Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan may have made history as the first male actor from Indian cinema to attend the MET Gala, but his debut wasn't without controversy. A clip of Shah Rukh interacting with international media ahead of his red carpet appearance has gone viral, not for what he wore, but for the fact that interviewers seemingly didn't know who he was.
In the video, Shah Rukh is seen modestly introducing himself to media personnel who appeared unfamiliar with the global icon.
What made headlines, however, was designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee stepping in to add much-needed context. "Just to give a little context, Shah Rukh Khan is probably one of the most famous men in the world and his fan following is legendary. We nearly had a stampede outside the hotel when we came out," Sabyasachi stated firmly.
The moment didn't sit well with Indian fans online, many of whom felt that a global platform like the MET Gala should have been better prepared.
Reacting to the clip, a fan wrote, "I mean Sabya had to literally mention âSRK is one of the most famous people in the worldâ....... Uhhhhh đ€"
Another comment read, "Should they have done a little homework on the guest list? Maybe, yeah. Is that even a thing? I donât know! Should the photographers have covered all the guests equally? Hell yes! But letâs be clearâthis is in no way a âhumblingâ experience for SRK. Iâm sure he anticipated this. Heâs too smart not to. To everyone whoâs upset: chill. Nothing can dim his light. He absolutely slayed. The man looked amazing."
"People screamed their head off for him when he left the hotel. Not EVERYONE knows him but plenty do," read another comment on Reddit.
"Must be first for him in recent years to introduce himself everywhere," wrote another fan.
Fashion influencer Sufi Motiwala also called out the interviewers for not known SRK. "It's just disrespectful and rude. He is the biggest star of our country and no matter if I don't like his look, you will not disrespect our star."
Despite the hiccup, Shah Rukh's MET Gala appearance was a major moment. Dressed in a custom black ensemble by Sabyasachi, he walked the famed steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with quiet confidence and his trademark charm.
During the media interaction, he also confessed, "Iâve not done too many red carpets, Iâm very shy. For me, itâs the first time and itâs wonderful to be here."
