is the only earth we have and let’s do our bit to save it. It’s not about the choice of Shivaay or Ae Dil Hai Mushkil - As an actor I am going to watch both the films as you learn a lot through the acting of these established actors and to me it’s like having a workshop. 

Krishan Khatra

Actor

There is something magical about Diwali always. This is the time when you are surrounded by your loved ones which makes this festival even more special. Being the first Diwali after my marriage, it will be a Celebration very close to my heart. The festivities this year will involve puja ceremony, lighting of crackers, exchanging of gifts followed by a lavish meal. I have decided to watch both of the movies. Wishing everyone a lot of Happiness, prosperity and a sparkling Diwali.

Abhilash Chaudhary

Actor

Besides food and mithais, the best about Diwali are crackers and lighting everywhere. It’s fantastic to light up the whole house with different lights candles and deeyas. As usual the tradition of distributing sweats to relatives and loved ones makes your Diwali fantastic. This year I am going home and will celebrating it with my family and extended family, friends and relatives. But yes, this year for laxmi pujan will light deeyas and candles by only Indian manufacturers and “No Chinese” stuff for me. On my wish list is to buy-crackers, crackers and more crackers. Shivaay or Ae Dil Hai Mushkil – definitely Shivaay. Also the music is good of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil but definitely Shivaay first.

Zuber Kamaal Khan

Actor

First time I'm celebrating this auspicious day in Mumbai and shooting, so celebrations are obviously with my shoot family of Kasam and my film guys. Mostly from last 3 years I was out of Mumbai for work and this is the first time I’m in Mumbai during the season. As is the tradition, this Diwali I have bought my iPhone 7. I’m so very happy. I will try to remove some time and celebrate this auspicious festival with my friends amidst the diyas and crackers and follow it sweets. Shivaay definitely as its Ajay sir’s directorial film and I love the look of the film.

Sunny Sachdeva

Actor

Diwali as usual I will celebrate with my family and friends at my place only - No crackers, no pollution, only candles and diyas. Will go to Gurudwara and pray for me and my family's best future and pray for our jawans on the border. May god support them all and give them courage and happiness. Help aspiring actors and models who really wish to work in Bollywood. As for my acting, I got few movie offers, but I’m looking for something that is more challenging and gives me a scope for perform. Yes, I am hungry for better characters and challenging roles. Hope for the best.

Mehul Advani

Actor

This Diwali like all the previous ones, is traditionally being celebrated with my family and friends. While mom seems to be busy with the preparation for Laxmi pooja, I enjoy watching her making sweets, decorating the house etc. This Diwali I am trying to help my mom in decorating the house with candles and lamps and it’s giving me a very special feeling. After doing the pooja I am planning to burn lots of crackers with my friends. I would end up this Diwali night with delicious food by my mom and pray for the happiness of all the dear ones in my life. Its going to be both - Shivaay and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil over the next two days.

Anurag Tomar (Prince)

Actor

Well, first of all am very happy this year as my first film Keh Do Na Love Hai is almost complete and here I am doing another film after Diwali.  What else could be on my wish list? As usual, will be celebrating Diwali with family and friends as well as doing a bit of philanthropic work like distributing sweets and stuff to the ones who cannot afford. Will try and watch both the films. A message that I want to give all of you is “Have a safe Diwali and Kids should burn limited crackers so that there is less pollution”. Stay safe, stay blessed.

Nikhil Arora

Actor

The "festival of lights, this is the most well-known of the Indian festivals and celebrated throughout India, as well as in Indian communities throughout the diaspora. It is a common practice to light small oil diyas and place them around in verandahs and all across our homes, but this year we have candles substituted for diyas as well as neon lights put up all across making it look beautiful. The celebration of the festival invariably signifies the renewal of life. My wish list? Audi obviously. But that’s not happening this year. Maybe it will have to wait for a few more Diwalis. And movie? Dil ko mushkil me kyon daalna? Will go for Ae Dil hai Mushkil.

Sandesh Gour

Actor

Beside food, Diwali is also known for lighting the lamp, welcoming of Shree Ram and doing pooja of Goddess Maa Laxmi and take blessings from elders. As usual, I'm celebrating Diwali in my hometown Nagpur with my parents and siblings. I can't even think of celebrating this festival without my family. This is the first time in my life, I gifted a saree to my mom on this occasion. She felt so proud of me because I purchased from my own hard working money. I will buy new clothes as usual but this time I'm looking forward to gift something special to my dad as well. As for the movies, I will be gonna watch Shivaay, because after Akshay Kumar, I’m a big fan of Ajay Devgan as well... I'm boycotting ADHM.

Ritesh Bhuwania

Fashion Designer & Stylist
The significance of Deepavali is the removal of darkness and ignorance from the mind and filing it with goodness. On this auspicious festival of lights, with the shine of diyas and the echo of chants, may the glow of joy, prosperity and happiness illuminate everyone’s life and homes. I pray that millions of lamps illuminate one’s life with endless joy, prosperity, health and wealth forever. Wishing you all a Very Happy Diwali. And movie? Har Har “Shivaay”..

Mohan Das - Writer / Director