Exclusive! Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh’s Gudi Padwa celebrations; see pics

Rooted in tradition and radiating festive warmth, Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh welcomed Gudi Padwa with joy. Dressed in elegant ethnic wear, the couple marked the Hindu New Year with timeless rituals, with Riteish dressed in a kurta and dhoti and Genelia adding a distinct cultural touch in a green sari, nathni and chandrakor bindi.

Standing beside a beautifully adorned Gudi — symbolising victory and new beginnings — the duo reflected on the festival’s significance, calling it a celebration of happiness, positivity and new beginnings. They say, “Gudi Padwa symbolises happiness everywhere. Every year, we celebrate the occasion by putting up a Gudi in our house. It’s like having a deity at the entrance of your home and praying for goodness and good vibes to enter your house.”During our childhood, Gudi Padwa was a day we would all binge together: RiteishTalking about the Padwa feast on this special day, Genelia shares, “It is always a typical Maharastrian thali with four-five chutneys – right from ambyachi chutney, coconut chutney to shegdana chutney and thecha with vanga, batata bhaji, and of course, puran poli.” Riteish adds, “Sometimes, we also have ukdiche modak. I know modak is more for Ganesh Chaturthi, but we like it so much that sometimes we can’t wait till then to have it.

During our childhood, Gudi Padwa was a day we would all sit together and binge.”Bring up how she has embraced a new culture after she married Riteish in 2012, and Genelia says, “I am someone who loves festivals and being a part of community celebrations. After I got married, I started learning a lot of their customs and traditions, and I loved it. I love the idea that these customs are something I never grew up with, and yet, I can wholly embrace them.”Riteish has nurtured the idea of the film Raja Shivaji for over a decade: GeneliaWith Gudi Padwa symbolising fresh beginnings, the couple is also looking ahead to an exciting year—especially their long-cherished dream project, Raja Shivaji, which is directed by Riteish, produced by Genelia, and has him playing the titular role. Sharing how this film is deeply personal for Riteish, Genelia says, “It’s something he’s nurtured for over a decade and finally chose to direct himself.” Riteish adds, “The film, inspired by the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj, has taken years of stops and starts and is finally ready.

I rever Shivaji Maharaj as much as everyone else, so I wanted to make a film with the right intent that aligns with the emotion of the audience.”‘We can’t enforce culture on our children, we have to make it engaging for them’Talking about passing on their culture and traditions to their kids, Riaan and Rahyl, the two highlight how festivals can become a medium for children to understand their roots. Riteish explains, “I think festivals play a huge part in imparting knowledge about our culture because these are the days that stay with you — you dress up, there are stories and rituals, and these memories are etched for life.

But we also have to understand that our children’s world is different from the one we grew up in.

Their influences are different, and they won’t experience things the way we did. So, we can’t enforce our culture on them; to involve them, we have to make it engaging. It’s about sitting them down and telling them stories in a way they can connect with one character at a time. That’s how it becomes meaningful for them.” Genelia adds, “Riteish is a very good storyteller, and it’s great the way he engages them with his stories, and that’s how they also enjoy our traditions.”