GANESH CHATURTHI SPECIAL: Actors Who Regularly Bring Bappa Home

It’s that time of the year again when the pandals are set to welcome devotees, beating drums and Ganpati chants make for a regular sight in the city bylanes and not to forget the scrumptious modaks that are synonymous with the time. Salivating yet?

The much-awaited festival, Ganesh Chaturthi, is here and Mumbaikars have brought Bappa home with great pomp and show. And with the city soaking in the spirit of the festival, how can our Bollywood celebrities be far behind? With the celebrations having begun, we tell you about a few B-Townies who consistently bring Lord Ganesha home.  

Jeetendra

 Image Source: Manav Manglani

Bollywood's ‘Jumping Jack’ has been celebrating Ganeshotsav since childhood. Every year, he commences the festival with visiting his childhood home at Girgaum. After offering his prayers at the house, he returns to his Juhu apartment for a Ganpati puja with wife, Shobha Kapoor, and children- Ekta and Tusshar Kapoor. With Tusshar having welcomed his first child a couple of months ago, the festivities would be even more special this year.

Nana Patekar

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Nana has been celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi for six decades now. As a child, he would eagerly wait for his father to bring the idol home at their Mahim residence. Till today, he ensures that he spends the festival with his family. What sets the veteran actor’s celebrations apart from his contemporaries is that he paints the eyes of the Dagdusheth Ganpati idol himself. The visarjan is also a grand affair at his household whereby he invites decorators to design Bappa’s palki. Reportedly, the actor, along with his family, walks till the Dadar chowpatty to immerse the idol.

Salman Khan

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Salman too is no stranger to grand Ganpati celebrations and has been bringing Bappa home for the last 15 years. His mother, Salma Khan is a Maharashtrian, thus, the festival has always been an integral part of his life. In an interview, Sallu had revealed that his sister Arpita Khan had once insisted that the family has Ganesh puja at their Bandra home. Since then, the entire Khan-daan, along with few of Sallu’s B-Town buddies, comes together at Galaxy Apartments. The idol is immersed one-and-a-half days later. This year marks Arpita and Ayush’s son, Ahil’s first Ganesh Chaturthi, so we are sure there is something special lined up for him. We also expect to see Iulia Vantur accompanying Sallu.

Shilpa Shetty Kundra

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Shilpa and her husband Raj Kundra celebrate Ganeshotsav with childlike enthusiasm. They too keep Bappa for one-and-a-half days at their abode. Watching Shilpa dance as they take the idol for visarjan has become a ritual of sorts for her fans.

Rani Mukerji

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Rani began celebrating the Ganpati festival since 2010. The actress not only brings the Elephant God home with great fervour, but is also a regular at city pandals. It would be interesting to see if the actress, who became a mom to daughter Adira in December last year, continues with the pandal tradition and offers a glimpse of the baby to her fans this year.

Vivek Oberoi

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Vivek has often confessed that he credits his films’ success to Lord Ganesha. In fact, it is said that the actor has greater emotional and mental stability in professional and personal life since he started bringing Bappa to his humble abode. Vivek, along with wife Priyanka, kids Vivaan Veer Oberoi and Ameyaa Nirvana Oberoi and parents Yashodhara and Suresh Oberoi celebrate the festival in all its glory every year.

Neil Nitin Mukesh

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Neil was a toddler when he first asked his father Nitin Mukesh to bring the baby Ganesha home and today, the idol at the Mukesh household is the largest among all B-townies. Neil is one of the few stars who keep Bappa at his house for 11 days.

Ranbir Kapoor

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Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at the Kapoor household are one of the most elaborate in Bollywood. The tradition started by Raj Kapoor is being carried forward by grandson Ranbir, who hosts Bappa at his place ever year. Every member of the family attends the do. However, with Ranbir staying at his maternal grandmom's place and Rishi Kapoor's Krishna Mansion having gone under renovation, we will have to wait and see how the family goes about celebrating the festival this year.

Govinda

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Govinda’s Ganpati celebrations are a rather low key affair with only family and close friends visiting the actor’s house to seek Lord Ganesha’s blessings. However, Chi Chi might change his mind and have a grand celebration considering he is making his first production venture this year.


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