Anmol TV’s Humari Radha actor Akshay Mhatre recalls celebrating Dahi Handi on the streets of Mumbai 

Anmol TV, the Free-to-Air (FTA) Hindi general entertainment channel from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), continues to add festive fervour to its first original fiction show, Humari Radha, with Janmashtami celebrations bringing a mix of devotion and drama to Radha’s (Simran Kaur) house. As Radha welcomes Laddu Gopal and prepares for the puja, Shanaya (Vaidehi Nair), upset after Gary is unable to take her out, ends up spoiling the sacred footprints made for Laddu Gopal. However, her plan takes an unexpected turn when she accidentally falls into gobar, while Kian, dressed as Kanha, later recreates the footprints and restores the sanctity of the celebration.
Amidst the Janmashtami celebrations, Akshay Mhatre, who essays the role of Girdhar, shares a personal connection with the festival, taking a walk down memory lane to recall his childhood years in a chawl in Ghatkopar and the vibrant Dahi Handi celebrations he enjoyed with his friends. For Akshay, the festival continues to evoke fond memories of community, celebration and the simple joy of growing up in Mumbai.
Sharing what Janmashtami means to him, Akshay Mhatre aka Girdhar says, “Being born and brought up in Maharashtra, Janmashtami has always held a very special place in my heart. I feel blessed to call Mumbai home, and some of my fondest childhood memories are closely tied to the Dahi Handi celebrations. I spent my early years in a chawl in Ghatkopar, where the festive spirit was something else altogether. I remember going for Dahi Handi with my friends, cheering from the sidelines and even being a part of breaking quite a few handis myself! My parents have always encouraged me to participate in these celebrations and, in fact, they were the ones who would take me to Dahi Handi events when I was young. I continued enjoying the tradition even during my college years.
For me, Janmashtami has always been about that infectious energy, the sense of community and the simple joy of celebrating together. Even today, the festival brings back so many beautiful childhood memories. This Janmashtami, I hope we celebrate the spirit of the festival with the same joy, while also taking a moment to embrace Lord Krishna’s teachings and bring their timeless wisdom into our everyday lives.”