Beyond the vibrant beats of Garba, traditional Dandiya nights, and nine days of ritualistic fasts dedicated to Maa Durga, Sharadiya Navratri embodies the spiritual journey of conquering negative forces residing within the human psyche. Celebrating the triumph of divine feminine energy over demonic influences, the nine-day festival offers a reflective window for self-transformation and mental grounding. Rising screen stars Vishal Jethwa and Anant Joshi shared their candid perspectives on this auspicious occasion, explaining how they draw spiritual strength from devotion to the Goddess to battle their deepest personal vulnerabilities—the paralyzing fear of the future and the destructive illusion of ego.
Slaying the Demon of Fear: Vishal Jethwa on Anxiety, Family Anchors, and Childhood Nostalgia
Known for his gripping performances in Mardaani and HomeboundVishal Jethwa views Navratri as an inner quest to conquer chronic worry and future-oriented anxiety:
Navigating the Fear Trap: Acknowledging the double-edged nature of fear, the actor revealed that while professional apprehension motivates him to plan his career carefully, it frequently triggers sleepless nights over an uncertain future in an unpredictable industry.
Finding Safe Harbors: To counter insincere praise and toxic interactions within showbiz, Jethwa relies heavily on his core family unit—spending quality time with his mother and siblings and revisiting the childhood temple where he finds pure spiritual calm.
Gujarati Traditions & Devotion: Growing up in a traditional Gujarati home, Jethwa celebrated the festival with rigorous rituals; his brother goes barefoot without footwear for all nine days, while the household performs the sacred Garbo light-immersion ceremony.
Memories of Garba & Unspoken Love: Reflecting fondly on his younger days, the actor recalled sculpting clay idols of the Mother Goddess in grade four, sharing traditional Kediyu costumes with friends, and nursing an innocent festival crush he never found the courage to confess to.
Crushing the Raktabeej of Ego: Anant Joshi on Humility and Artistic Authenticity
Acclaimed for his versatile turns in 12th Fail, The matter is legaland Gullakactor Anant Joshi identifies ego as the most stubborn obstacle standing between a human being and true simplicity:
The Raktabeej Analogy: Comparing internal negative traits to the mythological demon Raktabeej—where destroying one sprout of negativity only leads to another—Joshi highlighted that human arrogance continuously regenerates unless consciously monitored through regular self-reflection.
Preserving the Blank Canvas: The actor warned that vanity is lethal for creative performers, stressing that the moment an artist succumbs to an exaggerated sense of self-importance, their ability to dissolve authentically into diverse on-screen roles is lost.
Grounded by Audience Acclaim: Despite tasting widespread critical acclaim following 12th FailJoshi remains rooted through open discussions with his parents and friends, viewing audience love as a humble professional responsibility rather than a personal pedestal.
Looking Ahead: High-Profile Upcoming Projects on the Horizon
Both actors are preparing to channel their refreshed creative momentum into significant commercial releases:
Vishal Jethwa in ‘3 Monkeys’: Expanding his cinematic footprint, Jethwa will next be seen in Abbas-Mustan’s high-octane project 3 Monkeyssharing the screen with Arjun Rampal in a modernized narrative canvas.
Anant Joshi’s Expanding Roster: Building on his acclaimed digital and theatrical track record, Joshi continues to line up substantial character arcs across premier streaming shows and cinema.