Showing posts with label Gudi Padwa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gudi Padwa. Show all posts
Jabse Vicky meri life mein aaye hain, we celebrate Gudi Padwa together every year-Ankita Lokhande
8:21 AM
Posing for a special shoot with HT City, Ankita Lokhande Jain and Vicky Jain are welcoming new year in a new home
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 22, 2023)
It’s their first Gudi Padwa in their new, swanky house in Mumbai. And actor Ankita Lokhande Jain is ready on time, while her businessman-husband, Vicky Jain, takes some more. Marathi songs are playing on the home entertainment system, and she greets us in total festive mode, dancing and singing.
“For me, this day is very important. Jabse Vicky meri life mein aaye hain, we celebrate it together every year; and after our marriage, this is the second time,” she says, with Vicky chiming in, “For me, it’s more like being introduced to Gudi Padwa. The first year we celebrated it in our Malad house; this time it’s in our new Andheri house!”
According to Ankita, the best part about the Maharashtrian New Year is that the entire family comes together. “I have seen it since I was a child — my mum, my nani... Sab log milte hain, khaane ki cheezein banti hain. There are rituals; we do the gudi’s pooja. I am fascinated by all this. I like putting haldi and kumkum for the festival,” she smiles.
Vicky points out that it marks a new beginning: “December 31 is entirely spent in a party mood; this new year is traditional. Iske maayne zyaada hain.”
Ankita believes that whatever work is started on this day, you are bound to be successful in it. When asked what they are embarking on this time, Vicky answers first: “We are working on ourselves very seriously. We have set major fitness goals, and we are trying to meet them.”
What’s a conversation about a festival without bringing up sweets? He quips, “I have asked Ankita for imarti; maine kabhi khayi nahin, toh I asked, ki yeh arrange kar ke dein!” And pat comes her reply: “Aam ras bana hai, Gudi Padwa ka special. Par inhone bola hai toh main apne pati ki aagya ka paalan karungi!”
This Gudi Padwa, I’m borderline away from home-Amruta Khanvilkar
8:19 AM
It’s a homely and private celebration for Amruta Khanvilkar this year
Vinay MR Mishra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 22, 2023)
This Padwa is going to be extremely “private and homely” for actor Amruta Khanvilkar. She capped off the shooting of her film in London and will be landing in the city later in the noon. “This Padwa, I’m borderline away from home,” she says, “This year, mum is going to put on the Gudi. I will join her for lunch. Usually, I’m the one who wakes up early, Gudi ubharaycha, pooja karna…but ab ki baar, my mum will do it.”
For Khanvilkar, her fondest Padwa memories still lay in Pune, her hometown. “All my Padwa memories take me back to Pune. Puneyat we had a huge balcony where my father used to wear purple sohala. My sister and I used to wear parkar polka dresses. We used to have breakfast together and then for dinner, our dad used to take us out. We had a scooter and all four of us would go for a drive. It used to be fun. Also, my dad used to tell us stories about Padwa, the importance of the festival and other traditions. Spending that time with him, hearing those stories used to be fun,” she recalls.
The Chandramukhi actor, who was in Dombivali for a Gudi Padwa yatra last year, is particular about following traditions. “For me, any festival means following our traditions, doing things that my grandmother taught my mum and she has taught me. Padwa is all about the family coming together. Also, now that we have Nirvan and Urvi (her niece and nephew) the kids in our family, Padwa is also about focusing on them, dressing them up, making them say shlokas and teaching them about traditions,” Khanvilkar adds.
However, for her Padwa is incomplete without food. “For us Khanvilkars, food is a big thing when it comes to festivals. My mother cooks authentic puri and pivlya batate chi bhhaji. She also used to cook basundi, until I got lactose intolerant. She’s making sheera this time,” the actor shares.
Khanvilkar, who has been away from social media, is also set to “return” to it on Padwa. “It’s supposed to be an auspicious day to start something new,” she signs off.
Gudi Padwa calls for dual celebration at my home-Mrunal Thakur
8:13 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; March 22, 2023)
On the occasion of Gudi Padwa, Marathi mulgi Mrunal Thakur went down memory lane and shared with Bombay Times the rituals and celebrations at her home on the day of the festival.
