Ramayana collects 250.50 cr in 5 days in Hindi; records highest Monday of all time
10:00 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
RAMAYANA (Hindi) did fantastic business on the big Diwali holiday as it recorded collections of 91.50 crore nett which is just phenomenal growth from the day before. The film has gone up from 34 crore nett to over 90 crore nett which is a 170% jump.
The film missed out on the 100 crore nett mark but that is probably as the holiday is not as strong as usual as it plays out over two days followed by Bhai Dooj on Wednesday. Nevertheless, its the third highest collection ever seen for a single day after the Saturday and Sunday of DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE.
The film has collected 250 crore nett now after 5 days and due to the film being in holiday period, its hard to tell where the first week will end but 400 crore nett is locked. It can go towards the 450 crore nett mark. The Monday also ensures a HIT film but that's not what this film has been made for as over Diwali, its not too difficult to become a HIT. It has to go and do better and it will as it has practically all of November to collect the numbers.
The slight disappointment is that Gujarat/Saurashtra could have been better considering the period but again this plays out over days and it could be something to do with how Diwali has fallen this year. Overall it's a great result on Monday because although its a big holiday, the collections did come down quite a bit on Sunday which is worrisome and getting 170% growth is no easy task.
If we add the languages then it will easily be the highest day ever for a film from the Hindi film industry as it goes to around 109 crore nett.
The collections of RAMAYANA (Hindi) till date are as follows.
Thursday - 43,00,00,000 apprx
Friday - 33,25,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 48,75,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 34,00,00,000 apprx
Monday - 91,50,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 2,50,50,00,000 apprx
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RAMAYANA recorded the highest Monday of all time by a huge margin as it smashed through the 60 crore nett plus figure of DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE. It is the first major record that RAMAYANA has set though it would have been better still if it got the highest single day in history. The big Diwali holiday being split into two days in various regions means it could not get the record but that will be compensated with another big day on Tuesday.
It was only a decade back that a 20 crore nett Monday would have been seen as a huge Monday and here we are looking at 90 crore nett collections. A few years ago, films like GADAR 2, ANIMAL and STREE 2 got Mondays which were in the 35-40 crore nett range and they were seen as huge at that time. HOUSEFULL 4, just before the pandemic, had collected 34 crore nett on the same day and this is far far higher. The collections are coming due to higher rates and RAMAYANA has the 3D factor going for it as well. The footfalls of the film are only 75 lakhs apprx in the first five days. The ticket pricing post DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE has changed the potential for the bigger films.
The admits may not be there but the figures can still be huge and if both really come together then the sky is the limit. The DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE Monday is probably a little better on fair value as its a huge holiday which could mean that the real collections of RAMAYANA are more in the 50-55 crore nett range without the holiday. But even 50-55 crore nett is a huge figure and there will not be many films hitting 50 crore nett on Monday in the next few years.
The top first Mondays of all time are as follows.
1. Ramayana - 91.50 crore (Holiday)
2. Dhurandhar The Revenge - 60.28 crore
3. Border 2 - 56.25 crore (Holiday)
4. Tiger 3 - 56.08 crore (Holiday, Day Two)
6. Pushpa 2 - The Rule - 40.74 crore
6. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion - 39.81 crore (Partial Holiday)
7. Gadar 2 - 38.36 crore
8. Animal (Hindi) - 37.68 crore
9. Stree 2 - 36.87 crore (Holiday)
10. Tiger Zinda Hai - 36.53 crore (Holiday)
11. Housfull 4 - 34.12 crore (Holiday)
12. Krrish 3 - 29.64 crore (Holiday)
13. Jawan (Hindi) - 28.61 crore
14. Bajrangi Bhaijaan - 26.78 crore (Holiday)
15. KGF - Chapter 2 - 25.24 crore
16. Dangal - 24.98 crore
17. Sanju - 24.63 crore
18. Pathaan - 24.51 crore
19. Saiyaara - 23.54 crore
20. Chhavva - 23.12 crore
20 years ago, Ekta Kapoor's guard told me, ‘Zaroorat hogi toh bula lenge’-Gaurav Khanna
9:46 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; November 10, 2026)
After a successful run on reality television, winning Celebrity MasterChef India and Bigg Boss 19, Gaurav Khanna is returning to daily soaps with Dil Ki Bewafaiyaan. Having spent much of his career on television, the actor has no plans to distance himself from the medium that gave him his identity.
