Sidharth Shukla turned a year older yesterday and has been basking in the attention and love from his fans from all over the world. “I have never been a birthday kind of a person or gone all out to celebrate it,” says the actor, who turned 40, and adds, “This birthday was special because of all the love I have got from people on social media and my fans.”

Acknowledging the efforts of his fans for his special day, he says, “I am happier about the beautiful things people are doing for my birthday. They’ve been helping the underprivileged, planting trees, doing charity, which really touched my heart. The number of cakes I have got is unbelievable! Every day I’ve got four-five cakes for a week. It feels wonderful and overwhelming. My parents never got me so many cakes!”

Known for hit TV shows such as Balika Vadhu and Dil Se Dil Tak, the actor has lately been seen in multiple music videos, including one with actor-singer Shehnaaz Gill. The duo is called SidNaaz by their fans, and were most recently seen in singer-composer Tony Kakkar’s music video. Ask him about his rapport with Gill and the rumours of a link-up and Shukla replies, “It is fun to work together. We are really good friends.”

In the last two years, his popularity has surged and he believes being himself on reality shows was the reason. “The love I got on reality shows is for Sidharth Shukla. Kabhi gussa kabhi pyaar, saare emotions were out there. It was the real me on the reality show. I’m more humbled, have more gratitude today with all the audience’s love that’s coming my way,” reveals the actor, who will soon be seen in a web show.