📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Artem Abd
Entertainment
From Raj Kapoor to Amitabh: How Bollywood Celebrated Early Diwali
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 08 Nov 2026, 06:38 AM
👁 1
A retrospective look at the evolution of Diwali celebrations in the Indian film industry, tracing the shift from Raj Kapoor's grand extravaganzas to the styles of later stars like Amitabh Bachchan.
The history of the Indian film industry is deeply intertwined with the celebration of Diwali, a festival that has marked significant cultural milestones for Bollywood. In the early days, the spirit of the festival was often amplified through large-scale productions and personal celebrations by industry icons.
Raj Kapoor, a legendary figure in Indian cinema, was known for his extravagant Diwali celebrations. His approach to the festival set a benchmark for grandeur and communal joy within the film industry, reflecting the golden era of Bollywood where stars were not just actors but cultural symbols.
As the decades progressed, the nature of these celebrations evolved. Later generations of stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, brought their own distinct styles to the occasion. While the core traditions remained, the scale and public visibility of these events changed, mirroring the broader shifts in the film industry and society.
This transition from the Kapoor era to the Bachchan era highlights how Diwali has remained a central theme in Bollywood's narrative, serving as a backdrop for both cinematic storytelling and real-life festivities.
Raj Kapoor, a legendary figure in Indian cinema, was known for his extravagant Diwali celebrations. His approach to the festival set a benchmark for grandeur and communal joy within the film industry, reflecting the golden era of Bollywood where stars were not just actors but cultural symbols.
As the decades progressed, the nature of these celebrations evolved. Later generations of stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, brought their own distinct styles to the occasion. While the core traditions remained, the scale and public visibility of these events changed, mirroring the broader shifts in the film industry and society.
This transition from the Kapoor era to the Bachchan era highlights how Diwali has remained a central theme in Bollywood's narrative, serving as a backdrop for both cinematic storytelling and real-life festivities.