‘It is not easy for a male actor on television to get a nuanced role’
The subject of his new show and the chance to explore a different character drew him to the project. The show also marks Gaurav’s first collaboration with Ektaa Kapoor, whom he had hoped to work with for nearly two decades. Recalling his first visit to her office as a newcomer, Gaurav says, “I told her that 20 years ago, I had come to her office and handed my pictures to the guard, who told me, ‘Zaroorat hogi toh bula lenge.’ She replied, ‘Gaurav, you’re a superstar. You can come whenever you want.’”
He adds, “Dil Ki Bewafaiyaan is a different kind of love story, and viewers will see love in a new light. My character is realistic yet entertaining. It is not easy for a male actor on television to get such a nuanced and strong role, as the medium is largely considered female-oriented.”
‘I am what you see’
His stint on Bigg Boss 19 also put his personality under public scrutiny, with some viewers questioning whether his ‘Mr Perfect’ image was genuine. Gaurav insists he was simply being himself. He says, “Some people initially thought I was acting for the camera. I used to laugh because they probably hadn’t come across someone like me. I am what you see. By now, most of them have realized that and many are my friends.”
‘When you start from zero, there is no disappointment’
Gaurav credits his upbringing in Kanpur and his parents for keeping him grounded. He says, “Wherever I am today, I am still that boy from Kanpur who came to Mumbai to make his dreams come true. When you start from zero, there is no disappointment. The moment you begin thinking you are above others, that becomes a problem.”
His celebrity status, he adds, has not changed his everyday habits. He says, “I still take rickshaws, go grocery shopping and bargain. You should never lose your sense of reality. I just want to entertain people. If I can reach their hearts and touch their emotions, that is a victory for an actor.”
‘Television can never be far from my heart’
Gaurav, who became a household name as Anuj Kapadia in Anupamaa, says, “I am a television actor, and everything I am today is because of this medium. Television can never be far from my heart. I am open to any medium that gives me a chance to perform something I believe in, but I don’t want to do run-of-the-mill stuff.”
Comparing the appeal of television and films, he says, “Television is like the IPL, while films are like one-day matches. Both have their own charm. TV enters people’s homes every day, and that gives me a different high. It is fast-paced, and you may shoot 10 scenes in a day. I love that hustle.”
‘I came to Mumbai to study’
Gaurav says acting was not a part of his plan when he moved to the city. He shares, “I never came to Mumbai thinking I would become an actor. I came here to study and never imagined that television would accept me so warmly. I have always kept my doors open. I don’t know which medium I will be working in five years from now, but I know I will be doing something.”
Manoj Bajpayee on the current security threat in Bollywood: "It’s concerning"
11:02 PM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 10, 2026)
The attack on actor Tiger Shroff last month brought the issue of threat to the security of Bollywood stars back to light. As a result, many Bollywood celebrities upgraded their security details, including actor Amitabh Bachchan, who greeted his fans in his weekly Sunday ritual through a bullet proof glass recently. Actor Manoj Bajpayee calls that visual “concerning”.
Manoj Bajpayee, who was recently seen in Last Man In Tower, has been in the industry when the fear of the underworld governed the fraternity.
Ask him if he feels that time is returning and he says, “It will never go back to the same old time. That time, the industry was the target, right now, it’s not this time. The pace and definition of the crime has changed completely. Now, somebody is sitting somewhere else and sending their shooters to attack a target, and that target may even not be the real target.”
As per the statement of the accused in Shroff’s shooting incident, their real target was actor Salman Khan, and they even did a recce of the houses of actors Akshay Kumar, Bachchan and Aamir Khan.
“From Tiger’s incident, what has come to the fore is that he was not the target, but suddenly became one. The whole conversation was about these other stars who were the real target and now they have to surround themselves with utmost safety,” Bajpayee says.
However, the actor is hopeful of the measures being taken by the government to ensure the safety of these targeted celebrities.
“Yes, it is a matter of concern but one thing I know is that the state government is looking into it with a lot of concern. They are monitoring the situation and taking all the precautions. I just hope that things get better, comfortable and safer for all of us,” he ends.
