Fans won't be meeting Shah Rukh Khan on his birthday

For fans of Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, his birthday is a truly special occasion. Every year on November 2nd, admirers gather outside his Mumbai residence, 'Mannat,' hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite star, with some even waiting in the hope of a direct encounter. However, this year, as he celebrates his 61st birthday, that long-standing tradition might be seeing a not-so-pleasant shake-up.

Shah Rukh is unlikely to be in Mumbai on his birthday, as he is currently occupied with the shooting of his upcoming film, 'King.'

According to sources cited by NDTV, the customary annual interaction between Shah Rukh and his fans will not happen this year. The production of 'King' is currently underway, with several songs being filmed. 

Following reports of a song sequence being shot in Mumbai alongside Deepika Padukone, the actor is now scheduled to travel to London to film another musical sequence. As such, it looks like Shah Rukh Khan won't be in Mumbai around his birthday.

There is, however, a glimmer of hope for fans; sources suggest that Shah Rukh might organize a separate event to meet with them ahead of the film's release on December 24th.

For the past two years, Shah Rukh has moved away from his long-standing tradition of stepping out of 'Mannat' to greet fans. Instead, he has hosted special events at the Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir in Mumbai, where fans, having secured passes, could meet their beloved star. These gatherings offered fans the chance to spend time with Shah Rukh, ask him questions, and hear him speak; however, the media was not permitted to attend.

As for the film itself, 'King' is an action-thriller directed by Siddharth Anand. In it, Shah Rukh Khan portrays a seasoned assassin navigating the perilous world of crime. The film also features his daughter, Suhana Khan. In addition to Shah Rukh and Suhana, the film features Deepika Padukone, Arshad Warsi, Raghav Juyal, Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Oberoi, Jackie Shroff, Abhay Verma, Jaideep Ahlawat, Rani Mukerji, and Anil Kapoor.

Produced by Shah Rukh’s production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, and Siddharth Anand’s Marflix Pictures, the film is scheduled for theatrical release on December 24.

-    NS