Shahrukh Khan touched down at the Timehri airport at minutes to 6.00 am yesterday, and may have never expected the reception he got; scores of fans falling over each other and screaming at the sight of him.

Arrival: Indian mega star, Shahrukh Khan (third from left) and actress Juhi Chawla (left) along with organiser of the show, Ali Morani (fourth from left), making their way from the aircraft at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri yesterday.

 (Ken Moore photo)

Thousands braved the dark and threatening weather to await the superstar at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri yesterday and many of them were shoved by security guards to clear the way for Khan and troupe. But that did not stop them.

Bearing posters of Khan and co-star Juhi Chawla, fans waited for hours at Timehri for a glimpse of the man who made his name with his role as a villain in Darr and climbed to the top with Baazigar - a position he has maintained to this day.

Juhi Chawla

And a tired, obviously jet-lagged Khan did not disappoint them. He faithfully waved to his fans and blew them kisses and even from the roof of the Le Meridien Pegasus where he was booked for his one-day stay in Guyana, showed his appreciation.

For the throngs of supporters waiting for him in the pouring rain and from whom he was quickly escorted away on arrival, Khan made his way to the top of the hotel and from under an umbrella waved and blew kisses. He signalled to the crowd that he was tired and wanted to rest but every body motion of the man caused a wild eruption from his mostly young and female fans.

The one thing that couldn't be missed about the superstar is his humility. Stardom has not gotten to his head. Speaking for a quick minute with reporters, Khan said he is an ordinary person and does not know how to describe his off-screen persona.

"I am okay. I am alright, I guess. I am also very ordinary, like yourself," Khan said to Stabroek News.
He said that his achievements, while they may seem extraordinary in the short nine years he has spent in the film industry, are really because of everyone around him who has showed him such great affection.

Khan and Chawla, accompanied by playback singer, Sapna Mukerjie and pop singer Shweeta Shetty as well as by music director, Anu Malik and troupe arrived in Guyana yesterday after two performances in Trinidad and Tobago.

Their last performance concluded at 1.15 am yesterday morning and the check-in time for the artistes to fly to Guyana was 2.30 am. They touched down here around 5.45 am.

Khan and troupe were accorded VIP treatment with three government ministers waiting for them at the airport; Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj, Education Minister, Dale Bisnauth and Agriculture Minister, Reepu Daman Persaud. Chawla and Khan were garlanded and taken to the executive lounge.

But they were not allowed to relax or even offered a drink before the media besieged them for about five minutes, during which time a small crowd invaded the lounge, cutting short the briefing. Khan and Chawla were then hustled away to the VIP lounge and selected media persons were allowed up.
Embarrassing, however, was the behaviour of two persons associated with the promotion of the show, one of whom showed no regard for the media and the other who openly shouted at a board member of a state media house.

The media was also denied an opportunity to sit and talk to Khan and Chawla.

The overseas promoters, Narinder and Ravinder Saini, were exemplary in their conduct at all times and Pradeep Samtani, not financially linked to the show, tried his best to be helpful.

The motorcade bringing Khan and Chawla to the city got underway well after 7.00 am and groups stood at different points along the route waiting for a sight of Khan.

But the rain which broke in the city did not deter fans from waiting on Khan at the hotel. Ticket sales reportedly went up dramatically afterwards.

It was just a brief and momentary spell of madness which hit Guyana and can best be referred to as the Shahrukh mania.

 August 09, 1999