TED’s lineup this year had an especially strong roster of intellectual and cultural celebrities, from Pope Francis, Serena Williams to Elon Musk, but Khan’s presence has most excited those outside the theater. Several dozen die hard “King Khan” fans camped out in the Vancouver airport and outside the convention center to watch his talk on video monitors, or perhaps catch a glimpse of their idol.

“Imagine Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, and Harrison Ford in one person,” explained a TED attendee who grew up watching Khan’s movies in Pakistan.

TED has tapped Khan to host its new all-Hindi television series, TED Talks India: Nayi Soch (new thinking). The eight-episode series debuts on the country’s Star Network in September.

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