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Diwali is the most-important festival for the Indian community, which at 175,000 strong is the third-largest ethnic group in Auckland.

Auckland Transport (AT) wanted to mark Diwali by turning one of their buses into a joyous and colourful celebration of Indian culture.

The result was an AT bus decorated in the style of the hand-painted trucks and other vehicles which can be seen everywhere on the roads of India. The bus route would pass through Sandringham, the heart of Auckland’s Indian community.

After having the idea, the next step was to consult AT’s own Indian cultural group to ask if it would be culturally appropriate. Their answer was a resounding ‘yes’.

Then came finding designers who could execute the idea authentically and artistically.

We found them in a husband-and-wife team of graphic designers of Indian heritage who live in Auckland.

They took AT’s brief of ‘joyful celebration’ and created a Bollywood-inspired bus that shouted ‘joy’ and ‘fun’.

‘Once upon a time in Bollywood’ draws on the colourful, larger-than-life aesthetic of Bollywood and the traditional folk-art of truck decoration, a common sight in India. “The bus design feels like a cultural mash-up, with swirling patterns and dramatic type creating a sense of motion while also honouring the working-class artistry of India’s highways,” said the designers.

“Our job was to elevate this journey by designing a bus with Diwali and Indian culture in mind, giving riders an authentic experience into the vibrant and playful nature of Diwali.” they added.

They sweated over every detail of the bus, even decking the interior with hundreds of vibrant hand-made and hand-dyed paper marigolds.

But it was after the bus hit the streets that the real magic began.

170,000+ ‘Seven Sharp’ viewers heard the driver of the Diwali Bus declare ‘I love this bus’ during the 4 ½ minute opening segment the show devoted to the bus on 18 October 2024.
Then the bus hit social media, and a single bus plying a single route from West Auckland to the city began gaining recognition and praise worldwide – including many posts from India.
This was all pleasing, but the real win was the reaction of the local Indian community. “It’s so welcoming, with New Zealanders respecting Indian tradition.

It’s beautiful, beautiful to see.” said a Sandringham local, also on Seven Sharp.

The Diwali bus, ‘Once upon a time in Bollywood’ had become a message of respect and inclusion for one of Auckland’s vital communities – a bridge between cultures.