Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan visited Mumbai’s iconic Lalbaugcha Raja pandal on September 21, 2026, accompanied by his family and manager Pooja Dadlani. The high-profile Ganpati darshan drew massive public attention after a video of the actor using his manager’s dupatta sparked online debate.
Festive celebrations in Mumbai often draw names in entertainment, but few visits capture public fascination quite like a traditional pandal appearance by Bollywood stars. Amid the ongoing Ganeshotsav festivities, Shah Rukh Khan arrived at the famed Lalbaugcha Raja pandal to seek blessings alongside his family, navigating tight security and an enthusiastic crowd of devotees.
Dressed in a blue kurta, the actor moved through the congested venue while making sure his family remained secure in the dense crowd. His wife, Gauri Khan, wore a yellow ethnic ensemble, and their daughter, Suhana Khan, donned a green traditional suit during the evening aarti. According to Mayapuri, the entire family was immersed in shraddha and bhakti inside the darbar of Bappa.
Inside the Viral Manager Dupatta Moment at Lalbaugcha Raja
While the family’s participation in the evening prayers unfolded smoothly, a fleeting gesture caught the internet by surprise. In a widely shared clip from the visit, the actor borrowed manager Pooja Dadlani’s dupatta while Gauri and Suhana stood nearby.
The brief action immediately triggered a wave of reactions across social media platforms. Some users questioned why the actor chose his manager’s scarf instead of turning to his family members. Online commenters posted remarks such as some asked why he didn’t do it with his wife and questioned Why didn’t he use his wife’s scarf to wipe his face? as clips of the moment circulated.
At the same time, a large contingent of supporters defended the spontaneous interaction. Observers pointed out that Dadlani has worked closely with the actor for years, accompanying him through major professional commitments and public outings. Fans flooded comment sections with warm evaluations of their working dynamic, with Moneycontrol noting user comments such as one noting that Pooja Dadlani is not only SRK’s manager, she is his family and another mentioning that this also reflects a good friendship bond as some people have good ones. Moneycontrol further highlights that fans also reacted with comments like She is so sincere
and Cutest moment.
Navigating Mumbai Crowds and Festive Engagements
The Lalbaugcha Raja appearance followed a busy week of celebrations for the actor. Just days prior, he attended a high-profile Ganesh Chaturthi celebration hosted by Mukesh and Nita Ambani at their Mumbai residence, where he joined other Bollywood figures like Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, and Katrina Kaif for prayers and aarti. Additionally, Mayapuri reported that a picture from the celebration showed Shah Rukh Khan and Ranveer Singh performing the aarti alongside Nita Ambani.
At the Lalbaugcha Raja venue itself, heavy security surrounded the family as they entered and exited the premises. Despite the intense press of people, the actor maintained a warm demeanor, smiling and waving to onlookers before stepping into his vehicle, where he offered parting waves and flying kisses to the gathering crowds. Jagran notes that other personalities visiting Lalbaug this year to seek Bappa’s blessings include Prithviraj Sukumaran, Mouni Roy, Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh, Shilpa Shetty, Sidharth Malhotra, and Ekta Kapoor.
Ganesh Chaturthi Traditions at Home
Beyond high-profile public appearances, the actor recently offered fans a glimpse into how his household observes the festival. Responding to an inquiry during an interactive session on X earlier in the month, he described the family’s simple traditions.
Shah Rukh Khan explained that his wife performs the Aarti followed by prayers, and mentioned that she would also handle the Visarjan that night. He added that the kids and friends gather to hang around and share plenty of laughs, describing it as a very simple and cherished family time.
Shah Rukh Khan, Actor
What Lies Ahead on the Work Front
The festive outing comes as the actor prepares for his next major cinematic release. He stars in Siddharth Anand’s upcoming film King, which features a cast including Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhay Verma, Raghav Juyal, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, Arshad Warsi, and Anil Kapoor.
The studio has scheduled King for release on December 24, 2026, positioning it as one of his major upcoming projects while public interest remains fixed on both his upcoming screen work and his everyday interactions with those in his inner circle.