Mumbai: Bhai-giri of Bhai fans

Rita Jain with the agreement signed by her estranged husband. Pics/Ashish Raje

"Salman Khan is my husband, and my estranged spouse has signed a no-objection agreement, allowing me to hand myself over to him," a die-hard fan from Kolkata, Rita Jain, told mid-day on Thursday. The 58-year-old has been camping outside Galaxy Apartments in Bandra West for at least two years, hoping to meet the star.

Jain explained that she fell for Salman after the release of the romantic comedy Maine Pyar Kiya in 1989 and "accepted him as her husband" after the release of Sultan in 2016. The superfan has been eating and sleeping on the Bandstand promenade, eagerly awaiting a miracle.

The 58-year-old fearlessly sleeps on the promenade every night

Asked about whether she feared for her safety, she replied that Salman was keeping an eye on her from his window and protecting her from all harm. Jain returns to Kolkata every two or three months to arrange for funds to continue her vigil at Bandra. Expressing the belief that she is the perfect match for the famous bachelor, she told mid-day that she has requested security guards of Galaxy Apartments many times to allow her to meet Salman but they keep refusing her.

Recently, Jain created a notarial certificate and an agreement with her husband which states, "We have been living separately since the year 2000. If the police from Ballygunge police station in Kolkata hand over Rita Jain to Salman Khan, the famous Bollywood star, her husband has no objection." The document was drawn up in the presence of two witnesses in a Kolkata-based court.

Die-hard Salman Khan fan Rita Jain at Bandstand in Bandra on February 14. Pic/Ashish Raje

Jain told this reporter, "I got married to a man in 1999, but we separated soon after. I had fallen in love with Salman Khan after the release of Maine Pyar Kiya. I have followed his career closely and watched all his movies. I separated from my husband because Salman is my only love. In 2016, when Sultan was released and I saw him seriously injured in the movie, I decided to marry him. I even informed the local police station about my plans, but they refused to realise them."

"I shared my personal feelings with Salman on his Instagram page but received no response. A few years ago, I messaged him on Instagram before leaving my home in Kolkata. I've been residing on the promenade ever since in the hope of meeting Salman. Since he is not married yet, I believe I am the perfect wife for him. My love is being tested by fate, but I am confident that one day, it will be requited," said Jain.

Not an isolated case

According to the police, numerous die-hard fans wait outside Galaxy Apartments to meet Salman. Just a few days ago, a female fan vandalised benches on the promenade, leading to the Bandra police registering a non-cognisable (NC) offence against her. Senior Inspector Sanjay Marathe of the Bandra police station said, "We released the woman after finding her mentally unstable. The woman claimed that she had vandalised the benches after witnessing a man arguing with the cops and abusing them for not allowing him to sit on the benches late at night."

Actor at Film City in Goregaon in June 2023. File Pic/Satej Shinde

A security guard at Galaxy Apartments told mid-day, "Hundreds of fans come to see Salman daily. They click photos and ask us to let them see the star. Many women tell us that Salman is their husband while others claim he is their boyfriend. We don't believe them as we know that they cook up stories to meet the star. Several girls have slit their wrists in front of us. We inform the Bandra police when this happens and they help out in these situations. Around three women live on the Bandstand promenade and they have been coming by every day for years with the hope of meeting Salman. We keep telling them to go home but they don't listen."

The guard added, "We have made sure many girls go back home but they return to the city to meet Salman. In such cases, we inform the Bandra police. The actor's staff purchases tickets and, with the help of the railway police, sends rabid fans back to their respective homes. Some go back but others get down from the train midway and return to Bandstand. It's not safe to sleep on the promenade at night as drug addicts roam about after sunset. Salman doesn't want his fans to get into any trouble. He has instructed us to allow fans to take photos outside the building and keep them safe at any cost. Cops are also present outside the building, which is of help to us."

1989
Year Jain fell for Salman Khan