Showing posts with label Mannat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mannat. Show all posts
In Hollywood, diversity has taken a step backwards-Lilly Singh
8:39 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; November 29, 2025)
Across 15 years, comedian, author and actor Lilly Singh has risen from a glittering digital sensation to a commanding voice in mainstream entertainment. Humour may be her forte, but her conscientious social awareness sets her apart. A fierce advocate for gender equality and the first woman of colour to host a U.S. late-night show, she remains a disruptor who refuses to fit into a mold. In India to film a new season of her podcast Shame Less With Lilly Singh, featuring diverse Indian celebrities, Bombay Times caught up with the pop culture trailblazer and diehard Bollywood fan for some heart-to-heart. Excerpts...
"There is more awareness about the power and reach of digital creators today, but I think there's still work to be done in terms of the respect they get. A lot of times even the biggest of digital creators are viewed by brands or agencies as just numbers or stats or demographics. You won’t describe actors that way”
There are so many podcasts these days. You are shooting your new season here. What draws you to this medium?
I know what it feels like to be asked redundant, surface level questions. I have been subjected to, ‘When are you getting married or tell us about your future projects’ grind, so I know what not to ask. I like to go deeper. I like to be asked about my fears, insecurities, anxieties and hope. The beauty of a conversation is like, oh, you said something and I'm hearing it. And now I'm picking your brain on this thing you said. It's less about interviewing people and more about having a conversation. We're expecting some heavy hitters on my show for sure. I am a huge Bollywood fan but we're trying to expand our show to other fields of life so it's not just going to be about actors and actresses.
You were awarded an honorary doctorate degree from York University recently. In your speech you said life rarely follows a straight path. ‘Having it all figured out is a myth’. Has that been your journey, too?
I was thinking when I was graduating, what do I wish someone had told me? And I think at that age, you really have a delusion around thinking you have things figured out. In your 20s, you're like, I know what I like and don't like, what my career is going to be and who I am as a person. But you really don't. We are constantly evolving in our life. I don't think we ever actually completely know who we are, especially at that age. I am York alumna, and I wanted to give the grads an idea that whatever degree they pursued, might not be their future job. I don't know a single person whose degree is the thing that they're doing. It’s Important to embrace that flexibility.
You started on YouTube 15 years ago, when it was not really a big thing. Today digital and social media are mainstream. Is there more respect for this profession (bloggers, influencers) today as opposed to 15 years ago?
I do think people understand it more now. I no longer get asked how do you make money on YouTube? How can you have a career? People understand the profession more now. There is more awareness about the power and reach of creators, but I think there's still work to be done in terms of the respect they get. A lot of times even the biggest of digital creators are viewed by brands- or agencies as just numbers or stats or demographics. You won’t describe actors that way. It’s not mentally healthy for people to just be known for their online following. It’s not the right message to send across.
There’s also a debate on casting being influenced by a talent’s social media following. Good acting should get you an acting part, isn’t it? What’s your take on that?
I'm privileged in the sense that it's never personally happened to me. Maybe that's because I have a big online following, so maybe I'm on the other side of that. I think it's a greater conversation, as casting directors, the people that make decisions, they care about way too many things. Like, oh, this show will become too diverse if this person gets cast, or this person doesn't look this way. There are too many factors at play. It should just be about whether this person embodies this part. We need to go back to art a little bit. We've commercialized and made everything into a business.
You’ve always been at the forefront of this fight for diversity and representation in Hollywood. Is there more room for South Asian actors in the west now?
If I were to invite all the brown people in Hollywood today, I will have a full house. But if you ask any of them if it is easier for them to be cast or make movies, their answer will be no. In fact, in Hollywood diversity has taken a step backwards. It’s even harder than before. There was a period when executives felt guilty about diversity, and they did some diverse stuff, but we have gone back to making movies on white people. I go to the theatre all the time and play this game. I hang on for the previews and make note of how many films have exclusively white people. Five out of eight trailers will only have white people. You don’t need all white casting for stories to be told. So, I do think that we are taking steps backwards. But not to be too pessimistic, I do think that there's a lot of desis in Hollywood now, who are fighting this. Listen, I'm super grateful. I cannot complain about my career. I get to do cool things, but I don't think people realize how hard it is behind the scenes. Everyday, I am fighting with people to get stories made, to get stories made, to get finance, distribution, to get a budget that makes making a movie even possible. Everything is a challenge.
You use humour as a social dialogue, way beyond entertainment. What's your take on this standard critique that women are not funny enough?
I don't think anyone needs to be anything. People should do what's right for them. In my personal life or career, I've always used comedy. I think it makes things a lot easier. People don’t like to be told what to do so humour helps. Not every joke you tell has to impact culture and break patriarchy. Sometimes it's also just about being human. And people who say, women are not funny enough? They are dumb. You know what's so funny about the women aren't funny remark? It makes me laugh because comedy is subjective. I'm going to find something funny. You're not going to find it funny. It’ fine. When someone goes, oh, you're not funny because I didn't find you funny. Like, baby boy, this is not for you, Ben. I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it for this person over here. Why do you think you matter?
We have seen you with Reese Witherspoon, Priyanka Chopra. You are a girl’s girl. How important is sisterhood in your life?
Female friendship has always been important to me but at 37, sisterhood is everything to me. Because women have unique experiences that not everyone can understand. They see your pain. There’s so much empathy. Female friendship makes me most seen. Growing up, I was never taught this, but we should talk about finances, contract, how did we achieve this or that if we wish to progress together. So many women have inspired me. I mean, my mom is here. Malala Yousafzai is so inspiring. Priyanka Chopra’s fierce foray and transition to Hollywood. She fought battles that most of us don’t even know. Emma Watson’s gender advocacy... I am standing on the shoulders of these women.
For a non-Mumbaikar you are quite filmy. Tell us about your take on the city and Bollywood.
Mumbai holds a special place in my heart. I have been here a bunch of time. As a kid I would only visit Punjab when iI would come to India as that’s where my family is. I came to Mumbai the first time in 2013-2014 and it's a core memory for me because I was invited to Mannat and I also met Madhuri Dixit. I have that same giddy feeling now. I love the people here and the jugaad that happens. Everyone genuinely believes that tension nahi leneka, everything is workable. I find that inspiring and amusing because I am always tense. As far as Bollywood is concerned, I am obsessed! I was raised exclusively on Bollywood in Toronto. My first movie, my first concert, all Bollywood. Which is why, when I do auditions in Hollywood now, they're always like, ‘your facial expressions, your timing, it's all a little dramatic’ (laughed). I would love to do a Bollywood film! Karan, are you listening?