Johnny Walker taught me stardom comes and goes; what remains is the person you are-Nasirr Khan
11:01 PM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; November 10, 2026)
Johnny Walker was among Indian cinema’s most celebrated actors, known especially for his impeccable comic timing in films such as Baazi, CID, Mr & Mrs 55, Pyaasa, Madhumati and Naya Daur. Born on November 11, 1926, he began his career as a bus conductor in Mumbai before going on to become one of Hindi cinema’s finest comedians. His brand of humour and distinctive style helped comedians move beyond playing sidekicks to heroes, allowing them to have parallel tracks of their own alongside leading actors such as Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Guru Dutt. He passed away on July 29, 2003, but his legacy continues to resonate with audiences and influence generations of performers.
As his 100th birth anniversary approaches, his son, actor Nasirr Khan, looks back at the values his father held dear, the choices he made for his family and the life lessons he passed on.
Nasirr, who is currently seen in Tumm Se Tumm Tak, recalls, “The biggest takeaway from his life is his simplicity and humility. Despite becoming a huge star, he never let go of the person he was before fame came his way. He always believed that ‘kisi ka bhi stardom zindagi bhar nahi rehta, aata hai aur chala jaata hai. What remains is the kind of person you are and how you lead your life.’ He was sober, philosophical, grounded and pious. He taught me to stay humble, work with honesty, remain focused and understand the difference between reel life and real life.”
Away from the camera, Johnny Walker was a man of few words, and his approach to comedy was equally understated. Nasirr recalls, “He had taken up almost every kind of job before becoming a star, and his comedy drew from his own life experiences. He never demeaned, insulted or ridiculed anyone through his humour, nor did he resort to vulgarity. He treated everyone with respect and made people laugh through clean, wholesome comedy. His impeccable sense of timing made him naturally funny, so he never had to be loud or over the top. His humour was simple and relatable, which is why audiences continue to connect with it even today.”
The legendary actor also remained humble about his achievements and rarely took credit for his success. Nasirr shares, “He would always acknowledge the people he worked with, including Guru Dutt, Chetan Anand, Mohammed Rafi, Dilip Kumar, B R Chopra, Bimal Roy, M S Sadiq, Gulzar saab and Hrishikesh Mukherjee, as well as music directors, lyricists, writers and co-actors. He never made his success about himself. He would always say, ‘I was because of them’.”
His decision to prioritise family over professional commitments was another defining aspect of his life. Nasirr says, “In 1966, when my father was at the peak of his career, he reduced his workload by nearly 60 per cent to devote more time to his family. He gradually stepped away from work through the 1970s and retired in the early 1980s. It was a conscious decision, and he remained committed to it. Giving up fame and a successful career to prioritise his family is not easy, but he chose to do so.”
Even decades after leaving the industry, Johnny Walker continues to find admirers among younger audiences, with his songs frequently being shared on social media.
Nasirr adds, “Even today, people share his songs, including Jaane Kahan Mera Jigar Gaya Ji, Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan, Sar Jo Tera Chakraye and Kaise Diwali Manayein Hum Lala, to name a few. Even though he left the industry in 1980, today’s generation continues to remember him through his work. For a simple man from Indore who started out as a bus conductor, remaining relevant decades later is no small feat.”
Plans are also underway for an intimate gathering of people who knew and worked closely with the actor. Nasirr says, “I plan to celebrate my father’s life with an intimate gathering of those who were part of his journey. It will be a chance to revisit cherished memories and share anecdotes that keep his legacy alive.”
FWICE urges Kailash Kher and Jaspinder Narula to withdraw from concerts featuring Pakistani singers
10:57 PM
Neha Maheshwri (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 10, 2026)
Instagram posts announcing Kailash Kher and Jaspinder Narula’s performances alongside Pakistani singers have drawn criticism from the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). The association has written to the singers and government authorities, urging them to reconsider their participation. While Kher is scheduled to perform with Abida Parveen in Dubai on November 13, Jaspinder is slated to share the stage with Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan and Aamir Ghulam Ali in North America between November and December.
Ashoke Pandit, President of the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) and Chief Advisor to FWICE, stressed that national interests must take precedence over commercial engagements.
He said, “We have written to both singers expressing our concern and disappointment over their participation in events featuring Pakistani performers. We have also written to the Government of India, but have received no response. Given the repeated acts of terrorism and violence, we believe national security, the dignity of our armed forces and the sentiments of families who have lost loved ones to terrorism cannot be placed below considerations of art, entertainment or commercial engagements. Art and music may transcend borders, but these concerns cannot be overlooked. We have urged the singers to reconsider and withdraw from the concerts. These are not ordinary citizens but accomplished singers who have been honoured and respected by the country. They have a responsibility towards the nation. Several composers and singers have declined invitations to perform at such events.”
