Shah Rukh's high-profile Eid party was as grand a success as Chennai Express

It was a night to remember. A night at Bandra’s most celebrated address Mannat where Shah Rukh Khan invited all his friends from the film industry for an Eid party. Everyone who counted was there. Well, almost. Contrary to rumours that Shah Rukh Khan “cancelled” his Iftar party for his colleagues last week the truth is he never intended to have one. He in fact hosted a lavish party at his residence on Saturday night where he has personally invited all his friends. Though the party was said to be a Eid get-together it seems more like a celebration for the stupendous opening of SRK’s latest release Chennai Express. One of his most prominent invitees says, “Shah Rukh’s party was never meant to be an Iftar party. It was always an Eid party for which Shah Rukh personally called all his friends. He was very clear that the success ratio of Chennai Express had nothing to do with the party. That is why he sent out personal invites to all his friends even before the film’s release.” The invitees at the party on Saturday include Hrithik and wife, Arjun Rampal and wife, Karan Johar, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Farhan and Zoya Akhtar, Farah Khan, Rani Mukherjee and of course the Chennai Express gang who despite the not-so-favourable reviews are beaming from ear to ear. Chennai Express has had the best opening for any film in 2013, beating the other top openers of the year Abbas-Mustan’s Race 2, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Ayaan Mukerjee’s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Alas, the lady of the moment, and Shah Rukh’s Chennai Express co-star Deepika Padukone was missing. She had left Mumbai and the country to shoot for an ad. Kareena Kapoor was shooting in Detroit and Katrina Kaif chose to stay away, thereby leaving the coast clear for Shah Rukh’s other leading ladies Juhi Chawla, Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee and Anushka Sharma to make the best of the night. The Bachchans, without matriarch Jaya (who prefers to stay away from parties and events these days) arrived late and stayed till the end of the party at around 6 am. But wait... no matter what the rumours of a rift between best-buddies Shah Rukh and Karan Johar, Karan was around till almost 3 am in the morning mingling with guests who ranged from Mukesh-Tina Ambani and Sanjay Leela Bhansali to Yo Yo Honey Singh and Neelam (remember the pretty actress from the 1990s?). Naturally one of the topics of conversation was the success of Chennai Express with everyone congratulating Shah Rukh on the film’s fabulous opening. “But Shah Rukh kept brushing off the compliments. He insisted the party was not to celebrate Chennai Express. He exchanged a few words with every guest although his home was overflowing with superstar guests,” says one of the Shah Rukh’s invitees. The most beautiful ladies at the party were Tabu, Sushmita Sen and Madhuri Dixit who looked like, in the words of a prominent filmmaker, “proud stunning products of the 40-plus club. Tabu and Sushmita should be working a lot more. Shah Rukh had compliments for every lady in the room. He was bursting with energy.” Rapper-composer-singer Honey Singh was by Shah Rukh’s side for most of the night. Groggy on Sunday afternoon Honey said, “It was a fabulous party. Shah Rukh Bhai is one of the best hosts I’ve ever seen. He took me around the party introduced me to everyone. I am new to the industry. In one evening I got to know everyone worth knowing.” Except of course Salman Khan and Aamir Khan.