Like Shah Rukh Khan marked the 34th anniversary of his debut in Bollywood Deewana, the star chose to hold a grand celebration in the city that holds a special place in his heart – Mangalore, where he spent the first five years of his life.The actress, who made her big debut in director Raj Kanwar’s 1992 romantic drama Deewana, received a grand reception from fans in the Karnataka city on June 25. Videos and pictures from the event went viral on social media, with fans sharing invitation cards and wristbands as they gathered to celebrate the occasion.Pictures of Shah Rukh arriving at the airport showed hundreds of fans waiting to catch a glimpse of him. The actor acknowledged the crowd by blowing kisses before heading to the venue in a luxury car. He later entered the lead role in Jhoome Jo Pathaan, one of the most popular songs from Pathaan.Addressing the audience, Shah Rukh greeted them with a loving “namaskara” in Kannada and thanked them for their warm welcome.“Thank you, Mangalore! First of all, when I was coming here, I didn’t know what to expect. But the warmth, love, goodness and happiness, from the airport to the car down here, among all the people, you felt good,” he said, raising a big cheer from the crowd.
A city connected with Shah Rukh’s childhood
Although he was born in New Delhi in 1965, Shah Rukh spent his childhood in Mangalore. His grandfather, Ifthikar Ahmed, was the chief engineer of Mangalore port, and the family lived in the city until Shah Rukh was five years old.The couple lived in Hat Hill before moving to Harbor House, a boarding house located within the harbour. Over the years, as Shah Rukh grew to become one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema, his childhood home in Mangalore became a favorite for fans visiting the city.Released in 1992, Deewana launched Shah Rukh’s film career and paved the way for him to become one of Bollywood’s greatest actors. More than three decades later, the actor continues to command an unparalleled following.
