Every year, Manish Malhotra’s Diwali party becomes one of Bollywood’s most talked-about celebrations. While the paparazzi wait outside his lavish Pali Hill residence to capture the star-studded arrivals, pictures and videos from the evening flood social media, leaving fans curious about what unfolds behind closed doors. Journalist Namrata Zakaria has now offered an insider’s account of this year’s celebration, held on November 5, revealing some interesting details about the guest list, the arrangements and the unwritten rules that govern the evening.According to Namrata’s account, this year’s gathering was initially planned on a smaller scale following the demise of Manish’s mother, Mrs Sudarshan Malhotra, earlier this year. The designer’s invitation reportedly described the evening as a ‘more intimate celebration’. Although he had initially intended to restrict the guest list to around 200 people, the final number eventually reached nearly 300. His annual Diwali gatherings typically welcome approximately 400 guests at his five-storey home in Mumbai’s Pali Hill.Namrata wrote that Manish wanted to celebrate Diwali, a festival particularly close to his mother’s heart, while remembering her. Despite the intention to keep things intimate, the evening eventually turned into a glamorous gathering of the film industry’s biggest names.Among the most discussed moments from this year’s party was the joint appearance of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan. The couple arrived together and posed for the paparazzi, with their affectionate interactions attracting considerable attention.The guest list featured several other prominent names, including Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, Nita Ambani, Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna, Vicky Kaushal, Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Madhuri Dixit, Kajol, Kriti Sanon, Malaika Arora, Huma Qureshi, Sanya Malhotra, Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Panday and Shanaya Kapoor, among others.
Shah Rukh Khan ‘s special entry and the no-photograph rule
While most guests make their way through the main entrance and stop for photographs, Shah Rukh Khan reportedly follows a different routine. According to Namrata, the superstar prefers using the back entrance of Manish’s residence and maintains his privacy even after entering the party.His personal bodyguard, Ravi Singh, reportedly ensures that guests do not photograph or record the actor. Anyone who manages to capture pictures or videos of Shah Rukh is asked to delete them. Namrata further claimed that guests who share such images could risk losing their invitation to future celebrations.However, the superstar is said to be quite warm and affectionate once inside. Namrata wrote that he greets guests with hugs and even kisses their hands, including people he is meeting for the first time. Shah Rukh generally arrives well after midnight and eventually heads to the dance floor.Once he gets there, the DJ plays some of his popular tracks, with the actor dancing for an hour or two. He is often accompanied by daughter Suhana Khan and her friends Ananya Panday and Shanaya Kapoor, along with Agastya Nanda.
Inside the most exclusive corner of Manish Malhotra’s Diwali party
Namrata also offered a glimpse into the layout of the celebration. The party is hosted on the second floor of Manish’s residence, which reportedly features a spacious living room, a dining area, two terraces, a bar and an entertainment room with another terrace. The floor can accommodate approximately 300 to 350 guests.However, not every corner of the house attracts the same attention. One particular section of the living room, furnished with plush white sofas, is considered the most coveted spot. Namrata described it as the ‘hautest and haughtiest’ section of the party, where some of the biggest names in Bollywood gather while other guests make their way over to meet them.She recalled that Salman Khan usually occupies this corner for much of the evening whenever he attends the celebration, with guests queuing up to greet him. Even Madhuri Dixit is among those who make their way over to meet the superstar. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is also known to occupy this sought-after section, while Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan are among the other prominent guests who sit there when they attend.Manish Malhotra has been an integral part of the Hindi film industry for more than three decades. Beginning his journey as a costume designer, he went on to become one of Bollywood’s most recognisable fashion names, dressing several leading actors for their films and public appearances. Over the years, his annual Diwali celebration has evolved into a much-anticipated industry tradition, bringing together actors, filmmakers, designers and other prominent personalities. Beyond the glamorous arrivals, Namrata’s account offers a rare look at the planning, exclusivity and elaborate arrangements that go into hosting one of Bollywood’s biggest festive gatherings.
