Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Make Modaks at Vikas Khanna’s Bungalow

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh celebrate the success of Dhurandhar with a New Year modak-making session in NY.

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer make modaks

Can a simple sweet dumpling carry the weight of a blockbuster year? For Bollywood’s power couple, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, the end of 2025 wasn’t marked by a red-carpet gala, but by the dusting of flour and the scent of cardamom in a New York kitchen.

While the world watched Ranveer infiltrate the Karachi underworld in his latest hit Dhurandhar, the actor was busy learning the delicate geometry of a modak under the watchful eye of Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna.

A Culinary Benediction 

At Khanna’s celebrated restaurant, Bungalow, the atmosphere was more temple than tavern. The couple participated in a ritual that Khanna described as the “most blessed end to 2025.”

Deepika, last seen navigating the futuristic wastes of Kalki 2898 AD, took a hands-on approach to tradition, crafting her very first modak.

The choice of flavors—pomegranate and cardamom—wasn’t accidental. Pomegranate represents health and global sacredness, while the cardamom adds the quintessential warmth of home.

Using molds brought directly from the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai, the trio created a bridge between Manhattan and Maharashtra, ensuring that every guest walking into the restaurant for the New Year would share in this “auspicious beginning.”

The Soft Power of the Modak 

While gossip columns focus on the outfits, the Deep Dive reality is that this meeting represents a powerful convergence of Indian “soft power.”

Vikas Khanna has positioned Bungalow not just as an eatery, but as a gallery of Indian history (evidenced by his parents’ wedding picture serving as the backdrop for the modak-making).

When global icons like “DeepVeer” participate in these traditional acts, they are validating a cultural identity that is both ancient and modern.

It is the culinary equivalent of a successful intelligence operation: infiltrating the global consciousness through the stomach.

Dhurandhar: The Gritty Shift 

The celebration also served as a victory lap for Ranveer Singh. His film Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, has redefined his “eccentric” persona into something far more grounded and lethal.

Playing an undercover agent in a ten-year operation, Ranveer shared the screen with a heavyweight ensemble including Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, and R. Madhavan.

The film’s success lies in its restraint. Unlike typical “masala” actioners, Dhurandhar is a clinical look at espionage.

Its release on December 5th has sparked a renewed interest in “Part 2,” which promises to conclude the narrative arc of the Karachi infiltration.

Realities of the New Year

• The “Action Hero” Paradox: Fans often expect Ranveer to be “on” at all times. Counter-intuitively, his visit to Bungalow showed a man in a state of “quiet learning,” proving that the intensity required for Dhurandhar is best balanced with the patience required for pastry-making.
• The Success Mirage: Many assume Deepika’s lack of immediate new announcements after Kalki means a slowdown. In reality, her presence at such “cultural milestones” suggests she is moving into a phase of curated influence rather than high-volume output.

Key Takeaways for 2026:

• Auspicious Starts: The pomegranate modak will be the signature dish for the New Year at Bungalow.
• Blockbuster Momentum: Dhurandhar continues to dominate the box office, setting a high bar for Aditya Dhar’s future projects.
• Tradition Meets Modernity: The molds from Siddhivinayak symbolize that no matter how global these stars become, their roots remain their primary source of strength.

As the lights dimmed on 2025, the image of Ranveer and Deepika in that kitchen stood “taller than any film in the world.”

It was a reminder that whether you are saving the world in a futuristic wasteland or infiltrating a criminal empire, the most important “mission” is often the one that brings you back to the table.