New Delhi: Shah Rukh Khan returned to the balcony of his Mumbai residence, Mannat, on his 61st birthday on Monday, wearing a beanie and performing his signature pose as he waved and blew kisses to thousands of fans gathered outside. He skipped the customary balcony greeting last year over security and crowd control concerns.
Dressed casually in a white T-shirt and light-coloured trousers, Khan was seen raising both hands to greet the crowd. However, the actor reportedly stayed on the balcony for only a few minutes due to security protocols.
Unlike previous years, when Shah Rukh Khan’s birthday appearances at Mannat often turned into extended interactions with thousands of fans, Monday’s greeting was noticeably brief. This year, while the tradition resumed, fans had considerably less time to see their favourite star.
Despite the short interaction, his appearance was enough to excite fans, many of whom had travelled from different parts of the country to catch a glimpse of the superstar.
‘One day, I’ll be there in that crowd too’
Videos of Khan greeting fans from Mannat on his 61st birthday have gone viral on social media, with fans flooding the comment sections with celebratory messages and expressing their excitement at finally seeing the superstar.
“Finally, SRK at Mannat! One day, I’ll be there in that crowd too, living my dream,” a user posted on X.
“Yesssssss that’s what I was waiting for,” another user wrote.
Meanwhile, another X user said that SRK has finally arrived at Mannat.
“They called him KING with a capital ‘K’… but to us, he will always be SRK!..FINALLY, OUR KING HAS ARRIVED AT MANNAT,” another X user posted.
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A ritual
Every year, 2 November turns into a celebration for Khan’s admirers, with hundreds of fans gathering outside Mannat to wish the actor. His balcony appearances have become a birthday tradition.
Last year, when Khan could not greet his fans on his birthday, he apologised through a social media post, explaining that the decision was taken for everyone’s safety.
The celebrations had begun the previous night, when Mannat was transformed into a giant projection screen, with larger-than-life visuals and posters from Khan’s upcoming film King, illuminating the building. The display also featured a handwritten message from the actor thanking fans for their wishes.
“Thank you all for your wishes and love. Sending mine right back to you all. Lots of love and a big hug,” read the signboard.