From Temples to Blood-Soaked Letters: Bollywood's Unforgettable Fan Tales

In the world of entertainment, the connection between fans and their favourite stars often takes unexpected turns, showcasing an array of unique and sometimes quirky expressions of devotion. From ink-stained confessions to cinematic marathons, fans across India have frequently engaged in eyebrow-raising acts of unwavering adoration for their beloved stars, treating them as not just the love of their lives but sometimes even as deities. 

In this blog, we explore the lighter side of fandom, recounting the whimsical and heart-warming stories of enthusiasts who have gone the extra mile for their beloved celebrities.

Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan's universal appeal and the unwavering devotion of his fans often lead to remarkable tales of love and obsession in the world of Bollywood fandom. That’s the magic of the King of Bollywood. A striking example is Aakash Pillay, who recently undertook a 33-day journey to meet the Pathan actor, documenting his daily efforts on Instagram.

From patiently waiting outside Khan's iconic residence ‘Mannat’ to relentless messaging to the actor's team, Pillay's story mirrors the extraordinary lengths to which Bollywood fans go to express their love and connect with their favourite stars. He even scored Pooja Dadlani's number, Khan's manager, and celebrated his birthday outside Mannat. Finally, he caught SRK's attention at a press meet on day 19. The climax? A text from Khan's team on Day 28, which Pillay shared with his engaged Instagram followers. They finally met and he even quoted a dialogue from his movie Om Shanti Om while posing with the actor who recently topped the 'Most Popular Male Star' list by Ormax Media, edging past other competitors like Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Vijay and Prabhas. 

Then we have Lucknow businessman Vishal Singh, who calls himself Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘biggest fan.’ Not only did he transform his house, car, and homoeopathy practice, into a Shahrukh Khan memoir hall (with 22,000 pictures), he also changed his name to Vishahrukh Singh, celebrated his honeymoon outside Mannat and named his son after SRK’s son Aryan. Clearly, for Singh, fandom is more than a pastime; it's a way of life.

Check the inside tour of his house also called ‘The Shah Rukh Khan Palace’ by NDTV.

Salman Khan

In a peculiar incident in 2015, a Pakistani woman, Chanda Faujia, claimed she wanted to meet Salman Khan so desperately that she crossed into India through the Attari border on the Samjhauta Express without valid travel documents. This extreme step to meet the Tiger 3 star resulted in her arrest.

In the same year,  another devoted Bhai fan, Maulik Babubhai Sheeshangiya, went on a hunger strike outside the Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo sets with a Salman banner above him, in Rajkot. His sole desire was to capture a moment with Salman, and he resolved to abstain from eating until his wish was fulfilled. The actor took two minutes out from his shoot to fulfil his fan’s wish.

Priyanka Chopra 

The Hollywood star’s latest fan encounter appeared on Instagram last month when an Indian fan named Kavita Deepak shared several unseen pictures of Priyanka Chopra and her husband singer Nick Jonas in Malibu. Deepak was surprised by her down-to-earth nature which she posted about as well. 



The numerous fan encounters are common, but one particular incident stood out – a moment that impressed the actress. A fashion designer presented the stunning diva with a remarkable 5-foot-tall painting of herself. The actress was reportedly so moved by this thoughtful gesture that she took the time to meet and express her gratitude to the artist personally. Undoubtedly, a dream come true moment for the fan. 

Rajinikanth 

Rajinikanth's fan following is nothing short of legendary, marked by unwavering devotion and intensity, evident in the astounding 50,000 registered fan clubs. One standout example is Jayasaleen, a 39-year-old enthusiast who set records by watching the 73-year-old superstar’s Kabaali 10 times in a row, proclaiming, “I have one father, one mother, and one God — who is Rajinikanth.”

In another tale of fervent fandom, Sreenivasan Jayaseelan, a 40-year-old admirer, faced the challenge of meeting Rajinikanth amidst the tight security in Chennai. Undeterred, upon learning that Rajinikanth was flying to Hong Kong for the shoot of Lingaa in 2014, Jayaseelan took a decisive step. He promptly booked tickets for himself, his wife, and two children on the same flight, investing a considerable sum of Rs 1.50 lakh. His motive? To share the 'same oxygen as his Thalaivar,' leading to an unforgettable encounter where he and his family conversed with Rajinikanth and even witnessed his signature sunglass act.
 

Even corporate leaders aren't immune to the magnetic pull of Rajinikanth's stardom. Girish Mathrubootham, the CEO of Freshworks Inc., proudly admits his fandom by adorning the office walls with a mural of Thalaiva. Going a step further, he demonstrated his commitment by booking 2,200 tickets across seven theatres for his employees to watch Rajinikanth's film Jailer last year. 

With Jailer, Rajinikanth returned to the silver screen after a two-year hiatus. Such was the impact of this comeback that several offices declared a holiday on the release day in Chennai and Bengaluru. These tales illustrate the extraordinary lengths Rajinikanth fans go to express their admiration. But the internet has a different story to tell as the monthly search count for his 2010 Robot movie on Google is 100K. 

Aamir Khan

Proving that distance is no obstacle for true fans, a dedicated admirer of Aamir Khan, Kishore Kumar, cycled around 1700 km, from Ranchi to Mumbai in 2012. Furthermore, he spent two entire days and nights, at the Khar Police Station, adamant about not leaving the city till he met the star. A police officer conveyed this information to Aamir's then-wife, Kiran Rao. Subsequently, Kishore was accompanied to Aamir Khan's residence where he met him. Motivated by Aamir's talk show 'Satyamev Jayate,' Kishore raised various issues faced by people across the country during their interaction. He even carried handwritten letters from others who shared his dream.

Aditya Roy Kapoor

On some occasions, this love and adoration take a dark turn.  Such was the case of an ardent female fan from Aligarh who expressed her desire to marry Aditya Roy Kapur in 2014 through a handwritten letter penned in her own blood. According to reports, the letter left  The Night Manager star deeply moved and simultaneously concerned for the girl.

Shahid Kapoor 

The impact of a stellar performance can move fans to great heights—literally. In 2015, after watching Shahid Kapoor in 'Haider,' a devoted female fan scaled Europe's highest mountain peak, Elbrus, standing at an astonishing 18,510 feet, to hoist a poster of the actor.