Bollywood star Salman Khan appeared as chief guest at the launch of Kenz de Rasasi, a new fragrance brand from Rasasi Perfumes, at the Beautyworld Middle East exhibition held in Za'abeel Hall 6 at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Tuesday.
Hundreds of fans had packed the exhibition hall's aisles around the brand's booth by 2.30pm, standing shoulder to shoulder in anticipation. Although the launch was originally scheduled for 2pm, Khan did not arrive until around 4pm and left shortly after without addressing the crowd.
The delay meant that some fans, despite hours of waiting, missed his brief appearance entirely. Fan Maha Noor said: "I have been a fan since I was a baby. I like him because he is handsome, he is funny, he has a charisma, and he is our bhai." Another fan, Mohammad Imran, said: "I love him because he is the king of Bollywood, and I watch his movies."
Those positioned closer to the booth managed to capture short video clips of his appearance on their phones. The event once again demonstrated the pull Bollywood stars continue to hold over Dubai's large South Asian fan base, with their presence at commercial and trade events capable of drawing significant crowds.
Beautyworld Middle East is one of the region's largest trade exhibitions dedicated to fragrance, cosmetics and personal care, bringing together brands from around the world each year to unveil new products in Dubai.