SRK’s biggest fan? His saasu ma!

Thank you, mother-in-law: Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan

When the camera-shy Savita Chhiba dropped in to watch her son-in-law in action, everyone on the sets of Kaun Banega Crorepati 3 was surprised.

After all, it's not everyday that Shah Rukh Khan's mother-in-law drops in on him at work.

Gauri Khan's mother, who appeared on KBC3 a week before Women's Day (March 8), says, "It was the first time in my life that I faced the camera that day and I felt extremely shy."

Camera shy

Talking about her experience, Savita says she asked Shah Rukh for permission before she dropped by the set. "My sister, Sharda Gupta, was in town along with her husband.

Both are doctors and love watching Shah Rukh on KBC. I told Shah Rukh that we wanted to come by but I requested him to not ask me any questions as I am very camera shy. It's really difficult for an ordinary person to be unfazed by the spotlight," she admits.

How did she find the show in real life? "I loved it! Sharda loved it too. She was asked to come on the hot seat but declined as we are not used to facing the camera. Even my daughter Gauri doesn't like facing the camera or doing interviews," says Savita.

An avid KBC watcher and SRK fan, Savita says that she hasn't missed a single show ever since Shah Rukh took over as anchor.

"I have watched KBC right from the beginning. Besides, how can I miss any of Shah Rukh's programmes?

I was watching his appearance at Madame Tussaud's wax museum all day on the news on Wednesday. He is on top of the world," she says.

Captive audience

Savita adds that she likes watching KBC3 because of the sheer energy and fun that SRK brings to the show. "All my friends and the people in Delhi are going gaga about Shah Rukh.

He mesmerises people. I
guess one of the reasons people love him so much is because he is a very
good human being. People from all walks of society love him. My maids and drivers say they don't understand the questions but watch the show because Shah Rukh makes people laugh. They feel he's playing a funny game with the contestants and they laugh along with him."

No competition

As for those comparisons with Amitabh Bachchan, Savita feels it's unfair to compare the veteran actor with her son-in-law. "Shah Rukh has made it so different.

There was never any comparison to start with as both are very good. Mr Bachchan was effective in his own way and people now like the casual feel that Shah Rukh brings to the show.

Now that KBC is coming to an end, my friends keep telling me, 'What will we do now between 9-10 pm?'" Savita laughs.

Apart from the show, the doting mother and her husband Ramesh Chibba are avid watchers of SRK's films. "I have watched all his films and I love them.

Earlier, my husband wouldn't watch Hindi films but ever since Gauri married Shah Rukh, he only goes to the theatre to watch Shah Rukh's films.

In fact, we make it a point to watch his films first day first show.

Sometimes, we even book the entire hall and call our friends and relatives to watch the film."