Saanvie Tallwar on Ganpati, Growing Up on Modaks, and Her Big Ask From Bappa This Year

Actress Saanvie Tallwar, currently seen in the web series Khamosh Aahatein, is marking this Ganesh Chaturthi with a mix of nostalgia and quiet ambition - reflecting on the faith that's shaped her since childhood, and the one thing she's hoping Bappa delivers this year.

Devotion has always come easy to Saanvie, but Mumbai, she says, showed her a version of the festival she'd never quite seen before. "For me, Ganesh Chaturthi has always been about faith and devotion. I've always worshipped Ganesha, but I honestly didn't know how grand Ganpati celebrations were in Mumbai until I moved here," she said. "The scale, energy and devotion of the city are something else. I even brought Bappa home for one year, just like many Mumbaikars do, and that experience made the festival even more special for me."

That devotion, she says, goes back further than her move to the city. Praying to Ganesha before anything important began as a childhood habit and never really left. "Since childhood, I've always prayed to Ganesha before starting anything important. For me, it was never about how grand the celebration was; it was the faith and feeling behind it," she said. "That simplicity is what makes it special to me even today."

It's a lesson she's carried into how she deals with setbacks, too. Known as Vighnaharta - the remover of obstacles - Ganesha, she believes, offers a mindset worth applying well beyond the festival itself. "I think the biggest lesson I take from Bappa is to not be afraid of obstacles. Every challenge is there to teach you something and make you stronger. I try to stay calm, keep faith and focus on finding a way forward rather than getting overwhelmed by the problem."

On the debate around Ganpati's growing scale and commercialisation, Saanvie takes a fairly measured view - the noise doesn't bother her as long as the sentiment stays intact. "I think the celebration has definitely become bigger and more commercialised, but I don't think that means we've lost the essence completely," she said, adding that for her, "the real spirit of Ganpati is still the faith, togetherness and the feeling of welcoming Bappa into our lives. As long as that remains at the heart of the celebration, the grandeur doesn't really bother me."

This year, Saanvie won't be bringing Ganpati home herself, but that hasn't dampened her festive spirit. "I'm not getting Ganpati this year. But I absolutely love visiting friends who bring Bappa home. The energy and positivity during those days are so beautiful, and I love being a part of the celebrations whenever I can."

And no Ganpati conversation is complete without food - on that front, Saanvie doesn't hesitate. "I love festive food, especially modaks! For me, they are an essential part of Ganpati celebrations. I also enjoy all the homemade Maharashtrian food and sweets that you get to try when visiting friends who have Bappa at home."

As for what she's hoping to take away from this year's festivities, Saanvie's wish is rooted firmly in her career. "This year, my one wish is for Bappa to bless me with the right opportunities and help me reach the next level in my career. I've worked hard for what I want, so I just want Bappa to open the right doors and give me the strength to make the most of them."