Fandom crossovers are a big deal in general, but even more so in the world of K-Pop. So, when a globally popular group like BTS gets unexpectedly mentioned in a K-Drama like Marry My Husband, which exists within the same realm of the Korean entertainment industry, it still becomes a hot topic among fans.
But recently, many ARMYs had their worlds rocked after the completely unfamiliar territories of Bollywood and BTS merger, thanks to the Indian superstar, Shah Rukh Khan.
Khan is not only considered the biggest star in India but is also widely accepted as one of the most popular actors on the globe right now. With a career expanding over 30 years and counting, he is lovingly called “King Khan” in the Indian subcontinent and beyond.
So, when that very Shah Rukh Khan namedropped BTS in his latest Netflix promotional video, ARMYs from all around the world could hardly believe it. In the clip, Khan is seen applying for a visa that will allow him to travel to 190 countries, setting up the premise to announce the release of his latest film, Dunki, on Netflix, which will stream in 190 countries.
When the official denies his application, in response, the star smugly goes on to list how different countries all around the world were influenced by his movies.
After explaining how “every third guy in London is called Raj” (one of his most iconic characters from a movie called Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge) or how when the UK was leaving the European Union, the EU could only ask them to “Palat, palat…” (one of his most quoted dialogues in Hindi which translates to “Turn around”) —
Khan mentions that his romance movies taught “South Koreans to fall in love.”
He then looks straight into the camera and proclaims his love for BTS, complete with a finger heart!
This brief mention of the K-Pop bigwig by the Bollywood magnate instantly created a massive buzz on social media, with reactions ranging from disbelief to euphoria.
WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME WHAT THE FUCKKKKKKKKK WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO MEEEEEEE https://t.co/VATOJcc1q2
— floꪜer⁷ (@tulipstfu) February 15, 2024
yells pic.twitter.com/lokE92ZV1V
— army film club (@0613frames) February 15, 2024
pause. pic.twitter.com/b5u2wyxVF1
— fawz⁷ (@agustranda) February 15, 2024
THE CROSSOVER I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR @iamsrk @BTS_twt https://t.co/zokb0NQKyW pic.twitter.com/o2UMZm4d8l
— sugawa⁷ (@sugawainscoting) February 15, 2024
so many mutuals fell to their knees pic.twitter.com/9E6ArKxpOH
— autumn⁷ (@ghiblijoonies) February 15, 2024
The love affair of Shah Rukh Khan and BTS’s common fanbase is not new. ARMYs, who are also Bollywood fans, have often found glimpses of the senior actor’s youthful charm in the members, created fan content with both their art, and hoped for an interaction between the two.
#BTS as: #SRK songs
(reposting n putting my life on the line) pic.twitter.com/UzMmSTbDim
— floꪜer⁷ (@tulipstfu) February 15, 2024
this jungkook look is lowkey so ddlj srk coded pic.twitter.com/pJWe3vEwfX
— jk9⁷ (@jksfIeur) July 16, 2023
everyone please hear me out. i beg you. pic.twitter.com/8ENk45US19
— r. 🗯️ – pinned (@jokechiId) August 11, 2023
does srk know how the armysrkian girlies make edits of his films with bts songs at any given chance?pic.twitter.com/If4CKm9pCB
— ritu 🩷 tae day (@VictimisedByV) February 15, 2024
I’m gonna manifest BTS x srk into existence by being insane
— s (@yoongienthusias) April 8, 2022
While both BTS and Shah Rukh Khan are global superstars, this interaction (“crumbs” to be stan-Twitter appropriate) took everyone off guard given how K-Pop and Bollywood operate in widely different fields, though in recent times, the two industries have received warm responses in each other’s home grounds.
