Michael Jackson Tryst with Mumbai 1996

Jackson performed at a packed concert here in 1996. The event was organised by Shiv Udyog Sena, an outfit floated by then Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray with the objective of providing jobs to 27 lakh youth in Maharashtra. The popstar arrived in Mumbai on October 30 and was greeted in traditional Indian style by actress Sonali Bendre, who wore a traditional Maharashtrian saree for the occasion. The actress welcomed Jackson by performing 'aarti' and applying 'tilak' on his forehead, at the Mumbai airport. The popstar, when being driven in a 20-car motorcade from the air port, stopped his Toyota to meet the urchins lined up along the highway to catch a glimpse of him. Jackson visited Sena chief Bal Thackeray's residence, 'Matoshree', in suburban Bandra. The Thackerays presented him with a silver 'tabla' and 'tanpura'. During his stay at The Oberoi Hotel, Jackson surprised the entire staff by mingling freely among his fans, who thronged at the hotel to catch a glimpse of the 'King of Pop'. "He greeted his fans with smiles and by blowing kisses and shook hands with as many of them as possible," hotel sources recount. India Abroad 11-08-1996 Michael Jackson Grips Fans at Mumbai Concert. Until the moment Michael Jackson's private jet touched the runway at Sahar International Airport on Oct. 30, no one was willing to wager a bet that the King of Pop would keep his historical tryst with Mumbai. And from the moment the pop icon emerged from the airport and cooed his standard "I love you all very much," Jacksonomania gripped this Western Indian metropolis, making even normally sensible people do funny things.