Shilpa Shetty says viral Ganpati dance hid her sadness

Shilpa Shetty Kundra says her energetic farewell dance to Lord Ganesha, which went viral on social media, was partly a way to camouflage sadness. Speaking to Hindustan Times, the actor explained that bidding goodbye to Bappa brings a mix of emotions, and dancing helps her celebrate while masking the sorrow of his departure. "It's a dichotomy of emotions that he's been at home, and then you have to bid him farewell," she said.

The Times of India reports that this is Shilpa's 17th year of celebrating Ganpati at home. This year was special because her sister-in-law, in-laws, and their children joined from London. For the idol, she chose papier-mache over clay to make it lighter, a material crafted by the same artisans who make Lalbaugcha Raja. She noted that the lighter idol required extra care as moisture could soften it.