Farhan Akhtar and Monali Thakur light up Kala Ghoda Finale at Asiatic Library Steps

The 26th Kala Ghoda Arts Festival drew to a rousing close on Sunday evening with electrifying finale performances by Farhan Akhtar and Monali Thakur at the iconic Asiatic Library Steps, a venue that once again transformed into Mumbai’s grand open-air concert arena. Farhan Akhtar’s rock set with a personal touch Farhan Akhtar began his set against what he called the “incredible location of the Asiatic Library Steps,” revisiting the festival’s finale concert when he performed in 2024 at the Cross Maidan. Showcasing tracks from his 2019 debut album Echoes, Farhan delivered a high-energy rock set featuring songs such as Your Magical Kiss, Bird On a Wire, Let’s Be Friends Again, and Reach For The Stars. The evening took a heartfelt turn when his wife, Shibani Akhtar, walked in and took a seat in the third row.

Spotting her mid-performance, Farhan paused to greet her from the stage. “Oh hi Shibani… what timing!” he smiled, drawing cheers from the audience. Introducing his next number, he added, “I wrote this next song for Shibani - Think I’ll Write You That Love Song,” before performing the romantic track to loud applause.

Despite repeated audience requests for Bollywood hits through the set, Farhan stayed true to his rock repertoire, until the grand sign-off.

Closing the evening on a nostalgic high, he finally gave fans what they had been asking for, ending with the beloved title track ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, sending the crowd into a collective sing-along. Monali Thakur wins over the audience with soulful melodies and hit bangers Taking the stage as the evening headliner Bollywood playback star Monali Thakur, instantly struck a chord with the audience gathered across the historic steps.

From the moment she stepped on stage, Monali lit the venue with a dynamic, hit-packed set. High-energy dance numbers including Allah Duhai Hai, Khwab Dekhe, Cham Cham, Race Saanson Ki, Saree Ke Fall Sa, Zara Zara Touch Me, Badri Ki Dulhania, and Pasoori had the audience singing along and cheering.

Balancing tempo and mood, Monali slowed things down in between with soulful renditions of Sawar Loon and Haan Ke Haan, both of which drew warm applause and mobile flashlights swaying across the crowd.

But it was Subhaarambh that got audiences of all ages on their feet, doing garba across aisles and steps in an infectious festive moment. Families, college students, and senior citizens alike joined in throughout the concert as they danced their hearts out. Set against the heritage backdrop of the Asiatic Library, the dual performances captured the very essence of Kala Ghoda Arts Festival where contemporary music meets cultural legacy. With Monali’s dance-floor energy and Farhan’s rock romance closing the night, the 26th edition of the festival signed off on a high note.