Ranbir Kapoor prays before 17-foot Durga with Ayan Mukerji

Festive Mumbai got a filmi moment on Saturday when Ranbir Kapoor walked into the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja Samity pandal for Mahasaptami, with filmmaker Ayan Mukerji beside him. Mahasaptami, the seventh day of Durga Puja, is one of the festival’s most significant prayer days, and the actor arrived in full festive spirit.

A family pandal with 1948 roots

The venue holds real family history for Ayan Mukerji. His grandfather, producer Sashadhar Mukherjee, established the pandal with family members in 1948, and the celebration is still run by the extended Mukherjee family — including cousins Kajol, Rani Mukerji and Tanishaa Mukerji. That lineage has made the samity a familiar festive stop for the Hindi film fraternity.

Barefoot before the 17-foot idol

Ranbir’s look was polished but rooted in tradition: a maroon embroidered silk short kurta and cream wide-leg trousers. Ayan kept it classic in a royal blue kurta and white pyjamas. Inside the pandal, Ranbir received a red tilak from the officiating priest, bowed respectfully before the altar, and stood barefoot with folded hands in front of the grand 17-foot Durga idol.

Outside, the crowd made its presence felt. Videos showed Ayan escorting Ranbir through the cheers as the actor waved, blew flying kisses, shook hands with pandal-goers and acknowledged photographers. It was a warm public moment between an actor and his audience — and a quieter one between two old friends.

A working friendship, not just a festive one

The collaboration between Ranbir and Ayan makes this appearance resonate. Ayan directed Ranbir’s feature debut, Wake Up Sid (2009), then moved with him into blockbuster territory with Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) and later Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva (2022). Their arc runs from coming-of-age to friendship drama to fantasy spectacle, which gives a festival visit a full-circle feel.

What comes next: Ramayana: Rise of a Legend

For fans looking ahead, the puja images arrive with a timely reminder of Ranbir’s next release:

• Director: Nitesh Tiwari
• Cast: Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama; Sai Pallavi as Sita; Ravie Dubey as Laxman; Yash as Ravana; Sunny Deol as Hanuman
• Source: Sage Valmiki’s Ramayan
• Release date: November 5, 2026

The festive appearance works on two levels for Bollywood fans: a glimpse of Ranbir in private-faith mode at a storied family pandal, and a gentle reminder that his Rama is only weeks away from the big screen.

Source: India Today