Mumbai: Diwali is a festival closely associated with family traditions, festive food, new clothes and cherished childhood memories. While celebrations may evolve over the years, the excitement and warmth of childhood Diwalis often remain unforgettable. This festive season, Sony SAB actors Karuna Pandey, Mukul Harish, Vivana Singh and Jiten Lalwani recalled their favourite childhood memories and shared the experiences that made the festival special for them.
Karuna Pandey, who plays Pushpa in ‘Pushpa Impossible’, recalled celebrating Diwali in different cities because her father served in the armed forces.
“Some of my fondest childhood memories are connected with Diwali. Since my father was in the defence forces, we celebrated the festival in different cities every few years. I remember decorating our home with diyas and lights, and having many guests over. My favourite part was bursting crackers and enjoying the delicious food prepared by my mother. As children, our biggest excitement was waiting for the puja to finish so that we could finally enjoy the sweets and festive delicacies. Those celebrations with my parents and sister are memories I will always cherish,” she said.
Mukul Harish, who portrays Tiger in ‘Pushpa Impossible’, described Diwali as magical during his childhood and said the festival continues to hold the same charm for him.
“Diwali felt magical when I was a child, and it still does. I remember waking up early, wearing new clothes and joining the evening puja at home. One of my favourite memories is attending the special Diwali puja at my father’s factory with everyone. The decorations were beautiful, and the entire atmosphere was filled with festive excitement. Of course, the best part was enjoying plenty of sweets and bursting crackers. These days, I focus more on celebrating with lights and delicious food while also being mindful of the environment,” he said.
Vivana Singh, who plays Gandhari in ‘Hastinapur Ke Veer’, recalled the excitement of getting ready for Diwali with her sisters.
“One of my sweetest childhood memories is getting ready for Diwali with my sisters. We would help each other choose outfits, get dressed together and even borrow each other’s jewellery to complete our looks. There was always excitement, laughter and a little bit of playful chaos while getting ready. Those moments of dressing up together and celebrating with the family remain among my most beautiful Diwali memories,” she said.
Jiten Lalwani, who portrays Dronacharya in ‘Hastinapur Ke Veer’, remembered helping his mother prepare the house for the festival.
“I have very fond memories of helping with Diwali preparations at home, especially cleaning. My mother always made sure that I helped her clean and organise the house before the festival. It seemed like a huge task at the time, but doing it together made the experience enjoyable. Looking back, those little moments spent helping my mother prepare our home for Diwali have become some of my most treasured childhood memories,” he said.
Through their recollections, the actors highlighted the family traditions, shared responsibilities and simple moments that make Diwali special across generations.
‘Pushpa Impossible’ and ‘Hastinapur Ke Veer’ air exclusively on Sony SAB.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=RtToJsBhYBatUrym&v=mOuYNSdhjHA&feature=youtu.be
