Christmas is probably that time of the year, when many in the film fraternity takes a little break from their shooting schedules and actors have the time for a breather. It is celebration time and this time, Christmas will be extra special for a select few in the fraternity, some for personal and some for professional reasons.

Actress Lara Dutta, who’s expecting her first child with tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi is currently at home, resting and decorating the house. The actress, who’s in her third trimester of her pregnancy, is taking it easy and doing all the preparations for the entire family which include putting up the Christmas tree and shopping for presents for her family.

Sources close to the actor say that hubby Mahesh may have a party in store to ring in the New Year. “It is an extra special year for them as Lara is pregnant and is due in the coming months. Right now, her family has asked her to take it slow but she will surely call a couple of friends over and throw a small, intimate bash for them after the midnight mass.”

It will be a special Christmas season for actors Genelia D’Souza and Riteish Deshmukh too as they have decided to tie the knot in February 2012. Genelia, who celebrates Christmas with much gusto, is equally kicked about the festival and will be having a special Christmas bash for her friends from the industry.

A source close to her reveals that this time Riteish will also be joining in the family celebrations. It looks like actors Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan would have a low-key celebration this year as Saif’s father passed away in September this year. Every year, the duo normally heads to achurch in Bandra for a midnight mass followed by a traditional family dinner with roasted turkey and Yorkshire pudding. The duo is scheduled to take off to Switzerland to bring in the New Year.

It has been a special year for actress Deepika Padukone too who has recently moved into her new spacious apartment in Prabhadevi. She is planning to celebrate the festival with her family by bringing them down from Bengaluru and taking a few days off. Like each year, actor Asin too might plan to fly down to Kerala to be with her family during Christmas.

If that is not going to be possible for her, she will be spending the occasion with her family in Mumbai. It will be celebration time in the Kapoor household too as Anil Kapoor celebrates his birthday on December 24. Beti Sonam Kapoor is apparently planning a big bash to bring in daddy’s birthday and the release of Mission Impossible 4 as well. Actor John Abraham is expected to be taking a break this Christmas and heading to an undisclosed location!