Stars against crackers

The young brigade of Tollywood has decided not to pollute the environment with fireworks this Diwali

This year’s Diwali will not be a noisy affair for Tollywood as most of the industry’s younger lot have decided against bursting crackers. For example, Rakul Preet will spend the holiday working but even if she takes time out for celebrations, crackers are off the list. “I quit crackers when I was in Class X. I realised it’s just burning money and not crackers. It affects animals too. So for many years, I have been feeding the poor with the money meant for crackers. It gives me more satisfaction.”

I find happiness when I put the same money for some other cause,” adds Rakul Preet. Many others are following suit by celebrating a noiseless Diwali. “I stopped bursting crackers two years ago. So this year too, I will be spending a silent Diwali with friends and family,” says Sundeep Kishan.

Actor Nikhil will be bursting crackers, but not heavily. “Crackers are just a ritual. So I told everyone not to burst those big crackers. My friends and I will gather and celebrate the festival together,” says the actor.

Varun Tej says, “So I put up a status urging people to celebrate cracker-free Diwali and got a few negative comments about how can one not celebrate it. Around five years ago, I lost interest because of the pollution crackers cause. I actually support ‘No scare November’ backed by the city NGO, Noah’s Army. They told me how animals were affected by the noise and their arguments did move me. For me, it’s a Diwali at home with family and just diyas all around.”

Another actress Mannara Chopra, too, said no to fireworks. “I celebrate the festival with all my family members. But this Diwali I am working for my Telugu film opposite Sunil. In my childhood, I used to be very fond of crackers. But after I grew up and realised how crackers cause air and noise pollution, I stopped bursting them,” she says.
Actor Randhir Reddy quit crackers after a visit to Sivakasi.

“I was a huge cracker enthusiast, but when I visited Sivakasi, I felt bad seeing those children making crackers and since then decided not to encourage it,” he says. Instead of bursting crackers, he now spends his money buying gifts for his friends and family.

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