Intro: Diwali is more than lamps and fireworks it’s about rituals, relationships, and creating cherished memories. Celebrities, too, embrace this spirit in their own ways, blending cultural traditions with modern celebrations. From heartfelt pujas to guilt-free feasts, here’s how stars like Adivi Sesh, Neha Shetty, and Avika Gor celebrate Diwali and what it truly means to them. Celebrity Quotes: Adivi Sesh: “I love the festive spirit that flows from Navaratri to Dussehra and then Diwali. At home, we perform Lakshmi Puja, and while I avoid crackers because of our pets, I enjoy watching the colourful sky. No festival is complete without sweets and spreading joy.” Neha Shetty: “Diwali is not just about lighting lamps, it’s about illuminating our hearts with hope, kindness, and courage. For me, parties, festive food, and time with close ones make this celebration special every year.” Avika Gor: “For me, Diwali is about spreading love, kindness, and warmth. I celebrate responsibly, visiting family and friends, exchanging hugs, and sharing sweets. The true spirit of Diwali lies in joy and togetherness.”

Kannada star Rishab Shetty, who captured nationwide attention with his 2022 blockbuster Kantara, is back with his much-awaited prequel, Kantara Chapter 1. At a recent press meet in Mumbai, he opened up about his journey from working as a driver and office boy in the city to becoming a pan-India actor and filmmaker. Speaking with honesty and gratitude, Rishab reflected on cinema’s power to transform lives and shared insights into the making of his ambitious new film.Your journey from driver in Mumbai to leading the Kantara Chapter 1 is inspiring. How do you look back on it?For me, Mumbai is very special. Back in 2008, I worked as an office assistant in a production house in Andheri West, and also as a producer’s driver. While eating vada pav on the road near that office, I never imagined I would come this far. Cinema has given me so much love, respect, and blessings far beyond what I could dream of. I’m incredibly grateful. Everyone is talking about how your village came together for the Kantara Chapter 1 event. Tell us about that. Everyone in my village, in Kundapura’s Keradi, was part of the filmmaking process. It felt like the entire place had turned into a film village. The whole town became a studio. I’m deeply grateful to my villagers, the crew, my wife Pragathi, professors, cultural dancers, their families, and even the seniors who guided us. This film was built on collective effort. The prequel is set centuries ago. How did you bring that world to life?It was one of the toughest challenges. We had no direct references for the 4th–5th century. Everything production, costumes, sets, was built from reading, listening, and imagining. We were very particular about the look, the backdrop, the characters’ behaviour, and even the language. The goal

Halloween is more than just a day for candy and costumes. It’s a celebration of community, creativity and a touch of spooky fun. As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, families everywhere are looking for ways to make this holiday special. If you are searching for ideas, Dhanush Kumar brings you some memorable and family-friendly Halloween ideas. Transforming your home into a haunted haven is a fantastic way to get everyone in the Halloween spirit.  Carving pumpkins is a family tradition. Lay out old newspapers, grab some carving tools, and let your family’s creativity shine. For younger children, painting pumpkins is a safer and equally fun alternative. Use warm, orange string lights to create a festive glow. Cast eerie shadows with paper cutouts of bats and spiders on windows. A simple ghost made from a white sheet and a balloon, or a string of paper bats, can add a lot of character without much effort. Choosing a costume is often the highlight of Halloween. Encourage a group of themed costumes for a fantastic family look. Go as a family of superheroes, a collection of farm animals, or characters from your favourite movie. Repurpose old clothes and craft supplies. A cardboard box can become a robot, and a green t-shirt with some design can transform into a friendly frog. The best costumes are often the ones that you make together. While trick-or-treat is a must, there are many activities to enjoy, such as: Monster Movie Marathon: Curl up on the couch with popcorn and a selection of age-appropriate spooky films. Classics like It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, or Hocus Pocus are always great choices. Spooky Story Time: Gather around a fire pit or in a dimly lit room and share not-too-scary ghost stories. Themed Treats: Bake and decorate

Teja Sajja’s superhero spectacle Mirai has lit up cinemas with an overwhelming response from audiences. The fantasy adventure has been praised for its international-scale stunts and VFX while staying rooted in Telugu storytelling. In a candid telephonic conversation with LIPIKA VARMA, Teja shared his journey, the challenges he faced, and his excitement about the film’s reception. Produced by T. G. Vishwa Prasad, directed by Karthik Gattamneni, and presented in North India by Dharma Productions, Mirai also premiered in the US alongside its global release. The film stars Manchu Manoj, Ritika Nayak, Shriya Saran, and Jagapathi Babu, further adding to its star power. On making a Telugu film with Telugu sensibilities and getting an open armed reception with Hindi film-goers I have never imagined, even in my wildest dreams, that I would be standing in a Hindi cinema. But I am happy from the bottom of my heart that they have welcomed me with their open arms. I feel very responsible for delivering something that gives them an experience in the auditorium yet again, and this is reflected in the choice of films I’ve selected as well. I take other languages very seriously, which encourages me. We are promoting it as a mainstream Hindi film because we see a lot of love and potential in it. However, predominantly, I am not trying to get into the Hindi film industry. I’m making a Telugu film with Telugu sensibilities, and the subject matter is relevant in other languages as well. If audiences are interested in coming to watch it in theatres, as a respect, we put in full effort to make everything needed to make the film look authentic in that language. On discipline and commitment to films Yes, this film was tough to make, and it needed utmost attention. It is my