Actor Viraj Babbar, winner of the Rubaru Mr. India Glam International title, is turning a year older on September 24th. He believes birthdays are the perfect time to spend with family, though this year is different as he will be away from them.

“Birthdays are mostly personal affairs for me. Ever since I was young, it has been a day where my mother would cook all my favorite meals throughout the day. I get a lot of phone calls; apparently, everyone I know suddenly remembers me and calls to wish me. But for me, birthdays have always meant family time. Since I am away from my family this year, I’ll be celebrating it with some close friends here. Nothing special—just get up, get ready, hit the gym, go out, and chill,” he says.

He adds, “However, I feel that spending time with close friends and family is the best way to celebrate. The entire day is about them. I go to a temple to pay respects and pray, feeling grateful for whatever I have achieved so far and hoping for the best. I have a sweet tooth, so I look forward to all the cakes I’ll be getting. At night, I open all the gifts from my loved ones and feel extremely loved during that time.”

Friends also play a big part in making him feel special on his birthday. “A lot of friends call and want to meet me, which makes it difficult to see everyone, but I have to. Everyone around me wants to make me feel special that day, and I have to respect that. It takes some time away from my family, but that’s fine. It’s all about the people you want to surround yourself with for your entire life. I’m grateful to be surrounded by people who love me unconditionally,” he says.

Speaking about his wishes for this birthday, he says, “I’ve never wished for anything for myself. I am always grateful for what God has given me and for the strengths I have. I know it sounds scripted, but that’s who I am. I always wish for my family. I’m grateful for the fact that because of my family, I’ve never had to wish for anything for myself. I’m quite lucky!”

When asked about his birthday rituals, he says, “I go to the temple and the gurdwara. I don’t skip the gym on my birthday either, since it's the start of my biological year (if that’s a thing). I enjoy eating all my favorite dishes. I am quite pampered by my loved ones, so I don’t need to make a fuss about the day—pretty much every day of the year feels like mine.”