Shah Rukh Khan gave me one of his blazers. I still have it-Lilly Singh
10:00 AM
Lilly Singh reflects on an earlier visit to SRK’s Mannat, her current work trip to Mumbai and why South Asian visibility in Hollywood still needs a push
Natasha Coutinho (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 23, 2025)
Actor, producer and writer Lilly Singh, who rose to global fame as a social media creator, is in Mumbai catching up with some of Indian cinema’s biggest names for her podcast. Although she has visited before, she says she is still learning how the city works: “People told me it’s hard to confirm things. They said, ‘Tension mat lo, things will happen’. As a control freak, that was new for me. But with that flexibility comes the magic of jugaad. I even tell my team in Los Angeles to use jugaad, pretend you are in Mumbai and make it happen.”
One of her fondest Mumbai memories is from an earlier trip when Shah Rukh Khan hosted her at Mannat. A lifelong fan who grew up “manifesting SRK energy,” she calls it one of her greatest days. “Every time I sit in an auto, the driver says, ‘That’s Shah Rukh Khan’s house.’ I say, ‘Oh really,’ and keep quiet. I met his family, had lunch there, and he even gave me one of his blazers. I still have it.”
Talking about Hollywood, she says South Asian representation has slowed. She says, “We were taking steps forward but now we are stepping backwards. When I first moved to LA, it was hard to even find other desis. Now my Diwali party is full of South Asians, but it still doesn’t make it easier to get projects made. There are not enough roles for us. My last film was independently financed because that’s how things get made without studio backing.”
She adds that working as an actor, writer and producer is challenging, especially in Hollywood. “Most of the crew does not look like me or understand the culture. It puts extra responsibility on the producer. When I hosted my late-night show, people would email asking me to translate Hindi words. The word was Madhuri Dixit. A simple Google search would show it’s a person’s name.”
Singh is currently filming her podcast Shameless in Mumbai.
Shah Rukh Khan fans come all over the world to celebrate his 60th birthday
10:34 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; November 3, 2025)
On November 1, Bandra’s lanes began to hum — not with festival lights but with something else: a city-wide celebration for Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan’s 60th birthday. By the evening of November 2, a sea of people outside Mannat shimmered under phone lights and moonlight, waiting for a wave, a smile, a glimpse. Fans arrived from Bengaluru, Pune and even Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Peru, Nepal, Indonesia and France. Shrudi Shyam, 29, social media admin of SRK Universe (fan club) said, “We celebrated across the globe with charity drives and film screenings. We took children from an orphanage to watch Main Hoon Na,” she shared.
Bengaluru’s SRK Association made the journey en masse. Guru, the club’s president, who led the Mannat yatra with 95 members, said, “We don’t celebrate Diwali or Eid the way we celebrate King Khan’s birthday.”
International fans like Claudia Calle flew in from Peru with six members of her fan group after a 35-hour journey. “It’s his 60th — we couldn’t miss it,” she said excitedly.
There were others with striking stories too — a barista from Nepal who saved up leave to be here and an author from the Netherlands who arrived with a book for SRK. Hansani Hidelaarachchi, representing Europe CFC, shared, “Visiting Mannat has always been my dream and today it finally came true. I plan to hand him the first copy of my book, which has a collection of 100 letters I have written over the last 30 years.”
Off-site, fan clubs kept the spirit alive with screenings, charity initiatives and community parties. SRK Universe even hosted a Sunday morning party for 200 fans. What happens at these parties? “Quizzes, song-and-dance shows, trivia and thematic cake-cuttings,” said Harshal Sonavane, 27, admin of SRK FC Pune. “We burst crackers to celebrate him in front of Mannat. We dance, we sing. It’s a festival.”
As night fell over Bandra, fireworks lit up the sky and chants of “SRK! SRK!” echoed through the streets — a dazzling reminder that even at 60, Shah Rukh Khan’s magic knows no borders or generations.
Shah Rukh Khan temporarily moves out but Mannat darshan is still a must
10:38 AM
The lane outside Shah Rukh Khan’s residence, Mannat, looks less busy after the actor’s temporary departure. Sunday mid-day speaks to vendors, whose day’s earnings came from visitors thronging for a glimpse of their favourite star, and fans who still visit though there’s no one home
Komal RJ Panchal, Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; May 12, 2025)
Opposite Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat — the sprawling bungalow in Bandra that now holds the status of an iconic spot in the city — Kiran Pal Singh serves up a bit of the superstar from his crate every day. With chutney on the side, he dishes up what he likes to call “Shah Rukh Khan ka samosa”. It’s Rs. 15 each and the satisfaction is unlimited.
“Main 30 saal se bech raha hoon (I have been selling it from past 30 years),” he tells us. But it’s not the same any more, Singh remarks. Khan and his family have temporarily moved out of Mannat, which is undergoing renovation, and will return only after two years.
Singh, who moved to Mumbai from Ghaziabad in 1995 and lives a shanty in Bandra East, begins his day at noon, and sells samosas and tea till 10 in the night. “I have seen Shah Rukh Khan a thousand times. When his fans come to see him, this area, where we are sitting is full. Now that he is not there, khaali hai. Bohot kam log aa rahe hain,” he says.
For fans, Shah Rukh Khan is an emotion. But for Singh and many like him, the superstar connotes something far more urgent — their livelihood. Guddu Prajapati, who has been selling Fryums outside Mannat for 25 years now, says, “Whoever knows that Mannat has gone under renovation is not coming here. There was a time that if a car exited Mannat, the public would crowd up hoping to see him. Him moving out has affected the number of fans, who used to come to see Mannat. Dhande pe asar toh pahucha hi hai. Hamaara dhanda unhi ke vaaste chalta hai,” he shares.
A regular day for autorickshaw driver Ravindra Tank starts from the eastern suburb of Bhandup. Every tourist he gets, he first brings them to Mannat. “Most of them want to see SRK’s house and they believe they’ll get to see him at some point. They then continue Mumbai darshan. Some fans have made me wait all day, as they wait that long for one glimpse of the superstar. There are people who still don’t know that he is not here for the time being,” he says.
