Michael Jackson's Mumbai Tour of 1996

The death of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, brings back the memories of his tryst with the Celluloid city - MUMBAI ,13 years ago, when he mesmerised thousands of Mumbaikars with his performance at jam packed concert

Michael 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.During his short stay here, life in Mumbai centred around MJ and his "stories".
The King of Pop, arrived in Mumbai on October 30th,1996 at Mumbai's Sahar airport in his private jet.Lakhs of people had thronged the airport to catch a glimpse of him. Jackson was greeted by Sonali Bendre clad in a nine-yard sari and a Maharashtrian nathni (nose ring), standing with an aarti thali to welcome MJ, along with Raj Thackeray, Sharmila Thackeray and innumerable politicians who were there to receive Jackson.

The actress welcomed Jackson by performing 'aarti' and applying 'tilak' on his forehead, at the Mumbai airport.Outside, Raj had organised a performance by a troupe of lezhim dancers with dholaks, and they wore traditional Maharashtrian clothes.

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.He picked up several children and hugged and kissed them.

He then spent a few minutes with them before he proceeded to the Shiv Sena chief, Bal Thackeray’s residence, Matushree, in Bandra East. Here he was presented with a silver tabla and tanpura, which are musical instruments from India.
It is reported that He autographed the toilet he used at Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's House. Thackeray is said to still proudly point out the signed loo

Later that evening, at the special bash organized in his honour by Bharat Shah (Organiser of the concert) at the Oberoi, he made a mere three minute appearance. Apparently, the singer had a late night before and wanted to retire to his room early. The crème de la crème of the Indian Entertainment Industry and Royal Families were there.
Most of them of course, were left high and dry except for the actor Anupam Kher perhaps who to the initiative of jumping on the stage and grabbing Michael’s hand with a, ‘Yeah Michael, yeah!’.Bharat Shah presented Michael with a silver replica of the Taj Mahal at the same party.

Shobha De (A Writer) was the next to gain inspiration and she even told the Press later,




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.

According to Butler Manager, Sandeep Walia, who was attending to him with a team of three butlers, Michael loves sweet white wine. That is probably the only kind of alcohol that he consumed during his stay at the Oberoi. Apart from that, he loves orange drinks, Fanta being his favorite and a special German orange drink, Gatorade, which he carries with him. Michael drinks a lot of Diet Coke as well, prefers his drinks at room temperature. Jackson has a penchant for chocolates too, so The Oberoi made sure there were chocolates, of all shapes, sizes and flavours kept in every reachable corner of his room.

Michael Jackson likes a lot of festivity around him. The Kohinoor Suite at the Oberoi was decorated with flowers, balloons, confetti and bowls of sweets and chocolates to give it a spirit of celebration. While in his room, Jackson does not like to use the air-conditioner. He also likes his space. His body-guards have been instructed not to come close to him to give him enough space to move around.


Jackson asked The Oberoi for an LLD player and a television, as well as a CD player for his personal use. He travels with his own library of CDs and LDs and spends most of the time indoors, watching films.

Okay this is something that will really please his fans in India. According to one of his security men, India is not his new love. Jackson has always wanted to visit the country and the last time his show got cancelled he was very disappointed and upset.

During his stay in Mumbai, Jackson relished several Indian cuisine, including South Indian and Mughlai.

On his first morning here, he ate masala dosa and the day after that, he had spicy alu paranthas with butter. His other meals mainly comprised of butter naans, butter chicken, tandoori chicken and spicy vegetable curries. His personal chef is of Indian origin and she co-ordinated his meals with the other chefs at the hotel.

Michael Jackson definitely has a predilection for Indian food but wait till you hear this

The world knows he loves kids and there are many in our country who wish, they were kids, because Michael only seemed to have time for them while he was here.

Children from orphanages were invited to meet and play with him at a high tea organised at the hotel pool side. He gave them gifts and chocolates that he had brought with him.

The Hotel sources had then said there was a party for kids organised in his room as well, on the day of the show itself. About 50 children were invited and he ordered cakes and burgers for them.He had asked the hotel to provide him with a few saris which he wanted draped around the sofas during the photo session with the kids, to give his pictures the ethnic effect.

Burkhas were arranged for Michael because he wanted to visit Aasha Daan, Mother Teresa’s ashram in Byculla. But due to an extremely tight schedule he wasn’t able to fulfill his desire.

