Dussehra in Delhi got a Bollywood moment this year when Yami Gautam took the stage at the iconic Luv Kush Ramleela and performed Ravan Vadh before thousands of spectators. The actor, joined by filmmaker-producer Aanand L Rai, shot a symbolic arrow at Ravana’s effigy at the Red Fort Ground. For celebrity-watchers, it was the kind of festival appearance that turns a tradition into a headline.
More than a starry photo op
The Luv Kush Ramleela committee had a clear reason for choosing Gautam. Its theme this year is ‘Respect for Women,’ and committee president Arjun Kumar said her participation was meant to show that women represent courage, dignity and strength. In that framing, Ravana is not just a mythological figure but also a symbol of arrogance, injustice and the evils that persist in society.
Gautam shared her own reaction on social media, writing that it felt ‘beautiful’ to see a ‘sea of people’ gathered to celebrate the spirit of Vijayadashami as ‘1 heartbeat.’ A clip from the evening is circulating online, showing her aiming the arrow in front of a packed ground.
The official presence
The evening also carried institutional weight. Arjun Kumar said Vice President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan attended the celebrations and performed Ravan Dahan, calling his presence ‘a matter of immense pride and honour’ for the committee.
A tradition with star power
Luv Kush Ramleela’s Ravan Dahan has long attracted Bollywood names. Past participants include:
- Akshay Kumar
- Ajay Devgn
- John Abraham
- Prabhas
- Kareena Kapoor
Gautam’s turn continues that list, but with a different weight: her appearance was tied to the festival’s message about women, rather than being just another celebrity guest spot.
The screen connection
The symbolism also links back to Gautam’s work. In Nayyi Navelli, she performs a similar act, and her Ramleela post drew attention to the film. Nayyi Navelli stars Gautam and Adinath Kothare, blends horror with comedy, and marks director Balaji Mohan’s Bollywood debut. It is written by Himanshu Sharma and Divy Nidhi Sharma and produced by Aanand L Rai and Himanshu Sharma. Critics have given the film mixed-to-negative reviews, making the festival stage the stronger current talking point.
Before Nayyi Navelli, Gautam made a cameo in Dhurandhar: The Revenge and led Haq, a drama inspired by journalist Jigna Vora’s book Bano: Bharat Ki Beti and the landmark Supreme Court judgment in the Shah Bano Begum case.
Source: Hindustan Times
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