Revealing why the day calls for dual celebrations, she said, “Gudi Padwa or the Marathi New Year is auspicious for Maharashtrians as it marks new beginnings and signifies the arrival of spring. It brings a lot of joy and positivity. We also celebrate my dad’s birthday on Gudi Padwa according to the tithi (Hindu calendar), so it’s a dual celebration each year at my home.”
Sharing her plans, she added, “Gudi ubhaarnyat khoop ananda hoto (it gives me immense joy to hoist the Gudi outside the balcony or a window). A brand new saree is wrapped at the top of a long bamboo. On top of it, neem leaves and sugar garlands are attached along with flowers. This arrangement is capped with a pot (handi or kalash) and hoisted outside in the morning. We do the puja and offer naivedya (food offered to God). Lunch is served on a banana leaf. The Gudi is taken down before sunset. Like each year, this time too I am celebrating the festival with my family at my parents’ house.”
Mrunal says, “We make some noise and gorge on delicious puran polis, which are mandatory in any Maharashtrian household on the occasion. It’s nice to spend Gudi Padwa mornings with the family and take a break from our hectic lives.”
The actress loves her saris, and what’s better than wearing her mother’s saris for the festival? “I am in love with sarees, and recently I stumbled upon some of my mom’s lovely saris, so I am wearing her saree this year. And I will be teaming it up with a nath. Getting dressed is another favourite part of the festival. You can give time to yourself and your family and time to dress up.”
Reflecting on the years gone by and how she loves festivals, the Jersey actress added, “I love the concept of festivals. Dressing up, having delicious homecooked food and getting together with your family… all these things keep us grounded and rooted in our culture. I am glad that I live in a country where we celebrate so many festivals with equal vigour. May Gudi Padwa bring everyone joy, good health and prosperity.”
Maharashtra govt lifts all COVID restrictions, but masks, rapid antigen tests, staggered breaks to continue on sets
8:40 AM
As Maharashtra govt lifts all COVID restrictions, studios tread with caution; masks, rapid antigen tests, staggered breaks to continue on sets
Mohar Basu, Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; April 2, 2022)
On Thursday, the Maharashtra government announced that all pandemic-related restrictions, including the mandatory wearing of masks, were being lifted from April 2 that marks Gudi Padwa. This comes after over two years of stringent adherence with safety norms as the world underwent several waves of the pandemic. However, with Shanghai witnessing its largest virus outbreak since March 2020, the need to have our guard up cannot be emphasized enough — a school of thought that most Bollywood productions are aligning with. Despite the lifting of curbs, many movie sets are retaining the Coronavirus protocols that were put in place after the second lockdown.
The team of Kiran Rao’s upcoming comedy-drama, backed by Aamir Khan, recently completed a 10-day schedule in Madh Island. Sources from the team inform that no-mask-no-entry will be a non-negotiable rule going forward as well.
A unit hand reveals, “Working with masks has become a norm, and we have been told that masking up will be necessary while on the set. Temperature monitoring too will continue to ensure everyone’s safety.”
The team at the production house is apparently contemplating whether they should do away with rapid antigen testing in light of the dwindling cases in the city.
Streaming giants, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar, have taken a tough stand on that front. Rapid antigen testing will be compulsory on the sets of their productions. A prime example is a Netflix non-fiction show that is currently being filmed in north India.
Most Bollywood productions had done away with bio-bubble shoots since late last year. Studios, however, remain steadfast in their efforts to minimise the risk of exposure. The team of Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon’s Ganapath, for instance, has prohibited the use of public transport.
A source from the unit reveals, “The unit’s safety is the producer’s top priority. As the team of 80 will shoot in and around Mumbai over the next few weeks, the makers are ensuring that everyone has access to production vehicles.”
Measures such as hair and make-up teams using gloves, and staggered lunch breaks to avoid crowding will remain firmly in place, as seen on the Mira Road set of Siddhant Chaturvedi’s Yudhra. Most producers are also retaining COVID insurances in case of hospitalisation, depending on each case and severity.