Ashok Dubey, General Secretary of FWICE, questioned the singers’ decision to accept the engagements for commercial reasons and called for government guidelines to prevent similar instances.
He added, “Paise ke liye agar kalakaar iss tarah ki cheezein karenge toh kaise chalega? Nation comes first. The government should issue guidelines to ensure that such instances are not repeated. Waise toh yeh log rashtra pratham ki baat karte hain. This has become normalised, and I would appeal to the Government of India to take action against Indian organisers who put together such events.”
He also outlined the steps FWICE could take, including approaching the government for legal intervention. Elaborating on the association’s course of action, given that singers do not fall under its jurisdiction, Dubey said, “We can call a general house meeting and decide on the steps to be taken. We have to fulfil our duty and responsibility by informing the singers and requesting them not to go ahead with these performances. If we do not receive a response from the PMO, we will write to Home Minister Amit Shah and request that some form of law be introduced to prevent such instances in the future.”
When Shararat happened, I thought what could be bigger than that but The Traitors happened-Krystle Dsouza
10:38 PM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 9, 2026)
For Krystle Dsouza, the last year has been like a roller coaster ride, only going upwards. The actor gained widespread recognition with the Dhurandhar song Shararat in December 2025, then in August this year, she emerged the winner of the reality show The Traitors season 2. These highlights make the festive season all the more special for her. “My life has done a full 360 turn in the past one year. Only good and bigger things have happened to me,” she says.
The actor adds, “When Shararat happened, I thought it was so big, what could be bigger than that. But then, The Traitors happened. When you feel you are hitting the rock bottom, there’s only one way to go and that’s up. That is what has happened to me in the last one year professionally.”
With the Diwali season underway, Krystle Dsouza is all excited to dress up and meet her close ones. “I love festivals and the best thing about them is just dressing up, meeting my friends and eating good food. We all meet often, but we do so in such casual setups and casual looks, but on Diwali, you just look at each other like ‘wow, you look like a pataakha’. That's the best part of festivals with everyone so dressed up, so ready and just spending that quality time with each other, eating amazing food,” she says, adding, “I look forward to lighting diyas and the house is just so bright and full of lights during this time. Everything is so lit up and I just adore the love and light that surrounds the festival.”
While she loves modern fashion, Diwali is also a time for Krystle to express her love for Indian craftsmanship. “I love Indian textiles and how the clothes are so expressive. The hand embroidery, the fabric, everything is so different for every occasion and festival. When you are ready, you just know which festival it is for. The Diwali outfits are so heavy with so much work on them, and I just love it,” she ends.
I like to adapt my dad’s festive style, he’s the OG-Ibrahim Ali Khan
10:25 PM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; November 9, 2026)
Ibrahim Ali Khan kept his Diwali celebrations simple, with good food, a little laughter and time with friends and family. The actor, who made his debut appearance at Bombay Times Fashion Week recently, spoke to us about his festive celebrations, fashion choices and love for traditional sweets. He also revealed that he takes style inspiration from his father, Saif Ali Khan.
‘I just want to eat good food this festive season’
For Ibrahim, Diwali was less about elaborate rituals and more about enjoying the occasion with his loved ones. “My Diwali plans were to eat some good khana, laugh with family and friends and just enjoy myself,” he said, adding, “I don’t burst crackers and I don’t think people should.”
‘I like to wear the kind of ensembles my father wears’
When it comes to festive fashion, Ibrahim is happy to take cues from his father, Saif Ali Khan, whose classic style he really admires. “I would go for an amazing bandhgala. My dad is the OG guy when it comes to this style and festive dressing. He looks classy in one of those, and that’s why I take after him. I like to wear the kind of ensembles he wears, because he makes them look cool. And I’m like... I guess I would also look cool in it, too.”
‘I have to slog it out hard at the gym post Diwali’
No Diwali conversation is complete without sweets, and Ibrahim is not one to hold back. “I love ladoos and kaju katlis,” he says, and then laughs about the inevitable gym sessions that follow post the festivities. “I have to slog it out hard at the gym and get these abs back. It’s not easy, bro.”
For every mean tweet, there are 300 positive ones-Vir Das
10:16 PM
Fresh off his third International Emmy nomination for Fool Volume, Vir Das talks about chasing fear, switching genres, and taking his next show, Sounds Of India, on the biggest world tour by an Indian comedian
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 9, 2026)
Another International Emmy nomination has taken Vir Das by surprise. As we sit across from him in his beautiful Bandra office, an exquisite brown stand that his wife Shivani had got made for his previous Emmy sits in the room, complete with an electric socket perched on top. Where is the Emmy, we ask. Wrapped in a sweater and tucked away in his almirah, he tells us. Now he has earned his third nomination for Fool Volume, his latest Netflix special. Unlike its predecessor, which was more emotional and controversial, Das had intended this one to be deliberately silly.
Then, six weeks before the show, he lost his voice and that’s what made it more intimate, winning a nod from juries across Japan, Korea and USA. “Never repeat yourself. So, I was like, this one’s for me. This one’s for fun. Then I lost my voice and that became what the special is about,” he says.
The nomination is particularly gratifying because Das believes the special’s appeal extends beyond its desi audience. “It’s truly a global Indian project out of India and the International Emmys’ global jury makes the recognition meaningful.”
Having already won the award, does another nomination shift the goalpost? “I don’t have a goalpost except for honesty and fear. It must be honest to who I am and it must scare the bejesus out of me. And then it’s probably worth doing. It’s the only place I operate from is honesty and fear. It’s just being intentionally authentic about where I happen to be in life. If you try and reverse engineer relevance, your longevity becomes very short.”
That instinct has also shaped his approach to fame. Das has watched audiences change over the years, from people who discovered his stand-up through his early specials to younger viewers finding him online. He is told that around 70 per cent of his current audience is under 30.
“Gen Z discovered me three years ago and it’s been mad since then,” he says. The challenge, he adds, is to welcome new audiences without allowing any one group to dictate his material.
His next major undertaking is Sounds Of India, a live show built around the sounds that accompany everyday life in the country, from the moment people wake up to when they go to bed. “Sounds Of India is a show that is tech and comedy and 500 sounds and light,” he says, “It’s like a Coldplay concert, which I’ve never done before. The idea is to create an immersive sonic experience of India, drawing on the sounds that people associate with their homes, cities and daily routines.”
Das says the show is set to become the largest world tour by an Indian comedian, and potentially by an Indian artiste. He is also touring I Say We Run, a separate, autobiographical show. Running two distinct two-hour productions means creating new material rather than relying on the success of an established format.
The approach has helped him navigate the difficult relationship between comedy and offence in India. Das acknowledges that comedians operate in an environment where people can be quick to take offence, but refuses to treat that as the defining feature of the profession. “I get around it,” he says, “For every mean tweet, there are 300 positive ones. And for every person that hates your stuff, there are 40 ticket-buyers who love your stuff.”
Das is encouraged by the comedy emerging in India, particularly the women finding their footing in the circuit. He names Sumukhi Suresh, Urooj Ashfaq, Aditi Mittal, and Prashasti Singh among the comics who he admires.
Having watched successive waves of Indian comedy rise and recede, Das knows that visibility doesn’t always translate into longevity. The country offers comics the chance to go viral within a few years of starting out, but sustaining a career requires something more.
“Of every one of those waves, 10 per cent of the people are still doing standup. And the rest of them don’t even do it anymore. They gave up on the art form only.” His advice is simple, “With India, the wave comes quick. But the wave also crashes fast. And you have to persevere through this.”
My mom had sent faral to the sets of Main Vaapas Aaunga-Sharvari
10:13 PM
Nishad Neelambaran (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 8, 2026)
Family, friends, good vibes, games and a whole lot of good homemade food -- this sums up Sharvari's perfect Diwali vibe check. The 29-year-old actor, who has lived in Mumbai all her life, says that this festive period is all about family gatherings and dressing up.
"What comes to my mind when I think of Diwali is family together, laughing, celebrating a festival, people dressed up. It's just a room full of people, and everything is in abundance, with just food, love, warmth and laughter," she says.
Recalling her celebrations during her childhood, she says nothing much has changed even now. She still finds happiness in the fact that everyone takes a break from their busy schedules to come together and that, she says, is her favourite part of the festival.
"Even back then or even today, I feel like Diwali is a time when the extended families also come together. It is a time when the city is lit up, and so are everybody's moods and energies. I love that because everyone takes off a few days from their work and spends time with their family. That will always stay my favourite part of Diwali," she adds.
