Chaos, injury, lathicharge mark Shah Rukh Khan's IPL victory lap

Bollywood superstars are unabashedly tardy - period.

But, on Tuesday Shah Rukh Khan couldn’t have missed his date with Kolkata for the world.

He apologised profusely for showing up almost three hours late (his filght was delayed) and tried to salvage the act by going on a second victory lap of Eden Gardens with Kolkata Knight Riders, the occasion never really lived up to the hysteria of 2012.

Eden Gardens on Tuesday witnessed chaos, lathicharge and a near-stampede situation.

At least, seven spectators and four policemen were injured as thousands attempted to enter the ground pulling down police barricades at two entry points.

This was Indian Premier League champions, the Kolkata Knight Riders' victory lap in Kolkata.

(AFP)

The Pandemonium:

On Tuesday, thousands of fans (who were promised free entry), started queuing up at the gates of Eden Gardens from early morning.

As the crowd swelled, the cops were forced to throw open the gates a little after 9.30 am.

When the valid pass-holders turned up around 11 am, they were stopped at barricades, as the ground was already packed to capacity.

Unable to get in even with valid passes, the spectators repeatedly tried to scale walls and bring down the main VIP gate.

The fans charged at the barricades in waves.

Pushed to a corner, the cops struck back. Led by the mounted police, they lathicharged. As the crowd scattered and the men managed to evade the batons, the women and teens took the blows.

(Pic:KKR twitter)

Inside the Stadium:

Inside the ground, a bigger disappointment was in store.

What was supposed to be a reception for the gallant champions, turned out to be a poor entertainment show featuring a string of Bengali regional actors and singers who tried to keep the crowd engaged in the absence of Shah Rukh Khan.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached Eden half hour before SRK and took over the show.

Khan finally arrived at 4 pm, but looked a shadow of his usual perky self.

He took a victory lap around the ground with the players in tow.

But, by the time the walk came to an end, many of his Knights, including skipper Gautam Gambhir, had left the ground to catch flights back home.

But KKR coming out with the IPL trophy was all that a patient Eden Gardens needed to wake up to the occasion.

(Shah Rukkh Khan celebrates after his team wins IPL 2014)

Shah Rukh Magic:

The crowd went wild as Shah Rukh, donning a hat, blew kisses, waved and did a few steps of his popular song Lungi Dance atop an elevated podium.

Dressed smartly in a white KKR jersey, a ponytailed SRK cut a giant cake - in the shape of a stadium iced with the words KKR - accompanied by Juhi, KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir and Ms Banerjee.

Shah Rukh was - as expected - the centre of attraction - as he partied and threw kisses towards the galleries.

An exuberant Juhi Chawla walked with the players as KKR's anthem Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo was sung in the background by singer Usha Uthup.

Parodying his famous dialogue from the film Don, the icon said in his inimitable style: Don ko agar koi pakad sakte hain toh woh KKR supporters hain (Only KKR's supporters can catch the elusive Don)."

The chief minister, who virtually conducted the show, hugged and congratulated SRK fot the team's stellar performance.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.