The road overlooking Mannat is quieter than usual. The tiny area where families fought to find space to get clicked next to the Mannat board is now able to accommodate the few that are still visiting. They are all aware that their favourite star has left. “So what if Shah Rukh is not here. His house still is,” says an ardent fan from Karnataka, who took a Mumbai trip with her family especially to see Mannat.
“I have loved him for over 20 years now! Who doesn’t love Shah Rukh? I have visited Mumbai in the past as well, but somehow couldn’t make it to Mannat. So, this time I decided we have to see it,” she says, gazing fondly at the bungalow.
Khan bought Mannat in 2001, and over the years developed a ritual of waving at his fans from the terrace, on special occasions. Even those, who could only watch on television the visuals of the actor opening his arms wide for the sea of fans standing below, it made them feel they were right there, with him.
As Minhaj Hassan, a visitor from Bengaluru, puts it, “My five-year-old daughter, Manara, has been his fan since she was two. She has seen his iconic pose and copies it at home. She has been wanting to see this house for a very long time. Of course, we read in the news that Mannat was undergoing renovation. We were little disappointed but we still wanted to visit, have a look at it and go back. It wasn’t about meeting Shah Rukh in person. I was just telling Manara, ‘He comes out and stands in the balcony.’ So, she said, ‘Oh! It’s so close. I also want to come and stand here.’ She is already wishing she meets him!” He laughs as he makes Manara sit on his shoulders to get a better view of Mannat.
Anil Sharma, a fan from Rajasthan, says, “I have been to Mumbai before but couldn’t visit Mannat. But this time when I came, I decided to have a look at it. I am loving it! I felt bad knowing that I am here to see his house but he is not living here right now. I have grown up watching him and his movies. It used to feel so nice to see him come out and wave at his fans from Mannat. That’s a beautiful memory for all of us. It would make us want to come to Mumbai and stand outside his house. Of course, we can’t speak to him but the thought of standing outside Mannat and seeing him up there is so reassuring. He won’t be here for another two years at least, but I would still come to Mannat on every Mumbai visit because this place gives me joy. Mann hi nahi bharta. Aisa lagta hai ki bas dekhte hi rahein.”
A slight sadness is reflected on Bhavika Barot’s face too. She travelled from Jamnagar in Gujarat to see where Shah Rukh Khan lives. “Itne door se aayein hain, toh achchha lagta agar woh yahaan aate. Par hum toh aate rahenge, chahe woh kitna bhi waqt lein wapas aane mein,” she says, before adjusting her pose for a picture next to Mannat.
Kolkata-based youth Shomodeep is here with his cousins, who are all of 20 but call Khan their love guru. “We have learnt romance from him. He grew old and we grew up, with him,” one of them says. Shomodeep tells us that he had wanted to visit Mannat since he first saw DDLJ.
“Just the prospect of him sleeping in his room or gymming would have been much more exciting. It feels a little sad. But I am happy that I got to see his residence. Shah Rukh represents the prospect of hard work, that a commoner can reach so far and become a global icon. And Mannat is the symbol of that success. It shows you that you can come from the lowest level and reach to the very top,” he smiles.
Tank has been a witness to these fan emotions. “I see them making video calls to their relatives in their hometowns and showing them Mannat. Their eyes light up. I love seeing that love and in return it also helps my business. So it is a win-win for all of us and it’s only because of Shah Rukh.”
While his fans across the globe wait for him to dazzle them on the big screen with his next film, Guddu has only one wish: “Woh jaldi waapas aa jaaye. Public aati hai unko dekhne ke liye toh humhi ka khaati hai.”
Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat revamp plan in trouble? Activist cries foul, tribunal asks for proof
3:11 PM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (March 12, 2025)
Actor Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic Mumbai bungalow Mannat was recently in the news after it was reported that the Grade III heritage structure is set to undergo renovations this summer. However, it looks like the plan has already hit a roadblock. Santosh Daundkar, a social activist, has alleged violations in the renovation plan, urging the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to step in and pause the work.
THE ALLEGATIONS
Bar and Bench reported on Monday that the activist has approached the NGT, accusing Shah Rukh and the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) of violations in securing the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance necessary for renovations.
The report adds that SRK is planning to add two more floors to the six-storey bungalow. Since it is a heritage building, any structural change can be made only after securing proper permissions. The appeal also claims that the actor committed fraud by merging ‘12 number of 1-BHK flats for mass housing’ into a residence for one family.
NGT ASKS ACTIVIST FOR PROOF
The NGT has instructed Santosh to furnish proof of the allegations. “If any violation of the above procedure has been committed by the Project Proponent or the MCZMA, the same may be submitted by the appellant specifically along with the evidence in support of that, within four weeks, failing which we would be left with no option but to dismiss the present appeal for non-compliance of the order of this Tribunal, at the stage of admission itself,” a quorum of Judicial Member Dinesh Kumar Singh and Expert Member Vijay Kulkarni said. The NGT will hear the matter next on April 23.
Amid protests, Mumbai Police increase security around Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat
8:32 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (August 28, 2023)
Shah Rukh Khan has found himself embroiled in a controversy due to the promotion of an online gaming app. On Saturday, August 26, a group of individuals gathered outside the actor’s residence, Mannat, in Mumbai to express their discontent.
In response to the protest, the Mumbai police were promptly deployed and security was heightened. A video circulating online also shows the police ensuring the safety and security of the surrounding area. “No protestors have been arrested in this case so far,” a Bandra police official told us.
The trouble started after an online rummy portal welcomed the Pathaan actor as its brand ambassador. This did not go down well with Untouch Youth Foundation, which said they would protest these gaming apps. The foundation issued a statement that read, “Famous actors and actresses work in these advertisements and they are working towards misguiding society. The protest will be held outside Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat bungalow on behalf of Untouch India Foundation.”
Krishchandra Adal, President of the organization also said, “If someone is gambling outside, the police arrest them... Bollywood stars also know it is wrong, but they are getting money so they are promoting them. We demand these advertisements to stop.”
They also wanted to protest outside the homes of actors Ajay Devgn, Annu Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, among others, but were detained before they could do so.
We would stand outside Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat to remind ourselves that this is the Dilliwala who made it-Sanya Malhotra
8:35 AM
Sanya, who leads Kathal, says absence of strong female characters in Hindi films during her growing-up years has influenced her current choices
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; June 5, 2023)
In many ways, her role in Kathal is what we have come to expect from Sanya Malhotra. Through her movies, the actor has consistently explored different shades of a modern-day woman — be it a young wrestler in Dangal (2016), or a widow restarting her life in Pagglait (2021), or a strong-headed wife in Meenakshi Sundareshwar (2021). The story aside, she has an important parameter that determines her script choices.