Sharvari, who hails from Maharashtra, shares that there's one tradition that her family follows, and that it will never be forgotten. "For me, as a Maharashtrian, we have something called as a Faral. And I think coming together and having this breakfast is my favourite part about Diwali," she says, adding, "I remember that even when I was shooting for Main Vaapas Aunga in Punjab, my mom had actually sent ghar ka Faral there. I remember that I had put it up in the [vanity] van and everybody had eaten it together. Even if I'm away, I feel like this is the best thing because she always sends it to me. And I really love it when it's made at home.
Besides faral, Sharvari confesses that without karanje and shankarpali the festivities are incomplete. "I really love the karanje that they make because every year we make a karanje and shankarpali at home, which is a must-have."
Sharvari has always been a director's actor, and at home, too, she claims she is just a follower. Ask her who is the planner and who is the follower of celebrations at home, and she says, "My mom is the one who cooks all the food and plans everything and puts things together. And my sister, Kasturi Wagh, is the one who will always push everyone to dress up and wear good clothes. I think I come in the followers [list]."
On the work front, Sharvari is gearing up for the release of Yeh Prem Mol Liya, and she says, this has been the most progressive film of filmmaker Sooraj Barjatiya, who is known for family entertainers like Hum Aapke Hai Kaun and Hum Saath Saath Hai.
"Yeh Prem Mol Liya is Sooraj sir's most progressive film. And I believe that there's a lot to take away from the story. It has a really nice message. The best part about the film is that while there is the same softness and the same tenderness of a character, there is a way of thinking, and there is an individual approach. The character is a person of her own and has her own thoughts and opinions. That is the most beautiful contradiction that Sooraj sir has brought. Because as women, I feel all of us have both these sides, and we get put into a box which is either fierce or soft. But that's very untrue."
Ask her what is that one thing she wants to let go of and one thing she wants to invite this Diwali, and she says, "What I want to invite is a lot of love, positivity, gratitude and clarity. One thing that I want to let go of is probably any kind of doubt or negative thoughts."
Shahid Kapoor on bursting crackers: "Don’t think you can decide how anyone else should or shouldn’t celebrate"
10:11 PM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; November 8, 2026)
For Shahid Kapoor, Diwali is less about elaborate celebrations and more about the simple joys of being surrounded by loved ones. In a conversation with Bombay Times, Shahid opens up about his childhood Diwali memories, family traditions and why he believes celebrations must come with a sense of social responsibility.
‘Festivals give you an opportunity to connect with each other and remember what you stand for’
The actor says, “The best part about this year’s Diwali is that we have so many plans that we haven’t picked one yet. But eventually, Diwali is about tradition, family and building memories together. It will be with our closest people. There are small traditions in the family that we follow, which will always be with our parents and the larger family. For me, festivals are always about paying homage to the kind of value systems that have been passed down through your family. These are opportunities to connect with each other and remember what you stand for.”
‘We like to head out somewhere and take a break after Diwali’
As a family, Mira, Misha and Zain continue to follow the traditions Shahid grew up with. “I don’t think I’m that guy who is setting traditions. There are still people older than me. My parents are around and very active. I think I’m still at that stage where I’m following the traditions that my parents have had. So, it’s just more of the same. The idea is to spend time with the people who matter. We also like to head out somewhere and take a break after Diwali because the children have holidays and we can do stuff together.”
And while fitness remains an important part of his life, the actor admits that he doesn’t shy away from indulging during the festive season. “I sweat it out throughout the year, so it is fine to indulge in sweets during this time. It’s good to train hard, but what do you train for if you can’t enjoy yourself once in a while? What is all that hard work about? I do have a sweet tooth, so when I get a chance, I go for it.”
‘Celebrations must be mindful of the environment’
With concerns around air pollution and government advisories urging people to exercise caution while bursting firecrackers, Shahid believes that celebrations must also be mindful of the environment. “There is a social responsibility that we have and I think we all need to exercise it. It’s a very personal thing. I don’t think you can decide how anyone else should or shouldn’t celebrate a festival. But whenever there is a government advisory, it’s usually keeping in mind the climatic conditions and the amount of pollution that we have to deal with. So, of course, you keep these things to a minimum and find healthier ways to celebrate. We all need to celebrate the festival responsibly.”
‘These are moments to pause, enjoy life and soak it all in’
Shahid believes that festivals are about the feelings and memories they leave you with. “These are moments to pause, enjoy life, let it soak in and focus on those simple things that will probably stay with you till the end of your life. When your life flashes before your eyes, I think a lot of it will eventually be the moments you spend with the people who matter, and the high points in your life where you felt most fulfilled and loved. Festivals are about that,” he signs off.
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