After disappointing fans in Dilwale, actor and producer Shah Rukh Khan, 50, it seems, is making it up to them with Fan (directed by Maneesh Sharma) an offbeat thriller that not only deviates from Bollywood norm by featuring no songs but also one sees SRK return to his edgier roots - the kind that jumpstarted his career decades ago. Think Anjaam, Baazigar and Darr.
Ahead of the film’s release next week (April 15), both SRK and his fans are paying an ode to each other. In Pakistan, Shah Rukh Khan’s fans gathered at Ocean Mall Cinepax in Karachi, this past Saturday, and showed their love for the global superstar by performing to a medley of his film’s tunes. The highpoint of this gathering was a dance performance by the Karachi Chapter of ‘SRK Universe’, which is the largest Shahrukh Khan fan club online. The fans present also made a conscious choice of wearing flannel as SRK’s character in Fan, Gaurav, also wears flannel.
“Cinepax is really excited to be a part of this event with SRK Universe Pakistan. This is the first of its kind initiative in Pakistan, where fans have given tribute to their favourite Bollywood star, and we are so excited to be part of this venture, “said Mohsin Yaseen, General Marketing Manager, Cinepax Cinemas in a post-event report.
In the age of social media, activities like this are hardly a secret. Not surprisingly, when word got around to Shah Rukh Khan, he took to Twitter and thanked his fans. Writing on Twitter, SRK remarked: “Thank you, all you Gauravs”.
On his part, SRK (currently gracing the Filmfare cover) is promoting the film by connecting with his fans in all sorts of innovative ways. In a video released by YRF (Yash Raj Films, the production house behind Fan) on April 1, you can see SRK enact silly tasks given to him by fans. In one particular gag, he enacts a now-famous scene from Om Shanti Om, which was originally delivered by Deepika Padukone in the film. You can also catch him do 300 push-ups, and eat a cake without using his hands.
- Watch Instep on Sunday this week for our exclusive interview with SRK.