Television actor Vijayendra Kumeria, currently seen in the show 'Juhi Mui', has opened up about his deep faith in Lord Ganesha on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi 2026, sharing how the festival holds a special place in his heart and how life in Mumbai during the celebrations has changed since he became a recognised face on Indian television.

What Kumeria Asks of Bappa

Unlike many who approach the festival with specific wishes, Kumeria says his prayers have always been rooted in gratitude rather than demand. 'To be very honest, I have never asked any particular wish from Bappa. But yes, I have always said, do what is good for me and for my family. Give us good health and prosperity. That is always what I want or what I ask for. No specific things,' he said.

The actor feels that Lord Ganesha has already been extraordinarily generous. 'What else does a person need? A good career, good health. So, Bappa has been kind enough to give me everything without asking. So, I don't want to burden him with requests and all because he has been very kind. I'll be very selfish if I'm still asking for things,' he added.

Surrendering Career Worries This Festive Season

This Ganesh Chaturthi, Kumeria says he intends to take a different approach when it comes to his professional life — one of complete surrender. 'I will surrender to Bappa, saying that Bappa, see, I am your son, and whatever you feel is good for me, you do that. As far as career is concerned, he will take care of it, I am sure,' he said.

He elaborated further, expressing trust that the right doors will open on their own. 'He will bring opportunities that are good for me. He will stop opportunities that are not good for me. So I'm going to surrender to him for my career and ask him to give me a good thought process.'

How Fame Changed the Festival Experience

Reflecting on his early days in Mumbai, Kumeria recalled a simpler, more anonymous experience of the festival. 'I remember when I was very new in Mumbai; that was the time when I, for the first time, experienced Ganpati Mahotsav, and there were some non-actor friends, people from different industries, who were my friends at that time. I do remember that things used to be very easy,' he shared.

Back then, he could join the city's millions for darshan at pandals and participate in the visarjan processions without drawing attention. That freedom, he says, has gradually faded. 'But now it is a little difficult because people start recognising you, and you can't move very freely now, especially at the Pandals and during the visarjan. That's the only small change that has happened. Rest everything is fine.'

The Unmistakable Vibe of Mumbai's 11-Day Festival

Despite the altered experience, Kumeria remains an enthusiastic celebrant of the 11-day festival. 'These 11 days are so fun. The whole vibe of the city is different during these 11 days. But it's a little different from before. Not a vast difference, but yeah,' he said. The actor's comments capture a sentiment shared by many public figures in Mumbai — that celebrity brings its own kind of trade-off even during the most joyous community occasions.