When Shah Rukh Khan revealed it was Gauri Khan who started making him wave from Mannat’s balcony on his birthday - watch video

In a throwback video, Shah Rukh Khan fondly recalls how the tradition was born.

Every year on November 2nd and Eid, thousands gather outside Mannat, hoping to catch a glimpse of Shah Rukh Khan. Hair ruffled by the breeze, waving, blowing kisses, and flashing that disarming smile is a sight now synonymous with the King of Bollywood. But the story of how this ritual began goes back to one simple request, and it wasn’t SRK’s idea.

In a throwback video, Shah Rukh Khan fondly recalls how the tradition was born. And it wasn’t from a PR strategy or a sudden flash of stardom, but at the insistence of his wife, Gauri Khan, and their children. “My wife started making me do this and my kids. They said, ‘It’s really stupid, people keep waiting. You should wave out to them when you’re at home’. So I did,” revealed SRK.

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That moment set the stage for what would become one of Bollywood’s most beloved fan rituals. Every year, fans from across India, and the world, line up in the scorching sun or pouring rain just to see him. What they get in return is not just a wave, but a moment of pure star-fan magic.

Shah Rukh describes it as an intimate exchange. “This is the closest anyone, who does not know me, gets to see me really. I don’t dress up for this occasion. I don’t give a speech,” he says in the video. And though the ritual has remained largely unchanged, SRK once hinted at plans to take it further. “Maybe if 10 years more it continues, maybe I’ll start speaking to the people on a megaphone… I’d start dancing here and let them have a great entertaining evening without charging for it anything.”

Also read: Akshay Kumar shares rare pic with Shah Rukh Khan along with a witty message on his 60th birthday: "60 ka lagta nahi hai vaise tu kahin se"

With Jawan and Pathaan cementing his status as a box-office king yet again, followed by the release of Dunki, Shah Rukh’s legacy continues to shine.

Up next he will be seen in King. Produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures, King is set to release in 2026. The title reveal video sent a thrill among fans across the globe.