Artists Get Candid About Their Holiday Plans

The white snow, the family get togethers, the scent of warm cookies– holiday time is officially here. COVID-19 seems to have put a slight wrench in most of our plans, but we’re still fighting through to have a successful, safe, and sustainable Christmas this year. Here’s what 7 South Asian artists are doing for the holidays this year and how the pandemic has impacted their plans!

Shagun Pandey

“I’m going to spend time working on myself during these holidays. The current times have taught me a lot, so I wish to bring in the new year by acquiring something new. I am hopeful that 2021 would come with a lot of prosperity and opportunities for one & all. There has been no change in my plans as I never really celebrate Christmas. I’ve started loving my work even more post COVID-19 and just want to keep performing on potential roles. I have become more serious about my responsibility as an artist. I have my resolution of the year set to work with more grit & determination in my craft.”

Krishna Bharadwaj

“My holidays started the moment my show, Tenali Rama went off air last month. I have been on a vacation mode ever since. I first traveled to my hometown for spending quality time with family and then enjoyed a mini vacation in Goa with friends. The most exciting part of this season is to witness things heading to normalcy gradually. I feel elated about receiving the international award for being the best actor in comedy recently.

Plans have changed in the sense that we can’t meet people and party the way we used to earlier in order to ensure safety. I would still party with my friends keeping all requisites under check. I generally don’t follow any tradition for this festive season except for visiting a church which I shall visit this year too. Rest I would enjoy partying to my heart’s fill throughout the first week of January.”

Sangeeta Kapure

“I have no specific plans for celebrating Christmas this year due to the pandemic. However, I look forward to enjoying a small get together with close friends at my place. I am excited for the travel plans I have made for 2021. The pandemic has changed one’s lifestyle, way of thinking and many other things on a deeper level. I have no qualms for I got to learn a lot from this tough time though. The celebration in new normal is going to be different but I would like to bid a goodbye to this year on a happy note. Typically, I would have gone for a coveted Christmas dinner followed by a party with friends in some crowded place.”

Mansi Srivastava

“The holiday plans I had for this year and next are now going to be pushed owing to the Covid second wave. I entirely love the cosy vibe the Christmas decorations chime in. Additionally, the weather is amazing at this time of the year. My plans have changed in the sense that we wouldn’t be going to parties or crowded places for celebrating the eve. I will just stay home and relish the plum cake I would be baking. Typically, I always get a Christmas tree and decorate it, but this year I wouldn’t be doing the same to avoid crowded places. It’s going to be a simple and healthy Christmas for me!”

Paras Madaan

“I have no holiday plans this time because I’m busy shooting for my upcoming web series Hastinapur. This part of the year has always been my favorite for its winter setting, the aroma of seasonal flowers, yummy food and most importantly my all time favourite home made dessert “Gajar ka halwa”. This is indeed the best time of the year to create some cherishable memories with family and friends.

2020 has been a year of ups and downs for all of us and probably the worst year in the history of mankind I believe. Unfortunately, this year nothing has been the way it used to be. Keeping in view that social distancing norms need to be followed, I would prefer staying home. I would grab myself a cup of hot coffee, enjoy a Christmas movie and video calls with friends and family this year. Every time I make it a point to visit a Church and light up a candle on this eve with most evenings spent enjoying the yummy rum cakes and ginger wine. I shall follow this tradition this year as well but would practice all the precautions alongside.”

Kirtida Mistry

“I honestly don’t have any plans for Christmas this year due to the pandemic. The warm, fuzzy feeling of welcoming a fresh start is the most exciting part of this season for me. The pandemic has changed plans for sure to a great extent. In normal circumstances I would be chilling out with my friends. This year it would be different for I would be home rejoicing the new beginnings with my family and probably cook something as well.”

Kritika Sharma

“My holiday plans for this year would be traveling to either Olly in Uttarakhand or Maldives with my friends. It’s not fixed but these two are shortlisted at the moment. I am excited to start 2021 with a trip. The favorite part of this season for me is its cold weather. I entirely love the winter snow. The vibe of Christmas is full of zeal & I can’t pick the one thing I love the most about it.

In general instances, I would have visited Mount Mary Church and also would have gone for dinners & parties with friends for Christmas, but I am not sure if it would be possible this year. I would be enjoying a Christmas lunch with family. The option to visiting Maldives is open for its the safest at the moment but again it wouldn’t have the snowy, chill vibe. Plans have definitely changed due to the pandemic cause initially we had plans to travel to Istanbul, Turkey but now we might have to change the course of travel from international to domestic. The mandate tradition for me has been to travel for New Years, and I’m happy that hasn’t changed.”