Did Hande Ercel Really Say ‘Who Is This Uncle’ About Shah Rukh Khan? Here’s What the Turkish Actor Said

Turkish actor Hande Ercel found herself unexpectedly trending in India after attending the Joy Awards 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

A viral claim suggested that she had referred to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan as "uncle" in an Instagram story, triggering widespread debate online. As speculation intensified, Ercel stepped forward to dismiss the claim and bring clarity to the controversy.

How the 'Who is this uncle?' rumour began

The controversy originated from a short video recorded during the Joy Awards ceremony. In the clip, Shah Rukh Khan could be seen on stage while Hande Ercel was filming from the audience. Many viewers assumed she was recording Khan out of admiration, leading to posts claiming she was a fan of the Bollywood icon.

Soon after, a screengrab began circulating on social media, allegedly showing Ercel's Instagram story. The message read, "Who is this uncle? I was just filming @aminakhalilofficial, I am not his fan!! Please stop spreading false information!!" The screenshot quickly went viral, fuelling further speculation.

Hande Ercel calls out the viral claim as fake

An X user shared the screengrab with a detailed post claiming that Ercel had denied knowing Shah Rukh Khan and referred to him as "uncle." The post stated, "Shah Rukh Khan went to host Joy Awards 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A clip of Turkish actress Hande Ercel went viral in which SRK was on stage. News was made that Hande is a fangirl of SRK, but she denied even knowing SRK and referred to him as uncle."

Hande Ercel directly responded to the post with a brief clarification, writing, "This is fake." Her response effectively shut down the rumour and confirmed that the circulating screenshot was not genuine.

What the Joy Awards videos actually showed

A review of Ercel's social media posts from the Joy Awards offers a clearer picture. Several stories shared by the actor featured her close friend, Egyptian actor Amina Khalil, who was also co hosting the event. In most of the videos, Ercel tagged Amina and focused the camera on her presence at the ceremony.

Shah Rukh Khan appeared only momentarily in one of the clips, supporting the explanation that Ercel was filming her friend and the event atmosphere rather than the Bollywood star. Amina Khalil also shared similar content from the same evening on her own social media handles.

Who is Hande Ercel

Hande Ercel is one of Turkey's most popular actors and fashion icons. She rose to fame through successful Turkish television dramas and has built a massive fan base across Europe, the Middle East and South Asia. Alongside acting, Ercel is a prominent model and brand ambassador, regularly attending international fashion shows and award ceremonies.

Known for her strong screen presence and style influence, she is also among the most followed Turkish celebrities on Instagram. Over the years, Ercel has spoken about her interest in global cinema, including Indian films, which has further expanded her popularity beyond Turkey.

Shah Rukh Khan, meanwhile, was last seen in 2023 releases Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki. He is currently shooting for Siddharth Anand's upcoming film King, which also stars Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone and Abhishek Bachchan.