Eid lunch yesterday was at the Taj Land’s End in Bandra. Tables groaning under the weight of a sumptuous Mughlai banquet. Butter Chicken, Bhuna Gosht, Mutton Nihari, Kheema Pav, an assortment of Indian bread, Lucknowi Dum Biryani, and as wide a choice in the vegetarian section which I ignored. Desserts were to die for. Kesar Firni, Baked Gulab Jamun in Rabri, Malpuas dripping syrup, fluffy Rasmalai, Moong Dal Halwa floating in ghee. Those who kept the Ramazan Rozas as well as undertook the dawn to dusk fasts during the holy month must have rejoiced. The lunch was courtesy of Shah Rukh Khan. He was there dressed in a cream Pathan suit and leather sandals. He was looking like his character from ‘Raees’ but minus the threat in his eyes and menace in his stride.
Utterly charming and hospitable, SRK went around the large banquet hall wishing everybody ‘Eid Mubarak’ and taking selfies. He had a hug for all. And a word, too. For me, he had several words because we go back. Strangely, we talked about fitness. Also how lean he looked in the Pathan suit. Beneath its loose and voluminous folds, Shah Rukh Khan still maintains the six-pack abs he sculpted on his lithe physique during the making of ‘Om Shanti Om’ in 2007. I was amazed. He doesn’t flaunt it on screen. But he gets invited by people, even perfect strangers, to show off his six-pack at the slightest opportunity and in the strangest locations. “Once it was at the Google HQ in California,” SRK told me with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “As soon as the employees got comfortable with me, they asked me to strip!” He shared his workout details with me. And proudly, but shyly, he revealed how low his body fat percentage was. I was in amazement once again because these were Olympic athlete standards. Bored with this talk, a lady waved her hands at the food tables and asked SRK whether he had eaten himself. And if his lunch included Biryani and Sheerkorma. He gave her a sad smile and said, “I have no appetite for food. Especially sweets. My parents were restaurateurs in Delhi. They passed away. And now I miss them and their cooking.” There was silence. Then the lady, indefatigable in her chase for information, said pointedly, “But don’t you miss Biryani on Eid?” This is the part I like best. He quietly said, “I don’t. My parents aren’t around but the ‘maa-baap’ of my friends send it over. I eat their Biryani.” The lady persisted, “From whose house has it come today?” And Shah Rukh Khan replied with a smile, “From Salman Khan’s house!”
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, as well as columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, as well as Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, as well as Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience as well as knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel as well as admiration for his work.
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