Stars tell their New Year plans: Exclusiv

by Subhash K Jha

Priyanka Chopra: "I'll be out of the country with some close friends. I've been working hard, and I need a break."

Sameera Reddy: "I'm flying off to Greece for two days. I'm spending new years with my sister Meghana who lives there. It's hectic. But I had promised her that I'd be there. And I like to keep my promises."

Karan Johar: "Goa, of course! Where else? It's almost tradition. Isn't that where everyone heads? I'm tempted to say I'm going elsewhere this new year. But that would be just fooling myself. No matter how hard I try to change my plans, it's always Goa for me. I badly need a break after the long and grueling spell of Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna NY. This is my chance.

Aftab Shivdasani: "I don't know if I'll be going anywhere for the new year. I'm not fully recovered from my accident. I'm not allowed to lift anything heavy. I might just spend the year-end in Mumbai."

Ekta Kapoor: I'll be in Goa with friends. But only for two days. I don't have time for a longer break. If I did I might've thought of some other place."

Konkona Sen: "I'll be at Naseeruddin Shah's farm house. The film in which he directs me is complete. And we'll have a wrap-up party. Really looking forward to it."

Sohail Khan: "Goa…like every year. My bachcha and me love the sun and surfing. Basically he gone on his father. We're both beach bums."

Mahesh Bhatt: "I won't be going where. I'll be in Mumbai working. For me Jan 1, 2006 will just be another day."

Urmila Matondkar: "Goa….where else???? Isn't that where all of us are supposed to head? I've had a pretty hectic schedule lately, and I really need this break. I'm really looking forward to my year-end holiday."

Vipul Shah: "My wife and I will be in Mumbai only. We'll be partying only till about 1 pm on New Year's eve. We want to welcome 2006 in my our home. I'll get up early , do a small puja, work till late afternoon. Then in the evening we'll host a party at home for family and friends."

Sammir Dattani: "Usually I spend the New Year with my family and friends. But this time I'm shooting for Mani Shankar's film in Hyderabad. And I'm not complaining! To be finally so busy that I don't even get a holiday at year-end is a blessing. I'll probably celebrate with Mani, and my co-stars Om Puri and Sushant Singh."

Vidya Balan: "I'm a complete home bird. Will be at home with my parents for the new year. That according to me, is the best way to celebrate."

Adnan Sami: "I'll be in Bangkok for the new year celebrating with family and friends. And yes, my lady love will also accompany me."

Shabana Azmi: "Happily, in my own sagaa home. I've been shooting for J.P. Dutta's Umrao Jaan in Jaipur. …have been away from Mumbai for too long… I'll be happy to get back home to spend New Years eve. Jadu (husband Javed Akhtar) isn't a party animal either.

But my brother Baba Azmi and bhabhi Tanvi will be going to attend Aamir Khan's wedding. I don't know Farhan and Zoya Akhtar's plans. So I suppose it'll be just my mother, Jadoo and me at home. And yes, close friends will surely drop in."

Smriti Irani: "I'll be home with the family.That's where I always am every year New Year's eve."

Rahul Bose: "It's been year since the terrible devastations of Tsunami. I'm off to Andaman-Nicobar for Christmas and New Years to re-live the trauma, to make myself understand that such situations aren't a one-off thing. They can happen any time again. We need to be more prepared. I want to see how much progress has been made with the relief operations.

For me , that's the most comforting way of celebrating the year-end. I don't know why everyone heads for Goa at New Year's eve. It just gets so crowded . I'm not a crowd person. I'm not even a party person. I like my solitude even at New Year's eve.

K.K.Menon: "My wife and I like to take an impromptu decision on what to do for the new year. We'll probably be celebrating in Mumbai only. But that's something we'll decide only when the time comes."

Subhash Ghai: "I go to visit Sai Baba in Shirdi every year on December 31, and that shall remain unchanged. I want to offer prayers so I can be a better humanbeing and a better filmmaker. I also pray for my well-wishers. I shall also pray for you."

Anupam Kher: "My new year will be quiet as always. For me the new year is as special as any other day. I never take the time given to me by God for granted. By saying this I'm not trying to be different. But that's how I feel."

Madhur Bhandarkar: "Me and my wife will be visiting Tirupati –Balaji for the new year. I haven't found the time to visit one of my favourite holy spots for five years. It's been a satisfying year for me and I want to thank God personally for it. So I'm taking a few days off from my shooting of Corporate to do so."

Deepti Naval: "I'll be in Madh island…Bringing in the new year in my new home, spending the new year's eve with my mom who's visiting from New York. Friends will be welcome to drop in. We'll hang out on Ketan and Deepa Mehta's terrace in the same building till we ring in the new year.

Victor Bannerjee: "I'm basically a man of Nature. I'll be in Kasauli worshipping the Himalayas. Isn't that where we are all ultimately bound?"