He would pick up his own newspapers from outside the door, which was normally very late in the morning. Michael is a late riser. When he returned to the hotel lobby after his mind blowing show, he folded his hands in a namaste and blew kisses to all his fans before he got into the elevator. According to the staff, he was as energetic after the show, as he was before it perhaps! The two-hour-15-minute long performance hadn’t fatigued him in the least.




Bruce Springsteen and Bryan Adams came before him. And Bon Jovi, Elton John and Enrique Iglesias much later. But Mumbai only talks about Michael Jackson performing live at the Andheri Sports Complex in November 1996.

The over two-hour long performance on November 1 at the Andheri Sports Complex was a spectacular event,with fans lapping up every moment. The special effects were truly awesome and as for Michael, he can deservedly be called the best performer in the world. For those present at the show, it was an out of body experience!

For his show Michael flew in all his equipment in three Russian Antanov cargo planes. The stage was 60 ft. deep and 210 ft. wide and he had three teams to work on it – an assembling team, a dismantling team and a standby team as well. That’s what they call perfect organization. It took at least 24 hours to erect the whole structure and prepare it for the show and less than six hours to bring it down. The green room was beneath the stage and had four divisions – The meditation room, the rest room, the photography room and the VIP guest room. The rest room was ornately done in true Indian tradition, with regal décor befitting the King (read Maharaja) of Pop. This room had 20 air-conditioners installed and was christened the Air-Conditioned Marquee. Michael uses the photography room for photography sessions. The fortunate few who were allowed to accompany him under the stage, were his bodyguards, his tour manager and his wardrobe manager.

The tank that was used on the stage as a prop in “The Earth Song” was made of blocks of plywood, though it appeared as authentic as a battle tank. The other props, such as the dilapidated buildings and the shuttle Michael used to make a grand entrance in, was also made of collapsible material that could easily be dismantled.

A special route was chalked out for Michael to drive into the Andheri Stadium with his entourage. And it was only at 8.30 pm that he actually reached the stadium.

The King of Pop Michael Jackson made a grand entry,which i guess never has been seen before and after that. Michael Jackson was brought down a crane amid a cloud of artificial smoke. There was thunderous applause and screams.


The show had its own tender moments, when it left everyone present in tears. And that included Michael who was moved to tears at the overwhelming response he received from the Indian audience for the first time.
Michael Jackson's Mumbai tour had also triggered controversy with critics questioning Sena's notions of culture. They saw something alien in the values the singer represented and said "Who is Michael Jackson and how on earth is he linked to Hindu culture."

Bal Thackeray responded to the critics saying

After Michael Jackson had gone, when the hotel was preparing his suite for the next VVIP guest, they found Jackson’s gift to them: rather mischievously the great singer had scribbled a message for India and Indians Fans on the pillow that he had slept on,

Bharat Shah, jeweller and film-financier, bought the pillow for a fabulous amount in an auction held for charity. I don’t know what he did with it. But Michael Jackson’s promise to return to India remains unfulfilled. R. I. P. MJ

One stunning post Knotty!

Surely I'll miss him!

RIP MJ and thanks for all those songs!

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Agnel's Signature:

The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds;
and the pessimist fears this is true

Amazing post.

I will miss my all time childhood fav artist . Beat it, beat it .

I am feeling BAD abt the great loss

His Music and Songs will live forever amongst us

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xXx's Signature:

RIP MJ . You'll among us with your music

P.S. Never knew Bal Thackeray organized this :O

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Saiyan's Signature:

Btw how come the A list of Bollywood not there. We see Sonali, Anupam but what about the Khans and Bacchans They hadn't come for the event?

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Safin's Signature:

Have Fun, Take part in debates, Read jokes, Ogle at Celebs; Just follow the Rules!

“There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is having lots to do and not doing it.”

Stuff notty.....repped ya

We Miss you MJ.....RIP...

In childhood days,used to steal money from dad to buy his posters..His Music has made him Immortal already....

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Kimi's Signature:

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gaan's Signature:

great compilation notty

After Michael Jackson had gone, when the hotel was preparing his suite for the next VVIP guest, they found Jackson’s gift to them: rather mischievously the great singer had scribbled on the pillow he had slept on,

Bharat Shah, jeweller and film-financier, bought the pillow for a fabulous amount in an auction held for charity. I don’t know what he did with it. But Michael Jackson’s promise to return to India remains unfulfilled. R. I. P.

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knoughtyd's Signature: