For Suraj Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan’s birthday is even more special than his own. “My way of celebrating this day is to have a fun time with as many people as possible,” Kumar, who goes by the name Chhota Shah Rukh, tells us.

In fact, he has an annual ritual that he follows religiously to mark the day. “Every year on November 2, my friends and I go to India Gate (Delhi) with cake and lots of food. We cut the cake and celebrate his (Shah Rukh Khan’s) achievements in our own way. We give special performances and entertain the people around, who would specially come to join SRK’s birthday party with us. The kind of excitement they show is unbelievable! This year, too, I am going to do the same. I make sure that his birthday is celebrated in a special way every year,” shares Kumar.

Even while speaking to us, he addresses SRK as his “God”. “I consider him my second parent. He is like my God. It’s because of him that I am able to perform at events, make content on social media and earn my bread. It’s because of him that I get so much respect wherever I go. It’s because of him that people recognize me today. I owe this success to him,” says Kumar, who makes videos enacting SRK’s popular scenes, especially from the latter’s ’90s films.

When asked what special message he would like to give the superstar, Kumar says, “You may have thousands of fans, but I am not just another person enacting you. I really love you from the depth of my heart. Please be the same person and keep entertaining us with your amazing films.”

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He often gets confused for Shah Rukh Khan, owing to his stark resemblance to the superstar — and Ibrahim Qadri doesn’t take that for granted. For him, the best way to celebrate his idol’s special day is by spreading happiness.

On SRK’s 58th birthday, he tells us, “The idea is to help the needy, feed the poor and do something good in his (SRK’s) name. Unka birthday hai toh hum koshish karte hain ki hum zyada se zyada logon ke liye kuch achha kar sakein. One of his birthdays, we took several children to an amusement park and treated them to good food.”

While his work commitments may not allow him to have elaborate celebrations this year, Qadri says he would never miss honouring SRK on this day in whatever way he can. “My friends and team will make sure that they do everything they can to celebrate his birthday in the best way possible. We will cut cake, give out food and more,” he shares.

Famously known as SRK’s doppelgänger, Qadri says people mistake him for the star on an “everyday basis”. Sharing one particular incident when a young man jumped and broke his leg while trying to meet him, he recalls: “He thought I was Shah Rukh. When I got to know he had injured himself, I went to meet him and tried to explain that I was not SRK. Next to him another girl, started crying in disbelief. I was trying to explain, but they were not ready to accept, constantly saying ‘Aap jhoot bol rahe hain!’”

This uncanny resemblance to SRK has earned him countless gigs and over a million followers on Instagram. One of his reels, in which he can be seen striking the actor’s signature pose, has amassed more than 100 million views. It is no surprise, then, that he feels eternally grateful to the star. Qadri’s message for SRK on his special day? “You have given us back-to-back hits and I would want you to continue doing it. You are the biggest superstar for me. I adore you as an actor and love the person that you are. Aapka zindagi ka nazariya mujhe inspire karta hai. It’s because of you that people know me. Maine koi extra mehnat nahi kari,” he ends.

Shah Rukh Khan’s doppelgänger, Suraj Kumar, had the time of his life when he was papped at India Gate in Delhi recently and his pictures went viral. Talking to us, the 22-year-old, who would instantly remind you of SRK from the 90s, can’t contain his excitement as he says, “I often go to India Gate to shoot videos. That’s my go-to spot to make reels. I love enact his scenes from movies Baazigar and Darr (both 1993).”

An ardent SRK fan, Kumar loves to watch his “older films such as Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Deewana, Chamatkar (all 1992) and Maya Memsaab (1993)”. He adds, “His style was unmatched. Unke bolne ka tareeka, baal, dance, haklaana... you don’t get to see all that in his newer films.”

Kumar, however, reveals that the response and love he has been receiving at the moment wasn’t the case a few years back. “Initially, when I used to behave like Shah Rukh in public places, people would laugh at me. After my videos went viral, they started recognizing what I do. Now, people take selfies with me and say, ‘Aap 90s ke Shah Rukh lagte ho’.

Hailing from Jharkhand, Suraj left his home six years ago with a dream to meet SRK and become an actor. Currently living in Delhi, he says, “My family never supported me. Toh apne papa ki pocket se paise chori karke main Mumbai chala gaya. I wanted to become an actor like SRK.” He adds, “I’d go to Mannat daily, but I’ve never met him. Agar kabhi SRK mujhse mile, main toh ro doonga.”

Kumar has finally bagged a film, “which stars (actor) Pulkit Samrat. Mera sapna poora ho gaya”.