Clad in a black baju Melayu, complete with samping and songkok, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan looked resplendent today as he received his Datukship from Malacca governor Mohd Khalil Yaakob.

shahrukh khanAccording to Bernama, the 43-year-old actor held the estimated 1,000 guests at the investiture spellbound as he received the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM) award, conferred on him and 76 others in conjunction with the 70th birthday of Mohd Khalil on Oct 11.

Khan was tied down with a busy work schedule and could not fly in from Mumbai to receive the award on two earlier occasions.

He arrived at the Dewan Seri Negeri in Malacca at 10.55am today, and ever the showman, smiled and waved to his fans as he was escorted into the hall.

All eyes were glued on the actor, with local and foreign photographers as well as guests, clicking away on their camera phones from their seats in the hall.

The baju Melayu Khan wore was sponsored by Sovereign Wear Sdn Bhd and the official Malacca state samping made of songket was sponsored by Institut Seni Malaysia Melaka.

Mohd Khalil's wife, Zurina Kassim, Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam and his wife, Asmah Abdul Rahman, were also present at the investiture today.

Khan, who is the first foreign actor to be bestowed the DMSM, has received more than 40 awards in the entertainment and film industry.

Contentious award

At a joint news conference with Mohd Ali later, Khan repeatedly thanked the governor and the Malacca state government for the award bestowed upon him.

"Thank you to the Malacca government for this prestigious award. I was so honoured to receive this award that was given by a country that does not even understand my language," said Khan, adding that he is planning to shoot a movie in the state.

"Malacca has beautiful scenery and I will promote this country to the world," promised Khan.

Although it was smiles all round today, the award has proved contentious, with some critics suggesting it should go to local artists or celebrities rather than a foreign actor like Khan.

Since the filming of his 2001 movie, One 2 Ka 4 at a popular resort in Malacca, the number of Indian tourists to the state has increased significantly, state officials say.

Malaysia has become a popular location for Indian films, which have a huge following among ethnic Indians and the majority Muslim-Malays.