Shah Rukh Khan is all set to ring in his 55th birthday on Monday, November 2, which is a festival for his fans, thousands of whom gather outside his sea-facing bungalow, Mannat, every year, waiting for the Badshah to wave out to them from a specially constructed balcony. This year, because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the actor has requested them to not gather in numbers outside his home, quipping, “Iss baar ka pyaar...thoda door se yaar.”

Mirror has learnt that SRK’s fan club has now come up with an innovative way to bring in the actor’s birthday using technology so they can enjoy being at Mannat while actually being miles away. “This year, we need to do everything virtually but ensure the celebrations are still grand, considering it’s a festival for us. Fans will have virtual experience of being at Mannat from Sunday midnight through live streaming,” informs Yash Paryani, a member of the fan club, adding that others from across the globe can join the celebrations by clicking on a link. He adds that several fans will be cutting cakes at their homes for their idol. A made-to-order cake is also being prepared specially for the occasion.

Apart from midnight revelry on Sunday, they will also host a virtual birthday party on Monday at 11 am with selfie booths, games, SRK quizzes, live interactions among the fans, and some performances. Yash informs that SRK and his team are aware of the plan and are hopeful that the birthday boy will briefly join the live chat. “Even if he can’t, I’m sure he will do something special because he loves his fans and treats them like family,” asserts Yash, saying that given how large-hearted the Khan is, they have also planned multiple charitable activities, including distributing 5555 Covid kits with masks and sanitisers, 5555 meals to the needy, visiting orphanages and old-age homes. “Approximately 5000 fans from across the globe will come together for the virtual celebration.”

As a tradition, fans often visited Maratha Mandir to watch SRK and Kajol’s epic romance, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge on November 1 every year. Since cinema halls across the city are shut due to the Covid outbreak, they are also hosting a special virtual screening of DDLJ on the same day.