Bollywood actress Preity Zinta to celebrate Diwali, the Indian festival of lights with West Midlands Mayor Andy Street in Birmingham

Famous Bollywood actress Preity Zinta is going to Birmingham, England this time in the month of November to celebrate Diwali. Where she will be welcomed by Andy Street, Mayor of West Midlands. In fact, both Andy and Preity Zinta are scheduled to chair the weekend Diwali event on Saturday 4, and Sunday 5 November 2023 in conjunction with the Consulate General of India.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Diwali is a special time for the Indian diaspora, and communities across our region are looking forward to celebrating the Festival of Lights. Since the beginning of my tenure as Mayor, the WMCA has worked closely with local groups and the Consulate General of India to celebrate the occasion in an appropriately grand style – with dance, special guests, and entertainment. This year the events will be held over the weekend of Saturday 4th November and Sunday 5th November, including a star-studded gala dinner with Bollywood star-turned-self-made businesswoman Preity Zinta at Millennium Point and a cultural event at Birmingham Town Hall. I look forward to seeing the local people at the festival and attending the festival myself.”

We all know that the festival of Diwali is a five-day festival of lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains across the world. For some, it also coincides with harvest and New Year celebrations and is a festival of new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. The festival usually takes place between October and November, with the date changing every year. This year Diwali will last for five days and the main day of celebration is Monday 12th November.

The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word Deepawali, which means “rows of illuminated lamps”. Homes, shops, and public places are decorated with small oil lamps called diyas, as well as fireworks are used to add more light and excitement to the occasion. Each religion celebrates different historical events and stories. Marks.

Not only in India but in the entire Asian subcontinent, every person is mesmerized by the story of Preity Zinta's life. She has worked in Hindi, Telugu, Punjabi and English films. After receiving a degree in Psychology, Zinta started her film career in 1998 with the film 'Dil Se' and was seen again in the film 'Soldier' in the same year. She received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her acting in these films. Later, she was highly appreciated for her role as an unmarried mother in the film 'Kya Kehna' directed by Kundan Shah. Then she played different types of characters and her acting and characters gave birth to a new imagination of Hindi film actresses.

After this, in 2003, Preity Zinta received the second Filmfare Award for Best Actress for the film 'Kal Ho Na Ho'. After that, she became a star with two highest-grossing science fiction films, 'Koi... Mil Gaya' and the romantic film 'Veer Zaara'. Critics started considering her a great actress. She then appeared in the roles of a modern Indian woman in the films 'Salaam Namaste' and 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna' and these films were high-grossing films in the international market. These achievements made her one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema. Her first international role was in the Canadian film Heaven on Earth, for which she was awarded the Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress at the Chicago International Film Festival in 2008.

These days, Preity Zinta has achieved considerable success in the business world in LA. She has become one of the richest self-made Indian women on the planet due to her investment interests, Production Company, and co-ownership of the Punjab Kings cricket team. IPL. A former UN AIDS Ambassador and member of the Global Entrepreneur Council for the United Nations, she has done extensive charity work which she continues to do today.

There are talks that he will be honored by some of the leading civic and educational institutions of the city of Birmingham. There is no doubt that he will be enthusiastically welcomed by the hundreds of Indian students enrolled in Birmingham colleges and universities, as well as the Indian diaspora in the city and wider region. Preity's last appearance in Britain was a decade ago when she spoke to Oxford University students at the Oxford Union Society.

Speaking about her upcoming travels, Preity said, 'I am very excited to be a part of the Diwali celebrations in Birmingham. Looking forward to meeting all the wonderful people there and celebrating the festival of lights with them.

Program Details:

Saturday 4th November

Preeti will visit the emerging creative district of Digbeth, which is home to Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight's Digbeth Folk Studios, the creative content hub at The Bond, and several film and media schools. The intention is to showcase the region's potential to attract filmmakers from around the world – including the billion-dollar Bollywood film industry and explore opportunities to build links and partnerships.

Drinks and Networking Reception at Millennium Point

Evening gala dinner at Millennium Point

Dress code – black tie or traditional attire.

The Diwali dinner with Preity ji Zinta at Birmingham's historic Millennium Point is expected to attract over 250 guests including business leaders, political dignitaries, and special guests from the UK, India, and the global Indian diaspora with evening speeches and entertainment.

Sunday 5 November

Cultural event at Birmingham Town Hall: a free community event open to the general public. Preeti will present Diya Roshan as a guest in this program.

West Midlands:

Located in the center of England, the West Midlands is a vibrant and culturally diverse region, home to approximately three million people. Located in the central part of the country, the West Midlands is a treasure trove of history, innovation, and creativity. From its bustling cities to its tranquil countryside, the region has something to offer everyone. It is a proudly diverse community, making it a perfect place to celebrate the Festival of Lights, especially with its substantial South Asian expatriate community which makes it so unique.

Andy Street serves as the elected mayor of the West Midlands, a region that has shied away from bringing the community together and putting on a show, demonstrated by the massive success of the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham.

The Games brought together different races, genders, ages, and religions to celebrate a joyous city's historic time. Obviously, the legacy of the Games lives on when you walk down Birmingham New Street and see the “OG” mechanical bull, who was a fan favorite during the Games after his introduction during the opening ceremony. However, the legacy of sports prevails in our region in many other ways, including spirit, collectivism, and pride.

This Diwali celebration is the perfect opportunity to extend this feel-good feeling, and as the West Midlands is a proud region full of diversity, we are excited to bring the community together and help heighten the excitement around the festival of lights.

-Shantiswarup Tripathi