Eid at Mannat With Letterman

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Well, this is just surreal! Not the Eid greeting to thousands of fans gathered out front, that is what we have come to find “normal”. No, that Letterman was there. Do you think he gets to be part of the family holiday party too? Or are they just going to send him back to his hotel, all unfed and uncelebrated?

I can’t keep picturing it like if Letterman showed up to our family Christmas. We’ve got all these inside jokes and special recipes and traditions and stuff. I don’t want Letterman around for that! Go away, Letterman! Let us eat my great grandmother’s weird dessert in peace!

Anyway, more relevantly, this is part of the extra extra special Letterman thing on Shahrukh. A 2 hour interview, and then a trip to India for Eid so he can see and record and experience the greeting of the fans. Plus, probably, some bits talking to the man on the street about Shahrukh, and maybe some footage from inside the house.

78 thoughts on “Eid at Mannat With Letterman”

    • My favorite part of this is several comments on the photos saying “wait, who is beardman?” The Letterman part of it is just throwing everyone.

      On Wed, Jun 5, 2019 at 8:34 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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  2. Hospitality is a big big big thing with Indians, especially on holidays. I’m sure David will be invited to stay and hang out with the family, even if they’re not filming.

    To be honest, I hope there’s no footage talking to people on the street. Everyone knows SRK is loved. I don’t want footage wasted on that. I would prefer it if they spend 5 minutes showing us their Eid dinner and David talking to the family instead.

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    • I don’t know, I think I want the talking to the people section. There has been so much anti-SRK propaganda, that he is a failed star, doesn’t matter, no one cares, blah blah blah, I’d like an objective outsider confirmation of just how much he still matter.

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      • SRK faces that every few years. It’s no big deal. They all go into overdrive because he matters and his name sells. Nobody bothers to write up anything about guys like Ajay Devgan or Akshay Kumar because nobody really cares. There’s no interest in Aamir either in spite of his supposed blockbusters.

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      • It’s like people in India asking who is the bearded guy. It’s like people in the USA asking who is Shahrukh Khan. Other than the occasional Indian, Pakistani, Tibetan who work in one of the three ethnic restaurants, no one in my area knows who SRK is. So, I, too, would love to see Indian people on the street talking about what a great influence he has been in their lives to introduce the man behind the actor to the USA.

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  3. No of course Letterman won’t be sent home! There may even be an Eid party in his honor. What I’m waiting for is Shah Rukh’s usual meet with the press, and to see if Letterman and crew (you did see the cameraman up there with SRK and Letterman, right?) are there to witness that.

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    • I hope there isn’t a party in his honor, that would almost feel cheesy to me, like “let us show off our fancy guest/let us entertain you with our customs”. But if they are having a party anyway and Letterman is one of many guests, that would be okay by me.

      It would be interesting to see the press meet though!

      On Wed, Jun 5, 2019 at 8:53 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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      • I hope there’s no party either. Half the guests would be embarrassing and bothering Letterman for selfies. Even if it’s just a normal party, the media will frame it like it’s a party in Letterman’s honor. Please just avoid it.

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        • Yeah, I get what your objections are. On the other hand, when other notable Americans have shown up at Mannat, the Khans have thrown a party. When Tim Cook of Apple or Reed Hastings of Netflix came, they had a party. I suspect, actually, that that may have been when the seed was planted to have SRK on Letterman’s show. Can’t you picture it? Netflix has made this great deal with Shah Rukh and Red Chillies, Reed sits down with SRK at dinner, and they talk. And Reed thinks, this guy is really, really interesting. And from there comes the idea to have Shah Rukh on Dave’s show. Building everyone’s brand. Win-win-win.

          But yes, Dave was indeed shook!

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          • Oh, that kind of party I would be fine with! A dinner party, no fancy dress, a few personal instagram shots come out, a collection of interesting people invited, celebrities and artists and business folks. I was picturing like the Bachchans threw for Oprah, or the Ambanis for Spielberg, where it was a massive fancy thing with papparazzi out front and craziness and it felt very much like the Western celebrity was there as a party trick and entertainer instead of a person.

