As the air is still filled with the sweet scent of fireworks and the warmth of loved ones, actor Sidharth Malhotra celebrated Diwali with his family in Delhi. In an intimate conversation, Sidharth lets us dive into his festive tradition – from childhood celebrations in Delhi to his modern-day rituals with actress-wife Kiara Advani.
‘There’s something deeply fulfilling about being surrounded by loved ones and honoring traditions together’
“Being a Delhi boy at heart, Diwali for me means heading back to celebrate with my family at home,” Sidharth shares, adding, “Most years, I try to make it at home, and other times, Kiara and I keep it close-knit, celebrating with pujas, great food, and just enjoying each other’s company. There’s something deeply fulfilling about being surrounded by loved ones and honoring traditions together—it’s what Diwali is all about for me: family, togetherness, and those memories that stay with you forever.”
‘I still associate Diwali with my Dadi’s besan laddoos’
As he talks about the festival, Sidharth’s favorite Diwali memories date back to his childhood. “Diwali has always been a special time for me, going back to my childhood days in Delhi. Growing up, it was my grandmom who would bring everyone together for the Diwali puja, making sure the whole house was ready and that we were all dressed in our best Indian festive clothes for the evening. My favorite part of the puja was always the prasad—especially the besan
laddoos
, which I still associate with Diwali to this day. That tradition of dressing up and celebrating as a family is something I carry with me even now. My Indian festive wardrobe is special to me as it reminds me of all the amazing celebrations,” Sidharth reminisces. He adds, “Growing up we’d have amazing Punjabi food, play rounds of cards, and just enjoy being together. Those moments are what make Diwali so special, and that’s why it’s still such an important festival for me today.”
‘Diwali is the perfect time to embrace men’s fashion’
A peek at Sidharth’s Instagram feed and one can get a glimpse of his Diwali wardrobe, which easily cements him as a fashion role model for many seeking inspiration during the festive season. “To keep my Diwali style always rooted in traditions, I focus on picking unique and personal designs each year. Men’s fashion has come a long way, especially in ethnic wear, and Diwali is the perfect time to embrace that. Today, there are so many designers creating exceptional options for men’s festive wear. Each one brings something unique to the table, and they’re doing incredible work with colors, patterns, and textures,” the
Shershaah
actor divulges. He also states how ‘Diwali is the time to go bold with color and style’. “Indian fashion has such a beautiful range of choices for men, whether it’s a dhoti, kurta, bandhgala, or sherwani. The beauty of Indian wear is that each region offers its twist, so there’s always something new to explore. Today, there’s truly no limit to expressing personal style while celebrating tradition,” he adds.
‘Kiara and I have a simple but meaningful Diwali ritual’
With this being their second Diwali as husband and wife, we query Sidharth: Have he and Kiara established any heartfelt Diwali traditions? He replies, “Kiara and I have started a simple but meaningful Diwali ritual of doing a small puja together and lighting a diya at home. This Diwali, we celebrated in Delhi with family, but no matter where we are, we make it a point to say a prayer and light a diya to keep the spirit of the festival alive.”
