Padma Lakshmi celebrates mother's homecoming and new CBS show this Diwali
Synopsis
Padma Lakshmi's Diwali this year was smaller in scale but larger in meaning — her mother returned home after months in hospital, a new CBS show is in the works, and her seventh book is a success. A personal milestone wrapped in a professional announcement, all delivered via a single Instagram caption.
Key Takeaways
Padma Lakshmi celebrated Diwali 2024 with a low-key gathering of close family and friends.
Her mother, mama Lakshmi , returned home after months of hospitalisation and is 'back to being (mostly) herself,' according to Lakshmi.
Lakshmi announced the creation of a new show for CBS as part of her Diwali milestones.
She also celebrated the success of her seventh book .
Daughter Krishna has a new, undisclosed endeavour that Lakshmi teased with 'more on that later!' Lakshmi has received 16 Primetime Emmy Award nominations across her television career.
India-born supermodel and television personality Padma Lakshmi marked a deeply personal Diwali 2024 as her mother returned home after months of hospitalisation, calling the festival 'so much to celebrate' in a heartfelt Instagram post that also announced a new show for CBS and the success of her seventh book.
A Quiet but Meaningful Celebration
Lakshmi shared two photographs on Instagram — one posing with her daughter Krishna, and another featuring her mother. In the caption, she described the festivities as deliberately low-key, writing: 'We did a pared down and low key Divali this year with a much smaller number of family and friends. But there was still so much to celebrate including mama Lakshmi coming home from the hospital after months — and I'm glad to report she is back to being (mostly) herself.'
The restrained gathering stood in contrast to previous years, but Lakshmi made clear that the emotional significance more than compensated for the smaller scale. Her mother's recovery appears to have been the centrepiece of the evening.
New CBS Show and Seventh Book Among Milestones
Beyond the family milestone, Lakshmi used the occasion to flag professional achievements. She confirmed the creation of a new, as-yet-untitled show for CBS, adding to a television career that includes hosting Top Chef and creating the docuseries Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi — for which she has received 16 Primetime Emmy Award nominations. She also celebrated the success of her seventh book, though titles and details were not disclosed in the post.
Notably, the source content references five books in Lakshmi's biography section, while her caption references a seventh — the caption figure is reproduced here as stated by Lakshmi herself.
Krishna's New Endeavour Teased
Lakshmi also hinted at an upcoming announcement for her daughter Krishna, writing: 'a new endeavor for Krishna (more on that later!)' — leaving audiences to watch for further details. This marks a growing public presence for Krishna, who appeared alongside her mother in the Diwali post.
Who Is Padma Lakshmi
Born in India, Lakshmi immigrated to the United States as a child and built a career first in modelling before transitioning to television. She rose to national prominence as the host of Top Chef and later created Taste the Nation. At age 36, she was diagnosed with endometriosis, a condition she has spoken about publicly as one she has lived with since early adolescence. In 2022, she was honoured with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrant Award.
As Diwali 2024 closes, Lakshmi's followers will be watching for the CBS show premiere date and the reveal of Krishna's new project.
Point of View
A network TV announcement, and a teaser for her daughter's career into a single Diwali caption. The CBS show reveal is the most consequential detail here, yet it arrives almost as an afterthought. For a personality who has built her brand on the intersection of food, identity, and American immigrant experience, a new network platform could meaningfully extend that reach — if the format matches what made Taste the Nation distinctive. The daughter tease is a classic social media play, but it signals that the Lakshmi brand may be moving toward a family franchise model.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Padma Lakshmi's Diwali 2024 celebration special?
Padma Lakshmi's Diwali 2024 was special primarily because her mother returned home after spending several months in hospital. She described the reunion as a highlight of the festive season, noting her mother is 'back to being (mostly) herself.'
What new show has Padma Lakshmi announced for CBS?
Padma Lakshmi announced the creation of a new, as-yet-untitled show for CBS as part of her Diwali 2024 milestones. No further details about the format, premiere date, or subject matter were disclosed in her Instagram post.
What is Padma Lakshmi's seventh book?
Padma Lakshmi mentioned the success of her seventh book in her Diwali Instagram caption, though she did not name or describe the book in the post. No additional details were provided.
Who is Krishna, and what is her new project?
Krishna is Padma Lakshmi's daughter, who appeared in the Diwali Instagram post alongside her mother. Lakshmi teased a 'new endeavor' for Krishna but said only 'more on that later,' leaving specifics undisclosed.
What is Padma Lakshmi known for in television?
Padma Lakshmi is best known as the host of the long-running culinary competition show Top Chef. She is also the creator, host, and executive producer of the docuseries Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, and has accumulated 16 Primetime Emmy Award nominations across her career.