Dressing up in a nauvari on Gudi Padwa is a special feeling-Shraddha Kapoor
8:36 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; April 2, 2022)
Her love for all things traditional is evident in her social media posts. Today, on Gudi Padwa, Shraddha Kapoor is excited to participate in the festivities to celebrate the Maharashtrian New Year, which marks the beginning of spring. While Shraddha’s father Shakti Kapoor, is Punjabi, her mother, Shivangi, is Maharashtrian, and the actress has grown up celebrating all the festivals with equal enthusiasm at her home. For a photo shoot exclusively for Bombay Times, the actress dressed up like a true Marathi mulgi in a nauvari saree and ethnic jewellery.
Expressing her love for the nine-yard drape, Shraddha said, “This is the first time I have worn a nauvari saree along with a nath and a chandrakor bindi, and it is a very special feeling. Nauvari sarees have a very grand and celebrated history. It isn’t just a mere aesthetic attire. The nauvari symbolises strength and power. It was also worn by women to fight in wars back in the day, as it allowed mobility and freedom of movement.”
Talking about how the special day usually unfolds for her every year, Shraddha says, “It is all about following the traditions. I wake up early and start the day by gorging on some homemade puran polis, topped with a dollop of ghee on it. Also, it’s a day that you spend with your family and loved ones. With Gudi Padwa, you look forward to starting the New Year on a happy, optimistic note.”
Recalling the time spent in the past two years of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Baaghi 3 actress says, “With no shoots happening, I just spent all of that time in the company of my family and loved ones. Those were my most precious moments. It was lovely to be at home and help around the house with cleaning and other duties. I also spent my time watching movies and reading books.”
Today, she cherishes those moments, as work is back in full steam and keeps her on her toes. Currently, she is shooting for a Luv Ranjan directorial that has her sharing screen space with Ranbir Kapoor for the first time.
Shraddha shares, “It just feels good to be back on set with my team and shoot for my film and other work commitments. It is really nice to get back and face the camera again. Talking about Ranbir, I have admired him as an actor right from his first film. I am glad that finally we got to do a film together. I am looking forward to this being my next release, and it feels great to know that people are excited to see us coming together on the big screen.”
For Gudi Padwa, we will be hosting friends and family at home after two years-Sharad Kelkar
8:30 AM
Preeti Atulkar (BOMBAY TIMES; April 2, 2022)
For Sharad Kelkar and Keerti Gaekwad Kelkar, Gudi Padwa is all about welcoming the Marathi New Year with excitement, enthusiasm and positivity. Needless to mention, with Maharashtra bidding adieu to Coronavirus restrictions from today, the festive fervour has gone up by several notches for the Kelkars. Decked up in traditional attire, the couple tells us what makes Gudi Padwa so special this time...
BACK TO FULL-FLEDGED CELEBRATIONS
“The celebrations become meaningful when you are surrounded by the people you love,” says Keerti, who feels happy about normalcy returning to everyone’s lives now.
Keerti adds, “The last two years have been tough, and we all have mostly celebrated special occasions with just close family members. While I love that too, I am looking forward to having friends over for lunch at our residence today.”
To this, Sharad says, “It feels great to celebrate Gudi Padwa in a somewhat normal manner; the way we used to earlier. I can’t wait to have a nice gathering at home today after two long years.”
Recounting their first Gudi Padwa as a married couple, Sharad says, “We’ve been married for more than 15 years now, and I still distinctly remember our first Gudi Padwa together. It was just a few days before our wedding anniversary, and it was just the two of us celebrating the day, enjoying each other’s company. Today, my mother lives with us. We have our daughter, our friends. So, the celebrations have become much bigger and happier now.”
NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS
Since the occasion is all about new beginnings, the two have also set certain goals for themselves. Sharad shares, “My resolution is to work on myself. I have received a lot of love and appreciation in the last two years for my work, be it in Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, Bhuj: The Pride Of India or Laxmii, and I want to continue doing that. Of course, I will work on bettering my craft. I also want to focus on my physical well-being. By the next Gudi Padwa, I want people to see me transformed; I have already been working hard towards achieving that goal.”
