DHAKA: 30B Harish Chatterjee Street had a surprise visitor on Wednesday evening.
Shah Rukh Khan went to chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat house an hour after his Kolkata Knight Riders trounced Kings XI Punjab at the Eden Gardens.
“My KKR how beautiful were they tonite. Fish fry with MamataDi…ride along the Kolkata roads with all celebrating,” Shah Rukh (@iamsrk) tweeted later, along with a picture of him with Mamata.
Mamata posted on her Facebook page: “Bengal’s Brand Ambassador, Shah Rukh Khan was in Kolkata today in connection with his team, KKR’s match. We are indeed very proud of him. KKR got a splendid victory. Congratulations to team KKR. Wish them all the best for the final. After the match, Shah Rukh came to my residence. It was really a very nice moment. My best wishes to Shah Rukh and his family members.”
The chief minister uploaded three pictures of Shah Rukh at her home.
King Khan arrived at Mamata’s house a little after 8.45pm and stayed for about 20 minutes, discussing celebrations if KKR wins the final on June 1. He came in a black Mercedes and was greeted by Mamata at the doorstep.
“After the match was over, Shah Rukh expressed his desire to visit the CM’s house. Our senior leaders made the preparations and took him to Didi’s house. She treated SRK to fish fry, chomchom and another sweet, and invited him to visit her house again with his wife and children,” said a Trinamul leader.
Ministers Firhad Hakim and Aroop Biswas and Calcutta police commissioner Surajit Kar Purkayastha were in the Kalighat house while SRK was there. It was decided in the Bolly Badshah’s presence that Biswas, Hakim and Trinamul general secretary Mukul Roy would visit Bangalore to watch the final.
“The chief minister promised Shah Rukh that she would be present at the celebration if KKR wins the final,” said the source.
When SRK emerged from the chief minister’s house, accompanied by a beaming Mamata, loud cheers went up in the air and hundreds started clicking their screen idol’s pictures on mobile phones. Residents had perched themselves on rooftops and trees to catch a glimpse of Shah Rukh.
SRK did not disappoint the waiting fans. Instead of stepping into his car straight away, he walked towards them, lifted both his hands and waved. The crowds went into a tizzy.
Mamata had entered the Eden Gardens in the dying moments of the match. Sources said she was on her evening walk on the Town Hall premises after attending a meeting there when the chief minister learnt that KKR was on the verge of making it to the IPL7 final and Bengal’s brand ambassador was at the stadium.
“She immediately decided to go to Eden. The match was over within five minutes of her arrival,” said a police officer.
Match over, as Eden erupted, Mamata rushed home taking the usual route through DL Khan Road and Alipore Bridge.
It is not known whether she had invited Shah Rukh home but police sources said SRK left for Harish Chatterjee Street around 8.30pm.
** Shakib’s Kolkata book IPL final
BDST: 1745 HRS, MAY 29, 2014