            On Wed, Jun 5, 2019 at 9:36 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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  4. Letterman is so shook. Just look at his face. He’s met a lot of celebrities in his life but guaranteed that he’s never met anyone like SRK before.

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  5. Shared on SM. I love how David keeps turning to go in, and then he’s like, “Oh, we’re staying out here longer?” 😁

    Also, what is your grandma’s weird desserts? Weird midwestern desserts make me nostalgic!

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    • I was hoping some one would ask me about our weird dessert! It’s very 1920s.

      Cream cheese, whipping cream, plain gelatine, and canned crushed pineapple. You end up with kind of a harder whipped cream with pineapple in it. We all think it is delicious, it has no nutritional content or non-processed ingredients. I don’t want to explain it to Letterman! He would judge us!

      On Wed, Jun 5, 2019 at 9:37 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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  6. Hi! I was so hoping that they would release the special on 31st but I guess now it makes sense..

    I am kind of annoyed about the way people have been going on about SRK is done too.. but then I think that like someone said, SRK really has to go through it every few years irrespective of how well his films do. If it’s not an All Time Blockbuster then it’s flop or something.. weird that this only seems to apply to SRK.

    Also.. I think there might be a small party.. the family has always invited a small group of people whenever they have been entertaining.. like with Coldplay and all the other businessmen and CEOs at Mannat.. but you are right an in-your-face party would be pretty tacky.. an “informal” get together of sorts would probably be really nice as well as a platform for ideas and conversations.

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    • And now I am thinking of the other side of things, you’ve cooked the special dinner, the kids are in nice clothes and are all excited, your family is about to arrive, and suddenly you get a call “Hey, can you come over to Mannat, Letterman’s in town last minute and we are trying to put a thing together”. Pack up the food, get the kids in the car, cancel all your guests, it’s just a hassle!!!!

      (I may be overly focused on the family holiday element. My family really overplans holidays and last minute changes ruin EVERYTHING!!!!)

      On Wed, Jun 5, 2019 at 10:42 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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      • Hahah!! I can see where you are coming from.. but having lived with family in Mumbai for about 5 years.. I can tell you from personal experience that that happens, ALL THE TIME.

        During Diwali.. it’s so “normal” for dad to get a call saying that they are coming over in like 15-20 minutes or for mom to get a call saying that some people are coming to her friends’ home so could we come too? We were thrown off for the first year because we had plans that we were canceling everyday for the Diwali days.. but it’s such good fun.

        I am guessing that that is the same for the film industry folks.. only I feel that there might be catering involved:P

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        • Ugh, that would drive me CRAZY!!!! My holiday schedule is tightly packed and carefully coordinated with no changes allowed. A last minute cancellation or change throws the whole thing off and would make me go slowly insane. This is one (of many many MANY) reason that I really would not do well, were I to have to try to live in India.

          On Wed, Jun 5, 2019 at 11:15 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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          • Hahhahh! I was the same till I tried it! Maybe you would too?

            Bombay is all heart.. in all its chaos and noise.. its still a place I consider home :)))

            Also.. everyone PLANS for the chaos.. so its not exactly the turning off of the schedule. One of my fondest memories of Diwali include mom telling the domestic help a couple of days before Diwali to ensure that the sweets were ordered and gifts were wrapped in case people “dropped by” in broken hindi 😉

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  7. All people in SRK’s (and his guests’) socioeconomic strata in India tend to have a LOT of domestic help, so even his informal-ish get-together would have professional chef level food being served, I would guess. Similarly any last minute change of plans wouldn’t really involve “packing up the food” for his guests’.

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    • Hahaha .. i like how we both focused on the food aspect! I wish there could be a leak on the menu now! SRK has always commented that he eats chicken and eggs.. but I want to know what is the menu when he has guests over!!!

