Social media erupted with birthday wishes for Bollywood superstar , who turned 60 on Saturday, but Congress MP Shashi Tharoor decided to add his signature wit to the celebration — by questioning whether the actor was really 60 at all.
Tharoor’s “fact-check” on SRK’s age
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Thiruvananthapuram MP and noted wordsmith posted a humorous message wishing “the ultimate King of Bollywood” a happy birthday. However, he claimed that the actor’s age appeared “deeply suspicious,” given his youthful looks and boundless energy.
“Happy 60th Birthday to the ultimate King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan! I have to admit, I’m finding this ‘60’ number deeply suspicious,” Tharoor wrote.
He added that a “crack team of independent fact-checkers and forensic detectives” had investigated the claim that Khan turned 60 and found “no visual evidence to support it.”
“Their verdict: no grey hair, no slowing down, and an overall vibe of someone decades younger,” he said in his post.
‘A real-life Benjamin Button’
In characteristic Tharoor style, the Congress leader expanded on his theory, saying that Shah Rukh Khan might be living through a real-life Bollywood version of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button — the Hollywood movie in which the protagonist ages in reverse.
“I suspect the official story is a cover-up and that SRK is actually starring in a real-life, decades-long, global-scale Bollywood adaptation of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. He’s ageing in reverse,” Tharoor joked.
Presenting “evidence” with flair
Not stopping there, Tharoor went on to present his “evidence” in the same tongue-in-cheek tone.
“Look at the evidence:
- His energy levels today seem higher than they were 20 years ago.
- His hairstyle has become progressively more youthful.
- There are no wrinkles a decent lighting crew can’t explain away,” he wrote.
He further quipped, “I predict that by his 70th birthday, he’ll be auditioning for teenage roles.” The Congress MP added humorously that by then, he himself would be 79 and “may not be around when the superstar finally reverts to a child actor.”
A milestone and admiration
Despite the playful tone, Tharoor concluded his post with genuine admiration for Shah Rukh Khan, calling him an “unbelievable milestone” in Indian cinema and wishing him many more years of success.
“Keep defying physics and biology,” Tharoor said, congratulating the actor for continuing to inspire millions worldwide.
Tharoor’s admiration for the Khan family
This is not the first time Shashi Tharoor has praised the Khan family. Just last week, the MP took to X to review Shah Rukh’s son Aryan Khan’s debut web series The Ba**ds of Bollywood.
Tharoor described the show as “absolute OTT gold,” admitting he had binge-watched it while recovering from a cold. “It’s one of the best things I have ever treated myself to,” he wrote, adding that he was impressed by Aryan’s creative vision.
SRK turns 60 — and social media celebrates
As fans flooded X, Instagram, and other platforms with #HappyBirthdaySRK messages, Tharoor’s post stood out for its humour and linguistic charm — quickly going viral and being shared widely across social media.
Shah Rukh Khan, who debuted in Bollywood over three decades ago, remains one of India’s most beloved film icons, with blockbuster hits like Pathaan and Jawan in recent years reinforcing his superstar status.
For millions of fans — and apparently even for Shashi Tharoor — the actor’s charisma appears untouched by time.