Keerti, who is excited about returning to showbiz, adds, “It has been a while since I last appeared on screen. I love acting and this year I am happy to be finally returning to it. I know that even though I have been away from the screen, my audience still has that connection with me, and I just hope that I live up to their love and expectations. So, as a resolution, I intend to invest more time in my career.”
My earliest memories of Gudi Padwa are associated with my visits to Ratnagiri-Madhuri Dixit
7:56 AM
The actress takes a trip down memory lane and shares her early memories of Gudi Padwa and what the festival means to her
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; April 13, 2021)
Even in such bleak times, festivals bring in that much-needed respite. Today on the occasion of Gudi Padwa, Madhuri Dixit cherishes her childhood memories of the festival and tells us what makes it special. In a conversation with BT, she says, “Gudi Padwa is our New Year. It marks the arrival of spring and new beginnings, which is why it’s an auspicious day. My mom hails from Ratnagiri (Konkan region in Maharashtra), and my earliest memories of Gudi Padwa are associated with my visits to that city, which is my aajol (maternal grandparents’ house).”
Madhuri says, “Growing up, I remember reaching my grandparents’ house in Ratnagiri late in the evening and waking up to sounds of the cuckoo singing on the morning of Gudi Padwa. I was so fascinated. When you are born and raised in a city, these things mean a lot more to you. Along with my cousins, we would step out to select the bamboo for the gudi. Then, we would decorate it with flowers and edible necklaces made from sugar before mounting it outside our home and worshipping the gudi. Once the sun set, we would bring the gudi down, and even that would be celebrated.”
The actress recalls how her grandfather believed in doing things on his own and always encouraged that culture. She shares, “He would make us rub cow dung on the floor to make the surface pure. We would draw a rangoli on the floor and then place the Gudi on it after performing a puja. Since we had our own cows and buffaloes, the milk was in-house as well, and we would make shrikhand at home. Shrikhand-puri was a big treat. There was a Neem tree in our compound, and we would pluck the leaves. Aaji would grate those leaves on the grinding stone, put cumin seeds in it and make us eat that. It used to be bitter, but she ensured we didn’t skip it. This was done for health reasons. The fun part was the family getting together. We would climb trees, play and do a lot of masti. I remember buying a toy bullock cart from Ratnagiri as that was reminiscent of my childhood spent well there. My mother bought me dool (delicate traditional gold earrings worn by Maharashtrian girls) on the occasion.” With muted festivities on the card, the actress will spend the day with her family this year.
On a parting note, the actress says, “Coronavirus has displaced lives. People are battling so many difficulties. May every day of this new year bring solace, peace and harmony. Let’s pray for normalcy. I request everyone to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Let’s try to do the right thing, and I wish everyone a Happy New Year.”
This Gudi Padwa, stay at home and pray for everyone’s safety-Shraddha Kapoor
8:42 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 25, 2020)
It is so sad that the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic has occurred and has affected so many lives worldwide. But I am trying to look at things positively,” says Shraddha Kapoor, adding that while everyone needs to take care, “we have been given an opportunity to introspect and realise so many things about ourselves and our lives”.
“It’s a blessing in disguise for me as I needed this quality time with my family. I needed to get in touch with the little things and moments in life, which are actually important but get overlooked due to the fast pace of life. I really needed a break after back-to-back films, so I am making the most of this time,” she shares.
Kapoor has been home for over a week now and stepped out a few times to the garden and terrace of her building complex for “fresh air and some sun”. She urges people to stay safe during this pandemic. “We all should stay at home, and follow our government’s directives. It will help everyone in the country if we follow the instructions. We should look at it as for the betterment of everyone. We should also help the lesser privileged, pay staff their salaries even if they aren’t coming to work. During the Janta Curfew, we gave food to the people who work in my building as they were unable to arrange for it,” she says.
As for the festival of Gudi Padwa, which is today, she hopes that people celebrate it at home. The Saaho (2019) actor says, “We should take this time to be with family, and pray for everyone’s safety. I am loving this family time as I was craving it. I am looking forward to yummy food, especially shankarpada, which I love. We meet extended families during the Ganeshostav, while Gudi Padwa is more about spending time at home, having til-gul (sesame seeds and jaggery) and doing puja.” Kapoor admits that she rarely gets a chance to cook and has cooked a total of eight times in her whole life but in the last week, due to the self quarantining, she has cooked twice.
