Mickey Mouse and Pinocchio have more spark than Deeepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor, while Japanese models sizzle more than popular Hollywood babes Miley Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton — on the covers of the cracker boxes this Diwali. The glam factor that rules cracker stalls during Diwali seems a notch low this year as colourful animated toon characters like Winnie The Pooh, Scooby Doo, Lion King and Japanese models turn hot favourites.
“The stars keep changing depending on their popularity. Although the skycrackers and colourful maachis bomb boxes have regular pictures of Kareena, Preity, Aishwarya, these packs are old packages and were the same last year too. Now, it’s the unknown Japanese models and cartoon series that are popular on the covers,” says Virendra, a shopkeeper at cracker bazaar in Chandani Chowk.
The Hollywood faces ruling desi crackers this year are Milla Jovovich, Lindsay Lohan and Hayden Panettiere. However, there are a few desi celebs who have a track record of being cover regulars. “Sridevi and Dharmendra have the best record on cracker covers,” recounts Virendra admiringly.
Breaching the Bollywood bastion are our sporting heroes, M.S. Dhoni and Sania Mirza. “Dhoni is a huge hit after Twenty20,” says Anwar, another shopkeeper at Chandni Chowk. “The only other sporting star lighting up homes is Sania Mirza,” he adds.
The use of stars to sell fireworks is all about packaging. “Presentation is very important today. Kids, especially, are drawn to boxes with pictures of stars. Since 2010 was all about CWG, we are expecting athletes to be the face of crackers next year,” explains Hemanta Paul of K.L. Paul firework store.