Abhay Vakil turns his birthday into a celebration of gratitude and life

Abhay Vakil has never been one for extravagant birthday celebrations. Over the years, the day has passed quietly with family dinners or temple visits, intimate and deeply personal.

This year, however, the actor chose to mark the occasion differently by hosting a thoughtfully planned sundowner that turned his birthday into a reflection on gratitude, resilience, and life.

The reason, Abhay says, was deeply personal. “My mother got a new life after a serious health issue,” he shared, adding, “What makes it even more special is that my mother and I share our birthdays, which is quite rare. This year did not feel like just my birthday.

It felt like a moment to pause and be grateful. All I truly wish for is good health for her.”

That emotion shaped every decision he made for the evening. Traditional birthday rituals were consciously avoided. He explained, “I did not feel like cutting a cake. Instead, I wanted to acknowledge the people in my life who have stood by me. I share a beautiful connection with my friends, and those bonds have stayed strong over the years.”

The choice of a sundowner was equally deliberate. He said, “Late night parties leave everyone exhausted the next day. Since it was a Sunday, February 1, I thought people could come, chat, dance, have dinner, and still wake up fresh for work on Monday.” A rooftop venue and Mumbai’s mild February weather added to the ease of the gathering. “That little bit of winter really helps. It keeps everything comfortable,” he added.

One of the most striking aspects of the evening was the absence of gifts and formal announcements. Abhay reveals that many guests were not even aware it was his birthday. He admitted, “I had invited some of the top doctors from South Mumbai, and I felt awkward about making it about me. I am also not very comfortable receiving gifts.”

Instead, guests were handed gratitude cards inspired by fortune cookies. He shared, “They were simple messages, but people told me they resonated with what they were going through in their lives. That is when I felt the idea truly worked.”