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      • Isn’t goat biryani what you are supposed to have on Eid? I would imagine a very nice version of that, with some other options available as well. And really really good desserts.

        On Wed, Jun 5, 2019 at 11:17 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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        • Yes! Biryani would be a traditional choice and I am sure it would be on the menu… BUT.. with the industry folks being so diet conscious.. I would still want to know what’s the menu 😛

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          • The person I talked to who had dinner with Aamir said he brought a little tiffin box with him of carrot sticks and sad diet food, and just ate that while they all ate whatever. If I were hosting an industry Eid party, I would serve good tasty unhealthy food and let people bring sad diet food with them if they want it. But then, this goes back to my general “there is a plan and we stick to it and never change or accommodate” attitude towards holidays. My family still puts things on the table that my great grandparents, dead before I was born, used to like. No one eats it, but by golly it is tradition so we cook it and put it out. Celebrating is about rules and doing the right thing, not having fun and making people welcome, that’s crazy talk.

            (you see why I would do very very poorly in Bombay? No one follows the rules! They just follow their heart! MADNESS!)

            On Wed, Jun 5, 2019 at 11:53 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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          • Did you really think perfectionist Aamir wouldn’t also have a bit of a eating disorder? I am sure he just can’t handle not being in control of every calorie that goes into his body in some way. I think a saw a similar story about the last time he was over at Shahrukh’s house, headlined “Aamir won’t eat Shahrukh’s food!” but really it just meant he takes his sad diet meals with him every where.

            On Wed, Jun 5, 2019 at 1:11 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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          • Aamir told this story himself in an interview that he had gone to Mannat for Diwali or Eid or something and Gauri expressly told him that he’s not allowed to leave before having dinner. He said okay and then sat at the table and opened the container he brought with him from home. He mentioned that everyone was looking at him like he was a crazy person.

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        • Gauri is so great, this is my favorite part:

          “You know, nobody in my family is really a foodie; luckily I think that’s why we all end up staying lean and slim. Shah Rukh is not into food at all, so he never gives me a chance to get stressed about what he’d eat or not. I feel I’m the worst kind of person to give an interview for a food magazine!”

          So I am going to guess regular traditional Eid biryani, plus whatever fancy sides the Taj or the kitchen comes up with, and the dieting folks can have a cheat day for Eid or else eat their sad food.

          Fingers crossed the Letterman special includes a slow pan of the table so we can see it all! And does not include one of those irritating interactions with the white person saying “so, it’s pronounced ‘burr-yany’? Ha-ha, it’s just like fried rice!”

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          • Now I am worried about his cancer risk again, Tandoori food constantly on top of the cigarettes? I suppose he knows what he is doing, but STILL!!!!

            And yes, agree that it is cute that he and Gauri mention the same things. And I forgot his parents ran a little snack shop/restaurant as one of their many businesses.

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          • At this point, I’m just hoping he’s very very lucky and ends up being one of those smokers who defies the odds and lives til 100.

            Tandoori food, cigarettes, no fruit, etc. I can’t think of a more terrible diet.

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          • It does give him a super ripped body though. If you want to be terribly unhealthy but age like fine wine, smoking and Tandoori and no fruit is apparently the way to go.

            Anyway, my grandfather never smoked or drank, but also never ate fruit or vegetables his whole life, and he is currently 97 going on 98. I guess it just works for some people!

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          • I think the two of them would get along well. Except that Grandpa doesn’t like smoking or drinking. But otherwise, they could sit there and not eat vegetables or fruit together and talk about the importance of putting in a hard day’s work and leaving a legacy for your children.

            Grandpa would get along with Amitabh even better, they can compare notes on the impossibility of using modern technology and how amazing granddaughters are.

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        • Thanks for sharing those interviews.. I don’t think I had seen these before!

          Food from Taj is pretty great–I have only been there a handful of times but I remember liking the food each time..

