05 October,2009 07:10 AM IST | | Shaheen Parkar
PS: A sign of things to come? No more lavish saalgirahs for SRK's biwi at Mannat?
Late on Friday night, Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan left for Italy. The reason for the quiet getaway is to celebrate Gauri's birthday (on October 8).
As she turns 40, SRK's biwi wanted to do something special to say goodbye to the 30s.
Sources say that this year, Gauri had no intentions of throwing a big bash like every year at Mannat. She wanted to celebrate her big day only with people really close to her and without being under public glare.
And knowing what happens at birthday bashes (read: Salman's infamous bash for Katrina last year), Gauri prefers to have a quiet birthday.
It is learnt that SRK-Gauri's good friend Kaajal Anand is accompanying them. Karan Johar might join them just before the birthday.
As the source puts it, "Gauri did not want her birthday to be a media event. She is a very private person and wanted to ring in her 40th birthday doing things that they can't do otherwise. By going on a holiday and indulging in all the touristy things like sightseeing, eating out and shopping."
Gauri chose Rome over the US, London and Dubaiu00a0- their favourite holiday spots as there are fewer chances of them being recognised in Europe. "They don't want people chasing them for snapshots and autographs. They want to be anonymous."
Last year, Gauri had thrown a lavish bash at Mannat with the who's who of B-Town in attendance.