There is no cause for celebration this year-Renuka Shahane
8:30 AM
The actor says that this year, she’ll not be able to make it to her mother’s place on Gudi Padwa
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 25, 2020)
“This year, the plan was to go to my mum’s place on Gudi Padwa as she was planning to prepare a traditional Marathi lunch, which is rare for me, and I was looking forward to it. But it won’t happen,” says Renuka Shahane, who feels she might not get the batasa (sugar candy), neem and mango leaves and garlands for the puja. “There is no cause for celebration this year. Moreover, I don’t celebrate festivals in public, so the manner in which we celebrate Gudi Padwa will remain the same. We will do the gudi puja and I will make shrikhand at home. We will all be together and that will be a moment to cherish,” she shares.
With the Coronavirus pandemic, Shahane feels blessed that none of her family members had travelled abroad, so there was no reason to be concerned. She says, “But one can’t be selfish. We should also look at the repercussions globally, and in our country. The lockdown has to be taken seriously as we can’t take things lightly. The ones with privilege should try and help the ones who are the most affected by the pandemic — at least those around us. The pandemic will affect us all for a very long time as it is a war-like situation with the amount of casualties. The world is so connected and that is the main reason why the virus spreads so fast.”
The actor adds, “One will have to rethink many things including much-needed changes in our lifestyle, how we are treating Mother Earth and other species on this planet.”
She is enjoying having her husband (Ashutosh Rana, actor) at home 24x7 but reveals that her life hasn’t changed much as she has asked her staff to stay at home. “I am used to them taking leaves on Ganeshostav and summer holidays, so this phase isn’t new to me. I am used to doing the housework. But what is surprising is that people are cribbing about spending time with family. I’m shocked to hear that because don’t we all want to spend time with family? Some people are so strange,” she says.
Sooryavanshi to run in theatres 24x7; shows to start from March 24 6 pm onwards
9:09 AM
The film will release on March 24, Tuesday
BOMBAY TIMES (February 24, 2020)
Sooryavanshi, which is one of the most anticipated films of the year, will see Rohit Shetty and Akshay Kumar working together for the first time. And now, they are all set to offer the viewers a festive treat, and also break the usual trend of Friday releases in Bollywood. The duo — producer-director Rohit and actor-producer Akshay — have decided to prepone the release of the movie. It will hit theatres on March 24 (Tuesday) at 6 pm.
That’s not all. Following Maharashtra Tourism and Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray’s recent initiative to turn Mumbai into a city that remains open 24x7, Sooryavanshi will be screened all night in the city’s theatres.
The early release is keeping in mind the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa, which follows the next day (March 25). It also marks the beginning of vacation for schools and colleges, and so, Sooryavanshi is poised to enjoy a festive and summer break release.
Aaditya Thackeray says: “Mumbai is a city that never sleeps. It is also the entertainment hub of India. I’m glad that Akshay Kumar and Rohit Shetty are launching Sooryavanshi on the evening of March 24. A hard-working city deserves more hours to chill and unwind. That’s exactly our aim. Theatres running 24 hours will hopefully be a big boost to the industry and people. A film release in the evening, on the occasion of Gudi Padwa, with the story on Mumbai Police and starring Akshay Kumar, who is a man committed to the cause of women’s safety and fitness — what better than that.”
Akshay says, “What a moment in the cinematic history of India...To be the first to present our film Sooryavanshi before what is now called 24x7 Mumbai, is just the best way any filmi fanatic can spend Gudi Padwa. I wish this initiative was around when I was young, maybe I wouldn’t have bunked school so much.”
Rohit shares, “'We are excited to take forward Aaditya Thackeray’s initiative, Mumbai 24x7, and release Sooryavanshi on the evening of March 24, which will run all night in Mumbai.”
Reliance Entertainment presents Rohit Shetty Picturez in association with Dharma Productions and Cape of Good Films, Sooryavanshi. It releases on March 24, at 6 pm.
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