Shehnaaz Gill is celebrating this Diwali with her grandparents in Beas, Punjab. After her grandmother battled cancer and was treated successfully at Chandigarh’s PGIMER last year, Shehnaaz decided to thank the doctors and staff with a gesture at the hospital this Diwali. Excerpts from an exclusive conversation with Shehnaaz in Chandigarh.

I celebrate Diwali every year because I truly feel the symbolism of light on this festival, I feel it brings much needed cheer to the world. I have a very strong belief in spirituality and try my best to manifest good things for not just myself and my dear ones, but for everyone. And festivals are a powerful time for good vibes and manifestations. This year I decided to do my bit to spread some cheer on Diwali by spending time with the staff and patients of PGIMER in Chandigarh. They had made a beautiful rangoli at the hospital and I felt good giving it its finishing touches. Amid all the sadness that illness brings in its wake, doctors and staff stand as a beacon of light with their dedication towards patients.

My weight loss journey was very difficult, and as anyone who has lost a lot of weight will tell you, it requires a lot of focus. The determination to avoid junk food and control food cravings is not easy at all but I achieved all that. I had set that goal for myself, not in competition with others. I was excited to feature in the video of the song Sajna Ve Sajna, which was a remake of the original. The song required a certain look which was possible because of the hard work I had put towards my fitness. I was happy that audiences followed my dance steps and recreated my costume for their own reels.

Good things come to those who wait, and I have tremendous patience. As an artist aspiring for good work, I am waiting for an impactful role to come my way. There are many things I am getting into, besides acting and singing, which I will talk about once those are finalized.