Last year Diwali , Eros International had a lot to celebrate — the film corporation had just acquired the worldwide rights of Shah Rukh
Khan's Om Shanti Om , which went to become the biggest blockbuster of the year. And as the mood was buoyant, so were the festive gifts.

"Last year, Eros sent out a custom-made wooden box with a huge Ganesha emblazoned on the lid, especially handcrafted in Kolkata. The box, which was filled with special mithais, also from Kolkata, was sent out to all Bollywood biggies,'' an actor says.

This year, however, the scene has become a bit bleak and as far as gifts are concerned, they are just about trickling in. "Even the numbers of invitations to card parties in Bollywood have reduced this year,'' says actor Chunky Panday, who has flown to Delhi to party. He adds in a jocular vein, "The mood in Bollywood is sombre because of the too many dabbas (duds) at the box office. And, that is why the mithai dabbas (sweet boxes) sent out to friends have also drastically reduced this year.''

Akshay Kumar and Ekta Kapoor are, however, both having their Diwali parties. "It is a ritual at my parents' home to throw a Diwali party,'' said India's soap queen.

While film corporations have sent out very few or no gifts at all, some of the Bollywood stars have continued with the tradition, added with some innovation. Sources say Rishi Kapoor and wife Neetu gave out packets of Basmati rice as the festive gift. Lensman Yogen Shah, who have always stuck to perfumes as his presents to his friends in Bollywood, says, he has received some rather unusual gifts. "I have got plants, chocolates and candles this season.'' Shah, who has been a Bollywood photographer for almost two decades now, says for some stars, sending out gifts during Diwali is a fixed tradition — they hardly fail in it. "It is that time of the year when they wish to tell you that they think of you,'' he says.

Newbie Deepika Padukone got her staff to handpick bottles of French wine, while actor Atul Kulkarni, who wished to add a pesonal touch to the presents,ordered a special mithai called Maande from Belgaum for his close friends. Others, like the Deols, were the first to send out mithai boxes and director Samir Karnik and producer Vikas Kapoor, who released Heroes last week, sent out sweetmeats as well.

One of the sales persons at an artifacts shop on Linking Road, Santa Cruz, says, "We received several orders for aromatic candles as Diwali gifts from a lot of our regular Bollywood clients.'' However, she added that the figure has dwindled, compared to previous years.

Folrist Mrs Colaco of Aeroflora, who has been catering to the stars for the longest time, says, "Earlier, bouquets went out only during birthdays and anniversaries. But now a lot of film people send out bouquets during Diwali and other major festivals.''

And it made perfect business sense for Hiren Gada, director, Shemaroo Entertainment, to gift DVDs of their own titles to close associates in Bollywood.