Earlier this week, Pooja Hegde injured her foot after suffering from a ligament tear. While the actress is disappointed to sit out with a bandaged leg during the festive season, she’s looking at the silver lining – spending Diwali at home with her family. “After a long time, I will be spending Diwali at home, so I’m actually looking forward to spending time with my family on this special day. I initially wanted to host a Diwali gathering at home by inviting family over and cooking for them, but that will now have to wait for another time. However, I’m looking forward to spending the day with my loved ones, lighting up our home and gorging on wonderful food,” says Pooja.

The Radhe Shyam actress reveals that she was born around the time of Lakshmi puja, which makes this a special time of the year in her life. Pooja says, “I was born during Lakshmi puja, which is why my parents named me Pooja. What Diwali means to me has changed over the years. As a child, it was all about food, crackers, lights, rangoli etc. As I grew older, I realised that this is the time of the year to also be your own Lakshmi – be financially independent and secure. Being a homeowner myself, just having something for the house, something of my own, is truly special for me.”

She adds, “Having said that, my mother is still the Lakshmi of my life – she manages all my finances and investments, which is great because it allows me to focus on my work. But I make sure to have something of my own during Diwali.”

Growing up in Mumbai, Pooja loved decorating her house and gorging on sweets, a tradition she continues to follow. “Being a foodie, everything in my life has always been associated with food. I’d always look forward to gorging on snacks and sweets during this time of the year.”

Pooja says, “My mom and I used to make chaklis together, and I loved the process of making and then relishing them. I was always in charge of doing the rangoli at home, so that’s something I would really enjoy. It’s a tradition that has carried on with me through the years. We used to get holidays, so we’d go visit my grandfather and other relatives, decorate our home with a lot of light and have a gala time.”

As Pooja grew older and started working, most of her festivals were spent on the sets of films rather than at home. “You don’t get to spend all Diwalis at home because of commitments at work. But that’s okay. My parents are very understanding, and I also feel that it’s lucky to work on some auspicious days. On the day of Lakshmi puja or Diwali, if I work, I consider it auspicious. I love working on my birthdays; I make sure I spend at least half a day at work on my birthday every year. I feel like it’s the start of the new year in a way, so it’s a sign of good luck,” she says, adding, “Even when I’m travelling abroad or busy shooting, I always make sure to follow the little traditions. I still make the rangoli, and I tell the cook to prepare payasam on Diwali day. This, I feel, is important. Otherwise, when you’re working, one day blends into the other, and you don’t even realise when the festival has come and gone.”

Pooja may have missed out on spending her favourite festival at home, but the actress says she has realised the importance of taking time off for herself. “When I had my leg injury, I took it as a sign from the universe telling me to take a break. Being a workaholic, I tend to power through even when I’m tired. I actually feel guilty for taking time off work to go on holidays. This year, I came to the realisation that it’s okay to take a break to look after yourself. This July, I took a month off and went on a nice long vacation with my family. It was a much-needed break, and I had a lovely time and came back fully refreshed,” she says.

This Diwali, Pooja hopes to take big strides in her career. “I feel like I have a lot to prove as an actor and do a lot of exciting roles, work with a lot of interesting directors and make a name for myself. So that’s my goal for this Diwali. I hope this year brings a lot of light, warmth and of course, movies to my life,” she signs off.