Bollywood’s icon Salman Khan, a fixture in the Indian film industry, draws colossal crowds each year as he extends his festive greetings to hordes of fans on Eid al-Fitr from his residence in Mumbai. This time, however, the well-intentioned gathering spiraled into a chaotic scene, prompting Mumbai police to resort to lathi charge to disperse the increasingly uncontrollable mob.
Typically a scene of jubilation, the street outside Galaxy Apartments in the upscale suburb of Bandra turned turbulent. As legions of Khan’s admirers assembled to catch a glimpse of the superstar, their overwhelming numbers lead to a severe traffic disruption and a situation frighteningly reminiscent of a stampede. To restore order, police officials wielded their lathis upon the crowd, a measure captured in stark detail by paparazzi and shared widely across social media platforms.
The footage, disseminated by Viral Bhayani on Instagram, highlights the fervor with which fans embrace their beloved star’s appearances on this holiest of festivals in the Muslim calendar, as well as the difficulties such gatherings can present to public safety and order.
Despite the year’s unruly turn of events, Salman Khan’s flair for making Eid al-Fitr memorable for his fans remained undiminished. In a move diverging from his customary film release on the festive day, he took to Instagram to announce his next cinematic venture titled ‘Sikandar,’ helmed by director AR Murugadoss, whose credits include successful titles such as ‘Ghajini’ and ‘Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty’. The much-awaited film, ‘Sikandar,’ expected to grace the theatres on Eid 2025, adds to an impressive list of Salman Khan’s Eid releases stretching back to 1997’s ‘Judwaa’.
Teasing his fanbase, Salman penned a caption spurring anticipation, urging his followers to watch existing releases ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ and ‘Maidaan’ this Eid, while ushering them to meet ‘Sikandar’ the following Eid. This alternative celebration of the festival by Salman, while breaking from tradition, ensured that his fans were not left empty-handed.
The anticipation around ‘Sikandar’ is representative of Salman Khan’s deep connection with Eid, a time when audiences have come to expect his blockbuster performances. Over the years, films like ‘Dabangg,’ ‘Bodyguard,’ ‘Ek Tha Tiger,’ ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan,’ ‘Sultan,’ ‘Bharat,’ and ‘Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan’ have become synonymous with the celebrations, each release becoming an event in its own right.
Salman’s last appearance on the silver screen was in the thriller ‘Tiger 3,’ another box office success, which also featured Katrina Kaif and Emraan Hashmi in leading roles. Directed by Maneesh Sharma, the film continued to bolster Khan’s reputation as a leading figure in the Indian film industry.
However, in the light of the fracas caused this Eid, one might ponder the implications of stardom and the ardor it incites. While Salman Khan’s gesture of acknowledging his supporters is testament to his recognition of their role in his success, ensuring the safety and well-being of those very fans and the public at large remains an intricate challenge. As authorities and the community recover from the disruptions of this year’s festivities, perhaps future celebrations will find a balance between adoration and order, commemorating the spirit of Eid with both reverence and responsibility.
