Mumbai: For some, the monsoon brings memories of hot tea and family time; for others, it means school holidays, lush green landscapes or simply enjoying the changing weather. But for actors who have moved to Mumbai, the season often takes on a completely different character—one defined by resilience, fast-paced city life and Mumbai’s famously unstoppable spirit.
This monsoon, Sony SAB actors Iqbal Khan, Devish Ahuja, Khyati Vyas, Muskaan Bamne and Manish Wadhwa opened up about their favourite rainy-season memories, comparing the monsoons of Mumbai with the weather they experienced in their hometowns and sharing why the season continues to hold a special place in their hearts.
Iqbal Khan, who plays Dr Dev Mehta in Yeh Baatein, recalled growing up in Kashmir, where the monsoon is very different from Mumbai. He described the rain back home as gentle and almost poetic, with the mountains becoming even more beautiful and the weather turning pleasantly cool. Mumbai’s rain, he said, has a personality of its own—dramatic, unpredictable and intense, yet incapable of bringing the city to a halt. While he loves both experiences for different reasons, Khan said Mumbai’s monsoon has taught him to embrace chaos, while Kashmir will always remain his place of peace and comfort.
Devish Ahuja, who portrays Dr Raunak Bhatia in Yeh Baatein, moved to Mumbai at around 15 or 16, leaving him with very different childhood monsoon memories. Growing up in Surat, one of the biggest joys of heavy rain was the possibility of a school holiday. He recalled sitting on the balcony with family, enjoying tea, hot pakoras and his grandmother’s delicious parathas while watching the rain.
Mumbai, however, changed his perspective on the season. No matter how heavily it rains, he said, life in the city continues. Recalling an incident from his college days when he was stuck because of waterlogging, Ahuja said everyone eventually found a way to keep moving. For him, that is Mumbai’s greatest lesson—to keep going regardless of the weather or circumstances.
Muskaan Bamne, who plays Shanaya in Pushpa Impossible, grew up in Itarsi, where the monsoon meant stepping out with family to enjoy the rain, the fragrance of wet earth and evenings filled with hot snacks at home. After moving to Mumbai, she discovered that the city has its own rhythm during the rainy season.
Bamne said she quickly learned to carry an umbrella everywhere and plan her day according to the weather. While she sometimes misses the slower and more relaxed rains of her hometown, she finds something magical about watching Mumbai continue functioning despite the downpour. She believes both places have given her beautiful memories in their own unique ways.
Manish Wadhwa, who plays Bhishma Pitamah in Hastinapur Ke Veer, recalled growing up in Ambala, Haryana, where the monsoon brought a sense of freshness and calm. The first rain would cool the weather, fill the air with the fragrance of wet earth and provide the perfect excuse for family members to sit together over hot tea and pakoras.
Mumbai’s monsoon, he said, is an entirely different experience, with far heavier rainfall and a city that continues to move with remarkable determination. Wadhwa added that enjoying tea with kanda bhajiya during Mumbai’s rains has its own charm. While he personally continues to appreciate the peaceful rains of Ambala, years in Mumbai have taught him to admire the city’s resilience and spirit during the monsoon.
Khyati Vyas, who plays Dr Ananya in Yeh Baatein, said she has experienced different versions of the monsoon because she spent much of her childhood moving from one city to another due to her father’s government job. She recalled the heavy rainfall and humidity of Assam, which reminded her of Mumbai, while Gujarat experienced relatively lighter rains and Rajasthan received very little rainfall.
According to Vyas, every place has its own beauty, and the biggest lesson she has learnt over the years is to appreciate wherever she happens to be. She currently enjoys Mumbai’s monsoon and also finds the rains in her hometown, Jodhpur, equally special whenever she visits, because every place has its own distinct charm.
Through their stories, the Sony SAB actors highlight how the monsoon can evoke different emotions depending on where one grows up—from peaceful family moments and the fragrance of wet earth to Mumbai’s energetic resilience.
