Plenty of celebrities talk about Diwali in terms of décor, parties and designer outfits. Bharti Singh talked about a choice she had to make as a child. Speaking exclusively to IANS, the comedian and television host remembered a time when her family could afford sweets or firecrackers for the festival, but not both.
"Back then, our financial situation was so difficult that we had to choose between buying sweets or firecrackers," Bharti said. "We would usually choose sweets because we needed them for the puja." She added that festivals often made her uneasy as a child: "Whenever a festival approached, I would get a little worried, wondering where we would get the money to buy things."
Fans already know Bharti's story of growing up with very little, but this memory is unusually specific. For many middle- and lower-income Indian families, Diwali does mean juggling the budget, and that is a big part of why her words have struck a chord online.
From counting coins to choosing freely
Bharti said her life looks completely different now. "We started working hard and began earning money. Today, I don't have to think twice before deciding whether I should buy something or not," she said. She was candid about how busy she is, explaining that she had been on back-to-back shoots for Indian Game Show but still "made some time to go shopping for my favourite things and take my children shopping too, because times have changed now."
She also didn't pretend to have an easy answer on firecrackers. "Ideally, one should not burst firecrackers, but nobody can really explain that to children. They insist on bursting at least one or two," she said. Many parents will recognise that tension.
The lesson for Gola and Kaju
The most striking part of the conversation was what she wants her sons to learn. She doesn't want the family to celebrate only within their own home. "I will teach my children that if there are people who cannot afford to celebrate, then whatever you buy, whether it is sweets or firecrackers, you should share it with everyone," she said.
She wants that to apply to every festival, not just Diwali. "Whether it is Diwali, Eid, Dussehra or any other festival, I want to teach them to celebrate every festival with the same spirit," she said. She called her family "fortunate that God has given us work and opportunities," and reminded listeners that "there are so many people who become sad when their festivals arrive because they do not know where they will get the money from."
Why it resonates
Many celebrity festive interviews are mainly about glamour. Bharti's stands out because it links her personal history to a clear value she wants to pass on. She remembers what a festival feels like when money is short, and she wants her children to grow up aware of it. Fans have long connected with her for being down to earth, and this interview shows the same quality: she talks openly about her humble beginnings and is now trying to turn them into a lesson about giving.
On the work front, Bharti Singh is currently seen hosting Indian Game Show with Bharti and Harssh.
With inputs from IANS