          Do we have any other info regarding the Letterman special? Like WHEN is it releasing!!! Its almost cruel to tease us!!

          Also.. can SRK please make his plans for the next project known already. I love him, I miss him and I want to see him on the screen. [Yep, totally not a lot to ask, I know].

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          • I think the Letterman special only exists through subjective reasoning at this point. Much of it from personal knowledge of commentators her (Yaaay, DCIB community!). We know he filmed a 2 hour interview with Letterman. We know one of Letterman’s production teams was in India earlier this year. And now we know Letterman was at Shahrukh’s house for Eid. And we know the Shahrukh interview was not part of the newest batch of Letterman episodes. So the presumption is that the longer interview, background in India, and a segment at his house for Eid, will all be combined in some fashion and released as their own thing, not like the usual short 50 minute episodes that were all filmed separately. But who knows, maybe Letterman was just getting a head start on his next season and we will end up with a regular 50 minute episode as part of all his other episodes.

            On Wed, Jun 5, 2019 at 5:00 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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  8. They would have known David’s schedule for a long time. If they wanted to plan a party, it would have been done a while ago. It would not need to be last minute.
    SRK’s extended family is at Mannat. Arjun’s (Gauri’s nephew) girlfriend posted a picture with AbRam and you can see David Letterman in the back. So maybe it will just be the family and not industry people.
    https://i.ibb.co/TYbL246/Screen-Shot-2019-06-05-at-12-10-49-PM.png

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    • Being German, none of this makes sense to me. There’s a plan, there’s an exact time for it all, and there are no alterations allowed. If you show up as a last minute guest, you are on your own, that is your punishment for being last minute.

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      • We’ve had last minute guests where an entire meal would be cooked for them again if the earlier food ran out. I think all Indians operate like that. That’s not to say we’re always happy about it but it’s a basic requirement that you take good care of your guests, even last minute and unexpected ones.

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        • Never visit me. If I am not expecting you, you are getting pizza and you are throwing in cash to help pay for it. Or else you are getting a cold confused response of “sorry, I can’t give you dinner, I wasn’t expecting you” as I shut the door in your face.

          Have you seen the movie Mostly Martha? It’s about a German woman trying to deal with a deeply emotional unexpected situation, and also food. It makes me feel like someone understands me!

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      • We have a beautiful Christmas tradition in Poland- on Christmas eve we always have one plate more, in case some stranger visits us (it’s because Mary couldn’t find place to stay in Bethlehem)

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      • Hahhaha! I have known and grown up with some Germans in London so I definitely see this scenario..

        BUT also.. the people I grew up with (neighbors and friends’ families) have been so welcoming that I am not sure how they would really react even if i were to show up with only a 10-15 minute warning. I have half a mind to try it, just to report back.

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        • Based on the German heritage people I know, a 10-15 minute warning visit would be exciting and exotic and bohemian, something to talk about for years to come, “remember that time you came by with only 15 minutes notice? Wasn’t that CRAZY???”

          On Wed, Jun 5, 2019 at 5:04 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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      • Meanwhile, my grandparents suggested and paid for our hotel rooms at the holidays as needed. It wasn’t the first choice, but a reasonable option so we wouldn’t have to be living on top of each other. Which I suppose has the built in assumption that living on top of each other is a bad thing.

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        • If you’ve been raised to have your space, it can be very tough. India is such a populated country that people are just used to it.

          I grew up in the States but my family has a tradition where we get together at least once a year for 3 or 4 days and live together in one house. By family, I mean like 20 people including uncles, aunts and cousins. There are obviously not enough beds for so many people but we just put sleeping bags or blankets on the floor and sleep. It’s so much fun – all 20 of us playing board games and watching movies and singing karaoke and talking. It’s the best way to catch up with what is going on in everyone’s lives and stay close. If you’re not used to having people living on top of each other, it would be terrifying.

