Sep 14, 2026 11:00am IST
Tusshar Kapoor: ‘Every Year, We Wait For Ganpati’
Lord Ganesh, a.k.a. Ganpati, comes visiting the homes of so many film folks each year, and among the oldest families to observe the Ganpati Festival is Jeetendra’s. The actor, his wife Shobha, daughter Ektaa and son Tusshar have been celebrating the festival since 1975, when they were residing at Pali Hill. The five-day festival continues at their Juhu home.
Variety India spoke to Tusshar Kapoor on the occasion.
What has been the festival’s significance over the years for you personally?
As kids, for Ektaa and me, having Ganpati at home was primarily a kind of celebration, a family tradition. As kids, we did not understand its significance. It was just a happy occasion, with guests, cousins, friends from our building—a lot of people coming over. For us, it was all about enjoying the vibe, the singing and the sound of the bells.
It was later that I came to know how Bappa’s festival was connected to India’s freedom struggle—the Lokmanya Tilak angle, where it became a reason for Indians to come together for the cause of Freedom. Today, it remains a part of our culture—every year, we wait for Ganpati.
Related Stories
Your father began this tradition in your family. Is this because of his Girgaum connection, since his roots were in that Maharashtrian locality of Mumbai?
Of course it is. My father grew up in Girgaum, so the festival reconnects him to his upbringing and all his childhood memories. I think that though we are Punjabis, he is a Maharashtrian in his blood and at heart.
Do you feel a connection with Lord Ganesha?
Whenever I am feeling a little down, under stress, or have any health issues, or there is a delay in something important, I visit the Siddhivinayak Temple. Bappa teaches us to focus and channel our life and energy, and to stay away from toxicity. It’s all about faith ultimately.
How is Ganpati worshipped at your home?
We have pooja and aarti every morning and evening. Whenever I am home, I conduct the aarti; otherwise, it is my parents. The atmosphere becomes full of positivity, a feeling of being one with everyone around us. The devotion and sanctity are paramount. But there are no restrictions. I keep working during this period.
Popular on Variety
What does your son, Laksshya, know about the Ganpati festival?
He is 10 now and he knows what I did at that age about the festival. I will explain the rest to him at an age-appropriate time. As far as I am concerned, it’s a tradition my father started, and we follow it religiously.
How has ‘Golmaal 5’ shaped up, and is there anything else in the offing either as actor or producer?
The film has shaped up very well. As for producing a film again, I did enjoy the process earlier, but it is a different ballgame and a full-time occupation. I can’t do both acting and producing at the same time.
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.