“In all the films I do, what remains in the forefront is how I want to portray women on screen. All these characters I have played on screen are whom we see in real life. They are empowered, they have the capability of fighting their own battles, and it is inspiring,” begins the actor, who plays a conscientious police officer in director Yashowardhan Mishra’s satire.
The actor attributes her stubborn pursuit for gender-sensitive stories partly to her childhood, and to her grooming on the sets of her debut movie.
“During the shoot of Dangal, I remember having a conversation with my co-actors about the kind of films I want to do. My goal was to portray [strong] women on screen. Then, we saw how the hard work I put in for Babita [her character in Dangal] got appreciated. Also, growing up, I missed seeing such women on screen. So, I knew I wanted to play these kinds of characters.”
Her projects ahead are an extension of her belief system. In the Hindi adaptation of The Great Indian Kitchen, Malhotra plays a new bride who is confined to the kitchen after her wedding, while Atlee’s directorial venture Jawan sees her share screen space with Shah Rukh Khan. To her, the Khan-starrer is a marker of how far she has come in her seven-year run in the industry.
“When I came to Mumbai, all my roommates were Shah Rukh Khan fans. So, whenever any of us would feel low, we used to take rickshaws, go and stand outside Mannat, just to remind ourselves that this is the Dilliwala who made it. From there, to be on the set with him is surreal.”
2 who broke into Mannat hid for 8 hours to meet Shah Rukh Khan
8:47 AM
V Narayan (THE TIMES OF INDIA; March 8, 2023)
Mumbai: The two teenaged ‘fans’ from Bharuch in Gujarat, who were arrested for trespassing into Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat Bungalow last week, had hid in the actor’s makeup room for nearly eight hours before “surprising” him. Khan was taken aback when he walked into the makeup room located on the third floor of the bungalow which is undergoing repairs, said police.
Labourer Pathan Sahil Salim Khan (18) and vegetable seller Ram Khushuva (19) were booked for common intention and house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault, or wrongful restraint of the Indian Penal Code based on a complaint filed by the bungalow manager, C B D’souza.
In the complaint, she said: “The duo said they used the scaffolding erected for repairs to enter the bungalow on March 2, at 3 am, and hid in the make-up room till 10:30 am, when Khan entered the room. He was in shock on seeing the strangers and called the housekeeping staff [Satish] who took them to the bungalow’s lobby where the security guard questioned them.”
The duo was handed over to Bandra police in the evening, and they were arrested. The teenagers told police that they wanted to see the actor and hence had come to Mumbai on March 1 and sneaked into the bungalow. Both were sent to police custody for a day. Police said that they did not find evidence of malicious intent.
Police further said the duo had suffered minor bruises on their nose after falling while scaling the compound wall. The actor’s housekeeping staff provided medical assistance before handing them over to police.
“Their parents arrived in Mumbai on Saturday and secured their bail of Rs 10,000 each. The parents said they had no idea of the teenagers’ plan to come to Mumbai,” said a police officer.
Shah Rukh Khan's fans ask, "Where’s Mannat nameplate?"
8:33 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 28, 2022)
If you are a Shah Rukh Khan fan residing in Mumbai or you’ve visited the city at some point, it’s likely that you have paid a visit to Bandra Bandstand to catch a glimpse of the actor’s home, Mannat. Standing next to the nameplate and getting a picture clicked has given joy to millions of his fans over the years. So, it’s surprising to spot a group of disappointed fans waiting outside the palatial bungalow. Look closely and we realise that the iconic Mannat nameplate is missing from the wall.
A source tells us that the recently purchased nameplate, which cost the star approximately Rs. 25 lakh, has been off the wall for a couple of days. “One diamond fell from the nameplate, so it was taken down for repair. It is inside the house, in the garden and will be put back once it’s repaired,” we are told by the source at the time of going to press.
Try telling that to Angela, who travelled to Mumbai all the way from the US to get a picture outside Mannat, and the 26-year-old says, “I am a big Shah Rukh fan and I wanted to click a picture with Mannat. Now, how do I prove to my friends back home that I have seen his house?” Her companions echo the same sentiment.
Another fan, Iqbal, who stays in Mumbai and visits Mannat every week, says this is the first time in years that he has seen the nameplate missing. “Main Shah Rukh king ka bahut bada fan hoon. Mannat mere liye bahut khaas hai,” he gushes.
Devdas was facing problems; actresses were falling ill. I realised entry to the set was in the wrong direction-Neeta Sinha
8:27 AM
The warm reds in the frames from Gangubai Kathiawadi are as much a result of Neeta Sinha’s intuition as Bhansali’s vision. Meet the woman who’s shaking spirituality with architecture to serve a cocktail of peace and prosperity
Heena Khandelwal, Anju Maskeri (MID-DAY; March 6, 2022)
A little over two decades ago, Hindi film writer-director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was working on his ambitious project, Devdas. Mounted on a budget of Rs. 50 crore, the film found itself mired in one controversy after another. Its producer, diamond merchant Bharat Shah, was jailed for 16 months; crew members died in two separate accidents on the set and some reports said that even a part of the set caught fire on more than one occasion.
Some believed there was more to this tragedy chain than coincidence. Kirron Kher, who was playing Paro’s (Aishwarya Rai) mother, suggested that Bhansali meet Neeta Sinha, who believes that just like people, living spaces also have a horoscope, and the individuals who inhabit the place have a relationship with its energy. They prosper when they are in harmony with their environment.
Perhaps short of choices, Bhansali took up Kher on the suggestion and consulted Sinha. She says, thereafter, the movie wrapped up without any incident. Since then, Sinha has been consulted by Bhansali for every film, including Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela, Padmaavat and the recently released Gangubai Kathiawadi starring Alia Bhatt.
“The film [Devdas] was facing problems, and the actresses were falling ill. I realised that the entry to the set was in the wrong direction. I suggested they block that entry, add some money plants at specific spots—that drooped downwards—and change the name of the protagonist’s home from Paro ka mahal to Paro’s haveli,” recalls Sinha, 62.
Since then, Sinha has been called not just to rectify the wrong, but ensure no wrong happens to begin with. “I’m usually on board when they are conceiving the drawing [of the set]. The set designers are respectful of my suggestions,” says Sinha, adding that her ideas can be easily incorporated into their larger vision.