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          • We used to do the same thing, only it was only 12 people and it was a 12 room (4 bedroom) house, so technically we could each have our own space as needed.

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  11. It’s late enough now that we can assume there was no Eid party at Mannat. The pics would have been out by now if there was. Either the paparazzi or the guests themselves would have posted some.

    Not gonna lie… I’m pleased. SRK is the best of the industry. David doesn’t need to meet the lessers. 😛

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    • Happy…because I was (almost) sure that ShahRukh would do something intimate…just his family (extended or not) and the people who had come from NewYork.
      Very fine with me that he didn’t a press meeting, just the acknowledgement of those who came to Mannat to see him on the balcony (the one of the annexe and the one on the wall).
      It is fine that there will be a “showy” part (who reflects the adulation megastars get)…and then…(well, we’ll see 😉 )

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  12. There was a big crowd outside Mannat again today. SRK came out of his car and waved to them. I think they taped it for Letterman. I don’t get it… they already got enough of the fan frenzy from Eid. Do they really need more of this? Huh.
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D8YdBUiUwAE0lxf.jpg
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D8Yc4PVUEAAwmOL.jpg
    Letterman also visited Gauri’s store –
    Video of Dave and Gauri
    https://twitter.com/iamDeepakSRKian/status/1136630079247638529

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      • I don’t think he will be there much longer. What else can possibly be left to do? He visited Mannat, saw the crowds, met SRK’s family, visited Gauri’s store… The only possible thing left is to maybe visit the Red Chillies building. But it’s going to be overkill.

        Letterman seems to be doing a lot more than what he does for his other interviews. There is so much footage. How are they going to cut so much of it? Does not make sense to me.

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  13. Do we know who else he has taped but not yet aired, besides SRK? Could be be clubbing those together for another season? Might they be “international” in flavor? Other than Mallala, I believe all his aired interviewees so far have been American.

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    • Maybe there’s going to be some kind of “Letterman travels the world” mini-series, you think?

      That would fit with Netflix’s international agenda, and seems like it might be a fun semi-retirement challenge for Letterman. Let’s go ahead and start that rumor!

      On Fri, Jun 7, 2019 at 11:05 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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    • Usually they keep it quiet and not let you know who Letterman has spoken to until the season is ready to release. In SRK’s case, it’s kind of impossible to keep anything quiet so they didn’t bother.

      I do not think Letterman has spoken to anyone else. I’m basing this on the fact that his show was renewed last summer for Season 2 and 6 episodes. 5 have already aired so only 1 is left. If he plans on doing another season, we will find out soon because Netflix will probably release something about the show being renewed again for a 3rd season. They would not start filming anything until the renewal is announced.

      Honestly, I think what happened with SRK is that they couldn’t work out a filming schedule that would allow them to release his episode with the rest. It ended up having to be done later so instead they will release it as a special. It would probably give them a little more freedom to present it as they want and not follow the usual format and timing. They seem to have so much footage that I really don’t think they can cut it all to just 50 minutes but who knows.

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    • Me too! This is the curse of knowledge, if we didn’t have that inside look on the interview, and it was only 50 minutes, we wouldn’t even know we were missing something.

      On Fri, Jun 7, 2019 at 1:31 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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  15. A print article which has a few more details. They apparently shot inside Mannat and I guess Dave did stick around to eat together.

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    • Ugh, “sampled traditional Indian delicacies”, we ARE going to get that irritating “and you call this ‘burr-yan-eee?” dumb white person sequence.

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      • I don’t think Dave will go for the low hanging fruit. He hasn’t been cracking any jokes at all in the other episodes. Have you seen them? I was a little disappointed because Dave is playing everything so straight with everyone that the episodes are kind of boring. This one is only going to be good if SRK himself makes it exciting.

        I saw the Kanye episode and he says the weirdest things and Dave just lets it go which is something he would have never done on Late Night. It was just odd how deferential he’s become. I saw some critics complaining about it too.

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