GANPATI means more to me than anything else in the world! He is like my father, my elder brother, I go to him with all my problems. I started visiting the Siddhivinayak Temple regularly from about eight years ago, when I started Balaji Telefilms, otherwise I have been a Ganpati bhakt all my life. In fact my father got our family’s first Ganpati when I was born, 28 years ago.

It is a tradition with us to observe Ganeshotsav with a five-day Ganpati. The festival is a most auspicious time for the family. My father, mother and I never leave Mumbai during Ganeshotsav. We do all the pujas, morning and evening, and I even keep a fast during the festival.

It is an easy fast! I eat only fruits and drink milk till the evening. Then I have a meal after the bhog. It is ghar ka khanna. For the ten days of Ganeshotsav, I’m totally a vegetarian. But otherwise too, I try to remain vegetarian, I’m not too fond of non-vegetarian food.

We immerse our Ganpati at Juhu Beach. My father and brother, if he is in town, go to do that. The women from our house don’t go for immersions. We say our farewell at the door after a puja. Apart from Ganpati, I worship several Gods, but am devoted to Balaji and Maa Kali especially.

I wear a necklace that has medallions of several faiths, including an Islamic one, and what’s more, every Ramzan I even keep two of the rozas. The first one and the 27th. But Ganpati is my favourite God.

Tuesdays are special for me because of my visit to Siddhivinayak. I come to the temple, take darshan of the murti, offer my prasad, visit the Hanuman Temple inside the complex and leave. Then I gorge on modaks!

I even bribe the silver mouse in the temple with a modak. He is like Ganpati’s PA! This is a cute belief. I whisper my prayer in the mouse’s ear, then feed him a modak. It is like getting my work done through the boss’ secretary!

In many ways Ganpati is like me! We are both fond of food, warm and happy. I can eat everything, but I am fond of modaks like Ganpati is. You should taste the modaks made at home. I cannot make modaks myself, but I can eat 25 at a time!