Sinha calls herself an astro architect, who specialises in Vastu Shastra or the ancient India science of architecture that some believe dates back to 6,000 BC.
For Gangubai Kathiawadi, Sinha added the colours red and yellow, and a mirror behind the scene to increase the warmth and passion that the cast and crew brings to the film and assigned specific entrances to be used by specific stars. The last, she says, was to enhance and encourage their talent. Bhansali is known for his attention to detail and while it’s not easy or recommended to make radical changes in his frames, Sinha says her ideas are more to balance out the energies on set.
“Bhansali’s sets always have a mandir. It’s critical that this is located in the right spot. I usually choose the North-East direction for the mandir. Colours also play an important role. But it may not always be possible to incorporate a shade I recommend in the frame. So, I use spaces that are out of camera range, like the pathway used for the movement of the crew.”
Sinha, whose clients include Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, Ambika Hinduja and Kumar Mangalam Birla, says, “it all started with Kirron Kher”. Kher was hosting a television show back in the ’90s called Jagte Raho, which explored alternative practices and science. Sinha says she was keen to get on the show because vastu didn’t enjoy mainstream awareness at the time.
“Most people believed that we’d break down their home. I was keen to be on the show to argue that structural changes aren’t mandatory [to align the vastu of a home]. I reached out to her and that’s how it all began.”
While the direction of rooms and structures, placement of plants are important, so are the names of people and places. “When Bombay was renamed Mumbai, I had argued [in an article in Debonair magazine] that the grace of South Bombay and Nariman Point would fade with the change, and the prestige would move to the east of Bandra. At the time, Bandra Kurla Complex didn’t exist, but it is Bandra East, isn’t it?” she shares.
Sinha claims Bachchan named his bungalow Jalsa at her behest, as did Shah Rukh Khan, when she suggested that he choose a name with the letter M for his Arabian Sea-facing mansion at Bandra Bandstand. “When he said ‘Mannat’, it sounded good to me.”
Sinha, who is a graduate, says it was the time she spent under the mentorship of her neighbour and homeopath late Dr L N Kusuma, who held a deep interest in vastu and astrology, that led her to develop her skills. While working for celebrities is Sinha’s high, it’s when her suggestions are able to solve a regular man’s challenges that she says she feels truly valued.
“Someone was unable to conceive, another person’s child wasn’t landing a job despite all efforts. Someone else’s family member was repeatedly falling ill. I call them up later to see if they’ve managed to incorporate what I suggested and if they are seeing any difference. People facing health challenges get my appointment on priority,” says Sinha, who claims she also advises hospitals since “they also want their patients to go back healthy”.
Neeta Sinha at her Juhu residence. She says it’s a myth that vastu demands structural changes. Pic/Shadab Khan
Sinha credits Kirron Kher for introducing her to Sanjay Leela Bhansali during the filming of Devdas. Pic/Instagram
Aryan Khan’s jail buddy arrested again
8:41 AM
Shrawan Nadar, who was giving interviews to various news channels about his prison mate, has 13 cases registered against him in Mumbai
Vishal Singh (MID-DAY; October 31, 2021)
When the accused staying in the same barracks where Aryan Khan was lodged in Arthur Road Jail came out on bail, he gave interviews to many news channels, talking about the star kid’s daily activities. Little did he know that his television appearance would put him back in prison.
The accused is identified as Shrawan Nadar, 44, who was arrested by Matunga police in a theft case. After his police custody ended, Nadar was sent to the Arthur Road Jail to serve judicial custody. Nadar recently got out on bail.
Interestingly, when Aryan was granted bail in the Cordelia cruise drugs case, mediapersons thronged the prison expecting his immediate release. Expecting to enjoy some glamour and attention, Nadar rushed to the jail and shared anecdotes about Aryan on multiple news channels. Nadar claimed in one such interview that when he got bail 10 days ago, Aryan had sent a message via him, requesting Shah Rukh Khan to send money to the jail. Nadar had claimed that he had gone to Mannat, where the actor lives, to deliver Aryan’s message, but the security did not allow him in.
This interview was being watched by the Juhu police officers, who were looking for Nadar since February in a house break-in case in which valuables of Rs. 8 lakh were stolen. With the help of local crime branch sleuths, the accused was soon arrested. A total of 13 cases are registered against Nadar in different police stations of Mumbai.
A police officer told mid-day, “It is true that Shrawan Nadar was lodged in barrack number 1 of Arthur Road Jail, in which Aryan Khan was kept as well. But the information about him being given the responsibility to deliver Aryan’s message to Mannat is not verified.”
Shashikant Mane, senior inspector of Juhu Police Station told mid-day, “There are 13 cases registered against Nadar, out of which three are registered in Juhu alone. After arresting him [Nadar], we produced him in the court where he was sent to police custody till November 1.”
Cheered by crowds, Aryan Khan finally returns home from prison
8:38 AM
Mohua Das & Mateen Hafeez (THE TIMES OF INDIA; October 31, 2021)
Mumbai: Aryan Khan finally returned home on Saturday morning amid a massive crowd frenzy, two days after the Bombay High Court granted him bail and almost a month of being lodged at Arthur Road Jail following his arrest in the drugs on cruise case.
Jail officials had unlocked the bail box at 5.30 am on Saturday to collect Aryan’s release order and initiate the process that had missed its deadline on Friday.
While his father, actor Shah Rukh Khan, left home at 8 am and managed to dodge the media glare—stationed inside his white Range Rover parked close to the prison ahead of his son’s release—the crowd of onlookers grew by the minute and cheered excitedly at a fleeting glimpse of Junior Khan.
He emerged from a mini gate of the Arthur Road Jail at 11.02 am with Ravi Singh, SRK’s bodyguard of 10 years, who briskly escorted the 23-year-old into the SUV, ready to drive back home. Fans also gathered outside Mannat, the Khans’ sea-facing bungalow at Bandstand that is used to seeing hundreds flock to its tall metal gates for a glimpse of the superstar, waiting in unwavering support.
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Mumbai: “If we’ve been there for Shah Rukh in the good times, it’s our responsibility to be here for him in the bad times,” said Aparna Agnihotri from Andheri, member of a Shah Rukh Khan fan club outside his residence Mannat in Bandra while waiting for the return of Aryan Khan, the actor’s son, from Arthur Road jail on Saturday.
All the gathered fans went delirious bursting firecrackers, waving banners that read ‘Stay Strong Prince Aryan’ and chants of “We love Shah Rukh”, even as security guards and a posse of policemen jostled to provide the actor’s car a safe passage back into the building.
If the crowd lined up on pavements outside Arthur Road jail kept the police on their toes, with barricades and ropes to keep onlookers within limits and an eye on suspected pickpockets following reports of at least seven mobile phone thefts outside the jail on Friday, it was a busy day for some of SRK’s biggest fans too.
As the wait for the star son’s arrival grew longer, a man kept the crowd intrigued with his “bhavishya vani” or fortune-telling for the Khan family while two others stopped by to regale fans with the quintessential SRK song ‘Tujhe dekha toh yeh jaana sanam’ on their shehnai and dafli.
“Aaj bahut din baad khushi ka mahaul hai,” said Lateef Khan, a 20-year-old from Kurla and member of Team Shah Rukh Khan, a fan club with more than 2 million followers. Upset at not being able to welcome back “Prince Khan” on Friday, he refused to go home and camped with a friend instead in order to board the 6 am train for Aryan’s grand arrival.
It was the fifth time in the past two weeks that Omkar Chavan (24) and Ashwini Gupta (22) had travelled from Kalyan to Bandra in order to stand by their hero. “I’m so happy that Aryan is free. Yeh hai sachhai ki jeet,” said Chavan, promising to distribute sweets among the poor in celebration of Aryan’s homecoming, which hit a crescendo with a dhol tasha group signalling his arrival, even as father and son remained hidden behind the darkened windows of the Range Rover.
Arthur Road jail built in 1925 is one of the most crowded prisons in the state. Although its official capacity is 800, it currently houses around 2,800 inmates.
However, Aryan’s co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha, who were also granted bail on Thursday, were still in jail as formalities took time.
Arbaaz’s father, Aslam Merchant, said they had completed the court formalities so his son, too, could walk free on Sunday.
The NCB had arrested 20 accused in the cruise drugs bust case, of whom 14, including Aryan, Arbaaz and Munmun, have been granted bail. Justice Nitin Sambre in his release order for the trio had set out 14 stringent bail conditions, including immediate surrender of passport, a weekly three-hour attendance at the NCB office, no statements to media, the requirement to join in the investigation when called upon to do so and not to delay the trial once it starts.
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SRK’s son is picked up by the actor’s bodyguard from Arthur Road Jail after his release; returns to Mannat amid fanfare
Vishal Singh (MID-DAY; October 31, 2021)
After being denied bail twice, Gauri-SRK’s son Aryan Khan finally walked out of Arthur Road Jail on Saturday morning. Aryan was arrested in a cruise drugs case on October 3.
On Saturday, Shah Rukh Khan’s bodyguard Ravi arrived outside the prison to pick up Aryan. Aryan had secured bail from Bombay High Court on Thursday, but as the final order was awaited, he was expected to be released on Friday. However, after getting a detailed order copy late on Friday, lawyers couldn’t manage to finish the bail procedures before 5.30 pm, and so he was released on Saturday around 11 am.
On Saturday morning, a copy of Aryan’s bail order was submitted in the bail box, after which the jail administration released Aryan around 11 am.
Earlier in the morning, Arthur Road Jail superintendent N B Vayachal had said, “We have received the bail order documents and we are processing it. Aryan will be released along with all other inmates who have also been granted bail.” Hundreds of fans had gathered at SRK’s residence Mannat in Bandra to welcome Aryan. They even burst crackers and played drums for his warm welcome on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha, who were granted bail with Aryan by the High Court, will have to remain in jail for another night. Munmun’s lawyer Ali Kasif Khan Deshmukh told mid-day, “The paperwork is underway, and they’ll be out on Sunday morning. Both Arbaaz and Munmun would have to spend one more night behind bars.” Taraq Sayyed, the lawyer representing Arbaaz Merchant, said, “Paperwork will be completed by Saturday.”
Bollywood Tweets
Bollywood celebrities are expressing their happiness and Tweeting on Aryan Khan’s return. Actress Urmila Matondkar congratulated Shah Rukh Khan by Tweeting that a person’s true character is revealed in tough times. On Thursday, when Aryan’s bail was approved, actor R Madhavan had also tweeted in support of SRK. Madhavan wrote, “Thank god . As a father I am So relieved… May all good and positive things happen.” He also expressed hope that may all good and positive things happened here on.
Cops and guards struggled to control the large crowd in a lane leading to Mannat, SRK’s home, on Saturday
Police rush in to control stargazing crowds milling around Arthur Road Jail, Mannat
8:30 AM
Curious onlookers had lined up on the streets outside Arthur Road jail
Mateen Hafeez & Mohua Das | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; October 30, 2021)
Mumbai: It was a Friday release that Shah Rukh Khan’s family, friends and fans were waiting eagerly for, their eyes on the clock expecting the actor’s son Aryan Khan to walk out of prison. But even as the drone of crowds outside Arthur Road Jail grew louder and Mannat, the Khan home in Bandra, sparkled with fairy lights, it was a countdown that did not end after Aryan’s bail papers missed the jail’s deadline.
While the sea of humanity that erupted near Mannat on Thursday as soon as news broke of Aryan being granted bail had been kept at bay by the police who cordoned off the road outside the actor’s bungalow with only media allowed to take up space, a large crowd had gathered outside Arthur Road Jail in anticipation of SRK’s arrival and Aryan’s exit.
Traffic cops rushed in to control the bottleneck caused by cars and taxis slowing down while police personnel from N M Joshi Marg had to be called in to manage the milling crowd of onlookers queued up on pavements, perched on the divider and trailing every arriving car, to greet the actor.
“I have come here to see King Khan,” said a youngster, waiting outside Arthur Road’s gate for over three hours. A man in his 30s said, “I come to this area for work but when I heard Shah Rukh Khan’s son might come out of jail soon, I decided to wait.” A group of women grew impatient with speculation that Aryan’s release may be delayed to Saturday.
Aryan’s bail papers failed to meet the 5.30 pm deadline when the bail box closes for further submissions. “The bail box outside the jail is opened four times a day following which the bail documents submitted are verified before allowing a prisoner to step out of jail. If someone drops the bail paper after the specified time, the prisoner is released the next day,” a jail source told TOI.
Earlier in the day, the mood at the Khan household had seemed upbeat. SRK had left home in the afternoon, perhaps hopeful the formalities would be completed for Aryan to walk free while Diwali arrived early at Mannat. Their domestic help were seen draping the house with strings of light that came on after dusk and dispelled the darkness of one more night before the Khans can welcome their son back home.
