Writer, creator and showrunner Siddhartha Vankar speaks on Diwali!

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Mumbai: Writer, creator, and showrunner Siddhartha Vankar, known for shows like Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, among others, and upcoming show Dil Ki Bewafaiyaan featuring Gaurav Khanna and Shraddha Arya, says the festival of Diwali has meant something different to him at every stage of life.

“As a child, Diwali meant new clothes, sweets, crackers, and the absolute conviction that my share of the mithai was never enough. As a young man, it was about friends, celebrations, and making memories. Today, it has become much more about family, togetherness, and the little joys that we sometimes overlook in our everyday lives,” he said.

The Diwalis of his childhood, he said, were wonderfully uncomplicated. “People simply arrived at your doorstep. Nobody needed an appointment, nobody worried about whether the house was Instagram-worthy, and nobody counted calories. In fact, refusing a second helping of sweets was almost considered an insult to the family!” he shared.

Today, Diwali at his home is “a delightful combination of tradition, celebration, and complete chaos,” and he happily leaves the vision for how everything should look to his wife, Kritika.

“My contribution is largely to admire her decisions, occasionally offer an opinion that nobody has asked for, and then take credit when the house looks beautiful!” he said.

Watching daughter Katha experience the celebrations in her own way is what makes festivals special now. “There’s a beautiful feeling in realizing that you’re now responsible for creating the very memories your parents once created for you,” he said.

And the perfect celebration? “I love a home filled with people, laughter, good food, and conversations that continue well past midnight. For me, the best Diwali party is one where nobody is in a hurry to leave,” he shared.

“As children, we look forward to the gifts. As adults, we discover the happiness of giving them. Although, I must admit, I still quite enjoy receiving them!” he added.

And though the festive season is one of the busiest times for the entertainment industry, Siddhartha has found his own way of making space for celebrations. “After spending so many years in television, I’ve realized that the words ‘work-life balance’ are perhaps the greatest fictional concept ever created! Television doesn’t really understand festivals. Episodes still have to be written, stories still need to move forward, and deadlines remain gloriously indifferent to the festive calendar,” he said.

“Because if you wait for work to finish before you start celebrating, you might end up celebrating Diwali sometime around Holi! And frankly, no television rating can compete with the happiness of a really good Diwali dinner!” he added.

His message to fans this Diwali goes beyond the usual wishes for happiness and prosperity. “Wear that outfit you’ve been saving. Use the expensive crockery. Take that holiday. Meet the friend you’ve been promising to meet for six months. Tell your parents you love them, hug your children a little longer, and don’t wait for a festival to make someone feel special. I think somewhere in the rush of building our lives, we occasionally forget to enjoy them,” he said.

Sometimes, he said, happiness is “a Sunday lunch with family, an unexpected phone call from an old friend, or simply having everyone you love under one roof.”

He also has one more piece of advice: learn to laugh at yourself. “Trust me, I’ve spent years writing dramatic characters who take themselves very seriously, and I wouldn’t recommend living like most of them! And remember, the most beautiful thing you can light up this Diwali isn’t your home. It’s someone’s face with a smile,” he said.

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