Alia Bhatt joins Durga Puja celebrations in a striking magenta saree. Pics

Alia Bhatt became the latest actor to join the Durga Puja festivities at the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja Samity in Mumbai. She visited the pandal on Monday with her close friend and filmmaker Ayan Mukerji, wearing a magenta pink saree with a turquoise blue blouse.The visit came amid a series of festive appearances at the pandal, where her husband, actor Ranbir Kapoor had earlier sought blessings and performed Kabira with singer Harshdeep Kaur.For the occasion, Alia chose a magenta pink saree paired with a turquoise blue blouse featuring puffed sleeves. She completed the look with gold bangles, matching earrings and a bindi.She tied her hair in a bun and decorated it with pink and blue flowers. Pictures from the pandal showed her posing with devotees attending the festivities. Credit: Yogen Shah Credit: Yogen Shah Credit: Yogen Shah Credit: Yogen Shah Ranbir Kapoor performs KabiraRanbir Kapoor had visited the same pandal on Mahasaptami on Saturday, October 17. Ayan accompanied him during the festive visit.Ranbir joined singer Harshdeep Kaur on stage and performed Kabira, the popular song from his 2013 film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Holding a microphone alongside Kaur, he sang along as those gathered inside the pandal cheered. The film was directed by Ayan. Ranbir wore a silk embroidered maroon short kurta with cream wide-leg trousers. Ayan opted for a royal blue kurta and white pyjamas.Inside the pandal, Ranbir bowed before the altar as the officiating priest applied a red tilak to his forehead. One of the pictures showed him standing barefoot with folded hands in front of the 17-foot idol of Goddess Durga.In a video from the venue, Ayan was seen escorting Ranbir as the crowd cheered. Ranbir waved and blew flying kisses in response. Another clip showed him smiling, shaking hands with people at the pandal and acknowledging photographers.A pandal with family historyThe North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja Samity has personal significance for Ayan. His grandfather, producer Sashadhar Mukherjee, established the pandal with other family members in 1948.Commonly known as the Mukherjee family Durga Puja, the samity is managed and organised by members of the extended family, including cousins Kajol, Rani Mukerji and Tanishaa Mukerji. It is also an annual festive gathering place for members of the Hindi film industry.Ranbir and Ayan's collaborationsApart from their friendship, Ranbir and Ayan have worked together for more than a decade. Ayan directed Ranbir in his feature debut, Wake Up Sid, released in 2009, and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani in 2013. They later collaborated on the 2022 fantasy action film Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva, which marked Ranbir and Alia's first film together.Alia also has Ayan's Brahmastra Part 2 lined up alongside Ranbir. She was recently seen with Sharvari in Alpha and also produced Don't Be Shy. She will next be seen in Love & War and Tumbbad 2, both scheduled for release in 2027.Ranbir, meanwhile, will next appear in director Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Rise of a Legend. Based on sage Valmiki's Ramayan, the film stars Ranbir as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, Ravie Dubey as Laxman, Yash as Ravana and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. It is scheduled for a theatrical release on November 5, 2026.- Ends