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Spoke to Arbaaz in jail, he has not been able to sleep or eat for 5 days: Father
Mumbai: A day after the Bombay high court granted Arbaaz Merchant bail in the drugs case, his father, Aslam, visited Arthur Road jail. Aslam told TOI: “This is my third visit here (at Arthur Road jail). I spoke to Arbaaz for about 20 minutes and told him he will be out today or tomorrow. He told me to get him out today itself and told me that he had been unable to sleep or eat for five days due to excitement.”
Arbaaz, a friend of Aryan Khan, was arrested along with Munmun Dhamecha on October 3 after the NCB found 6 gram of charas from Arbaaz’s shoes.
Shah Rukh Khan goes to Arthur Rd jail to meet Aryan; NCB at Mannat
8:34 AM
Ahmed Ali & Mateen Hafeez | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; October 22, 2021)
Mumbai: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) probing the case of drugs seizure on a cruise liner involving actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan questioned actor Chunky Panday’s actor-daughter Ananya Panday for around four hours on Thursday and seized her laptop and cell phone. Sources said two more celebrities are likely to be called by the NCB in the coming days for questioning.
The questioning happened hours after, earlier in the morning, actor Shah Rukh Khan met his son Aryan inside the ‘mulaqat’ room of Arthur Road jail. Shah Rukh spoke to him for 15 minutes via an intercom phone placed on both sides of a glass wall.
In another development, an NCB team on Thursday visited Shah Rukh’s bungalow Mannat in Bandra in connection with the Aryan Khan case. They said they had gone to seek some documents related to the case. NCB deputy director Ashok Mutha Jain clarified that there was no raid at Mannat.
Ananya Panday was questioned after her name cropped up in WhatsApp chats with Aryan, officials said. Officials also carried out a search of Panday’s house.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court on Thursday said it would hear Aryan’s bail application on October 26. His lawyers had filed a bail plea in the high court in appeal soon after a special NDPS court on Wednesday denied him bail. The bail pleas of two other accused, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha, were also rejected on Wednesday.
The custody of Aryan, Merchant and Dhamecha was extended by the special court to October 30 on Thursday.
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Mumbai: On the first day of physical meetings being allowed after a gap of one-and-a-half years between prisoners and their relatives, actor Shah Rukh Khan on Thursday morning met his son Aryan inside the ‘mulaqat’ room of Arthur Road Jail and spoke to him for 15 minutes. The actor spoke to Aryan using an intercom phone, placed on both sides of a glass wall. The wall divides the visitors and prisoners. The entire conversation took place in the presence of jail police personnel.
In another development, an NCB team on Thursday visited SRK’s bungalow Mannat in Bandra in connection with the drugs case. They said that they had gone to seek some documents related to the Aryan Khan case. NCB deputy director Ashok Mutha Jain clarified that there was no raid at Mannat. “We had gone there as part of procedural requirement pertaining to the case,” Mutha told reporters.
Shah Rukh Khan’s meeting with his son was his first since Aryan’s arrest on October 3.
“There are 24 phone sets in the room where relatives/visitors can talk to inmates using intercom phones,” said an Arthur Road jail officer. Khan visited the jail at around 9 am; Aryan has been there for the last two weeks. Shah Rukh Khan registered himself in the ‘mulaqat’ register before meeting Aryan.
The conversation between father-son went on for 15 minutes. Jail police personnel are present in the ‘mulaqat’ room when a visitor talks to an inmate. Only Khan from his family had come to meet the 23-year-old. Aryan had last week spoken to his mother Gauri and his father through video call, a facility provided to inmates by jail authorities during the pandemic when physical meetings had been stopped.
Khan was escorted to the ‘mulaqat’ room from the passage which is used by all visitors. Soon after news spread of his arrival at the jail to meet his son, people thronged to get a glimpse of the actor, and media crews surrounded him. He left in his car shortly after meeting Aryan.
A family member can visit his relative in the jail every week. For registration to meet an inmate, an identity proof, relationship with the inmate and purpose of visit must be written in the ‘mulaqat’ register.
Khan’s family had last week also sent Rs 4,500 through money order to Aryan in the jail. As per the jail manual, an inmate can use this money (in the form of coupons) to buy stuff from the jail canteen.
Aryan Khan and the other accused in the case were arrested on October 3. They were initially sent to NCB custody till October 4; it was later extended to October 7. He was sent to judicial custody on October 7 and has been lodged in Arthur Road jail since then.
Shah Rukh Khan's security was trying to protect me from SRK’s fans, says his lookalike Ibrahim Qadri
8:23 AM
Mallika Bhagat (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 15, 2021)
Growing up in the small town of Junagadh, Gujarat, hoarding painter Ibrahim Qadri was told by virtually everyone who met him: ‘You look like Shah Rukh Khan!” To add to things, he would sport Khan’s hairstyle from Deewana (1992). And the SRK fan, who has gone viral for his resemblance to the star, has since graduated to posting pictures on social media and attending events.
“I didn’t pay much heed initially. But, in 2017 when I visited Mumbai for the first time, being a huge fan of Shah Rukh bhai I went to Mannat to catch a glimpse, and got mobbed outside. His security was trying to protect me from SRK’s fans! It was only then that I realised how true it had been all along,” says Qadri, adding he began dressing like SRK in real life, and later participating in shows all around the country.
Qadri likes to dress up like SRK in real life, and says he has been offered to act in advertisements and web series, in the past.
“When I came out of the cinema hall after watching Raees (2017), I was sporting the same beard as Shah Rukh bhai, and everyone started staring at me... After that I began working on my looks. I started posting videos and photos, even recited SRK’s dialogues, and through social media I received this amount of love,” says Qadri, 32, adding, “I’m from a small town where there are no acting opportunities. But I put in a lot of effort to be as true to his characters as I can.”
Qadri has sure found a loyal fan following and even receives acting offers plus marriage proposals! But he confesses, “I never wanted to be an actor. I just plan to continue doing events.” And there’s one thing he surely dreams about: “I’m a huge SRK fan. I want to meet him once and shake hands with him! Outside Mannat, I got a slight taste of how larger than life his existence is, and I experienced that simply because I resemble him.”
Shah Rukh Khan to have a virtual birthday bash
8:18 AM
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 31, 2020)
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.
