holi in bollywood

No celebrations! Shooting! Sleeping! Chilling out! Partying!

Amitabh Bachchan

It's Holi, tomorrow... but if you think the tinseltown folk are going to let their hair down and celebrate this 'holy' holiday... think again! That's only in films. Rang Barse and Holi Hai... not in real life. Most stars are shooting, and given their costly and busy schedules, no producers are willing to cut them slack and include an unscheduled break in the shoot to play Holi. Those that have time on hand, have nobody to celebrate with, or are in no mood to do so for various reasons. Moreover, the mood in Bollywood is sombre what with the recession and incidents of terrorism that have rattled the country. So, there won't really be a Holi party for you to join in. You want to celebrate Holi switch on the TV... come in Amitabh, Dharmendra, Sunil Dutt... show us how its done! Meanwhile, this is what some stars had to say about their plans tomorrow when TOI asked them what were they doing for Holi...

Amitabh Bachchan
Nothing! We're celebrating no Holi this year. Yes, I know our home is an open house on Holi every year. Hopefully, we'll be back to celebrating Holi next year. This year too many tragic events have happened around us. On a personal level, my father's passing away then my mother's prolonged illness have suspended Holi celebrations in my house. And then, of course, the things that are happening in Mumbai and the country... do you think anyone is in the mood for celebration? We're not.

Preity Zinta
What am I doing for Holi? Nothing! Sleeping the whole day. Recovering from jet lag after my trip to New Zealand. In any case I think Holi has lost its original spirit long back.

Deepika Padukone
Hopefully I'll have the day off. In which case I'll do what I always do each time I've a day to myself. Celebrate with my family and close friends.

Farhan Akhtar
For the first time I won't be home for Holi. I'll be shooting abroad. It breaks my heart to miss Holi. Can't be helped.

Shilpa Shetty
I'm throwing a Holi bash at my home. The whole industry is invited.

Bipasha Basu
I've no Holi plans. I'm allergic to Holi colours. I'll spend Holi with my family devouring delicacies. It's a diet-free day for me.

Abhishek Bachchan
I'll be shooting in Kolkata for Mani Ratnam. So, it's a Holi away from home.

Genelia D'Souza
I'll be shooting in Delhi on Holi.

Rajeev Khandelwal
I'm shooting for Peter Gaya Kaam Se in Goa. I'll be experiencing the Goan Holi for the first time.

Harman Baweja
I'll be shooting in Delhi for It's My Life. I think my lightmen, camera crew, director and co-stars will be my Holi victims.

Himesh Reshammiya
As always, I prefer to work on auspicious days. I'll be recording a new song for Ishq Unplugged on Holi.

Urmila Matondkar
I'm not much of a Holi person. I'll be chilling at home watching some good movies and hoping no one gets rowdy with women who have to step out.

Irrfan Khan
I'll be in Dholpur shooting for Paan Singh Tomar on Holi. We'll celebrate over there. After Billu and Slumdog Millionaire, I'm in a festive mood.

Manisha Koirala
I'm throwing a party for close friends.

Celina Jaitley
This Holi I'm in Hyderabad. I'll be spending it with the cast and crew.

Tusshar Kapoor
I'll be meeting up with friends for lunch and not playing Holi since I stopped doing that long ago.