I remember standing outside SRK’s house on Eid & asking the watchman, ‘Shah Rukh hai kya?’-Sana Khaan
8:05 AM
Riya Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; May 24, 2020)
She has always been a Shah Rukh Khan fan, and when we ask Sana Khaan about her fondest Eid memories from childhood, the actress takes no time in sharing an SRK anecdote with us. “I remember we’d wake up in the morning, get dressed and visit all our relatives, even if we didn’t like them. My best friend Nazia and I would first go to my relatives’ homes and then visit her relatives for Eidi. I’m a huge SRK fan, so after collecting money, we’d catch a train to Bandra, take a rickshaw and stand outside Mannat (SRK’s house). I still remember that one time, I asked his watchman, ‘Shah Rukh hai kya?’ The watchman had autographed photos of SRK, so I remember telling my friend (an Aamir Khan fan) to also get an autographed photo and give it to me,” Sana laughs as she recounts the story.
The actress says that celebrations this year will be without visitors. “It is definitely going to be different as I’ll have no visitors. I’m going to be home, since in my society we aren’t allowed to go outside. I’ll call up some friends and family, as I’m definitely going to miss them on Eid. Every year during Ramzan, people go out and meet friends, but I am not that kind of a person. Not just this year, but I avoid going for iftar parties and get-togethers since it breaks my routine of praying,” she says. Sana adds that she hasn’t shopped for Eid. “I got two outfits before the Coronavirus lockdown for something and luckily, I have one that I didn’t wear,” she says.
While people have plans for Eid at home this year, Sana has post-Eid plans. She says, “Since our helpers are not coming, I am the one doing jhadu-pocha. I am no good in the kitchen. My mom can’t do much of it because of her health issues, but this house work is crazy. Abhi toh upar upar se kar rahi hoon, but after Eid, I’m going to do proper cleaning with some soap, disinfectant, lemon and lavender.”
Image: David Letterman joins Shah Rukh Khan for Eid celebrations
8:12 AM
American TV host, comedian, writer David Letterman joined the actor as he greeted fans from Mannat
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 7, 2019)
On June 5, Shah Rukh Khan kept his annual date with his fans, emerging on the balcony of Mannat, his Bandra residence, with son AbRam, to wish them ‘Eid Mubarak’. Only this time, the duo had company. Watching them closely and taking in the sight from the sidelines, was veteran American TV host, comedian, writer and producer David Letterman.
Last month, the 53-year-old actor had flown to New York to be a part of Letterman’s talk show. “No more footprints... this is The Abominable Snowman! Before Batman and Spiderman, there is Mr Letterman… Had too much fun being interviewed. Not because it was about me but because you were kind enough to make me feel I can be me. You are an inspiration, sir,” SRK had gushed soon after their meeting.
Now, Mirror has learnt that Letterman is in India to film some portions for the episode. “David’s visit to Mumbai was planned well in advance as he wanted to showcase some key aspects of SRK’s life from back home. The team covered the fan mania outside his home on Eid—David was amused to see the huge crowd that waited for hours to get a glimpse of their screen idol—besides filming the interiors of Mannat and capturing him spend time with his family. David also celebrated the festival with the Khans and sampled traditional Indian delicacies,” informs a source.
On Thursday, SRK resumed shooting with Letterman. “For the portions, he took a stroll down Bandstand for a few minutes, even as a cameraman trailed him. While at it, he also shook hands with his fans and waved at bystanders from his car-roof before zooming off,” informs the source.
David Letterman at a suburban hotel before his meeting with SRK on Thursday
No awkwardness between Alia Bhatt-Katrina Kaif?
8:44 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; November 6, 2018)
A few months ago, their dwindling social media interaction (the two would actively interact with each on social media) hinted that, not everything was fine between the two, but Alia denied the rumours about the alleged tension. At a press interaction, when asked about her equation with Katrina, she had said, “I don’t check my Instagram likes. So, I don’t know why people are checking that? But I have to admit, I have always been very fond of Katrina. I believe that it’s the same both ways, according to us. So, I don’t know why other people feel differently? But now, I will send her a message to start liking my pictures, because if that’s the barometer of friendship then we must start liking everyone’s picture. Or maybe, I don’t have good pictures! I will post good pictures and then maybe she will like it. But with her, I have no stress whatsoever.”
Shah Rukh Khan turns up signature charm for 53rd birthday
8:26 AM
SRK with Anushka, Katrina, Aanand L Rai at the launch; with son AbRam (above left); PIC: YOGEN SHAH
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 3, 2018)
It was late at night but with his Bandra bungalow, Mannat, lit up and fans lined up outside to wish him, sleep was the last thing on everyone’s mind. At midnight, Shah Rukh Khan turned 53 and stepped out onto the terrace in a blue hoodie to wave to his fans.
“Fed cake to wife...Met my family of fans outside Mannat...now playing Mono Deal with my lil girl gang! Having a Happy Birthday,” he wrote on the social media, adding that he believes ownership makes one very small and he is the luckiest man that he no longer owns his birthday. “It belongs to all these beautiful people who love me and my family,” he asserted.
During the day, more fans waited on the Bandstand promenade that overlooks SRK’s residence, when a few hours later, the birthday boy returned, this time with his lil’ boy, AbRam, to wave to them again. And all hell broke loose as they forced their way through the barricades and towards their demi-God.
The theme for the fans this year, in keeping with the actor’s upcoming film was ‘zero’ and many of them were wearing ‘Zero’ tees. Later in the day, Shah Rukh launched the trailer of his much-awaited film, along with director Aanand L Rai and his two leading ladies, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif. The former’s character is confined to a wheelchair and suffers from cerebral palsy in the film, while Katrina plays an alcoholic superstar.
When the trio arrived at the Wadala theatre, fans started singing “Happy Birthday” for the actor who was greeted on the stage with the same song. Kat was wearing a denim jacket with “The Bad Guy” embroidered at the back. SRK took a fancy to it and took it away from her, saying charmingly, “Khoobsurti chupi rahe... achcha thodi na lagta hai”, before going on to flaunt it in his trademark style.
When a scribe asked him about cricketers promoting his film by getting out on zero, he quipped, tongue-in-cheek, “If I say anything against the Indian cricket team, I will get a slap from the girl sitting beside me, Mrs Cricketer.” Anushka who debuted opposite him in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, pointed out that this year she will be completing a decade in the Hindi film industry with another SRK-starrer in December. “Life has come a full circle,” she said.
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