Shatrughan Sinha wishes PM Modi on eve of his 76th birthday, shares throwback photos
Synopsis
Shatrughan Sinha beat the birthday rush — posting advance wishes for PM Modi's 76th a full day early, with throwback photos and a candid note explaining he didn't want his message swamped by the deluge expected on 17 September. The gesture from a former BJP colleague, now with the TMC, carries more than just sentiment.
Key Takeaways
Shatrughan Sinha posted advance birthday wishes for PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday, 16 September 2026 — a day before the actual birthday.
Sinha shared two throwback photographs with Modi on X (formerly Twitter) , alongside a lengthy personal note.
PM Modi turns 76 on 17 September 2026 and has served as Prime Minister since May 2014 .
Sinha explained he wished Modi early so his message would not get 'lost in the flood of good well wishes' on the day itself.
Sinha, a former BJP MP and minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee , is currently associated with the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) .
Actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha took to social media on Wednesday to extend advance birthday wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of his 76th birthday on 17 September 2026. Sinha shared two throwback photographs with the Prime Minister and explained, in a lengthy caption, why he chose to wish him a day early.
What Sinha Said
In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Sinha wrote: 'Wishing you in advance before it gets lost in the flood of good well wishes tomorrow. How do you like the idea Sirji? Many happy returns of the day for our friend, friend of society, hon'ble PM @narendramodi. May you be blessed with great well-being, love, happiness, peace & a very healthy long life ahead. God Bless! #BirthdayWishes'
The reasoning was candid — Sinha wanted his message to stand out before it could be drowned in the torrent of wishes expected to pour in on the actual birthday. The post accompanied two throwback images of the two public figures together.
PM Modi Turns 76
Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 76 on 17 September 2026. He has served as India's Prime Minister since May 2014, making this his 12th birthday in office. His tenure has been marked by flagship programmes including Digital India, Make in India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and large-scale infrastructure development. Notably, his birthday is typically accompanied by public service events, welfare drives, and community activities organised by supporters and aligned organisations across the country.
Who Is Shatrughan Sinha
A veteran of Hindi cinema and Indian politics alike, Shatrughan Sinha is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). He entered electoral politics in the 1990s as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), representing Patna Sahib as a Member of Parliament. He subsequently served as Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and later as Union Minister of Shipping under the government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Sinha parted ways with the BJP and joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 2019, before aligning with the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) — a party that recently lost its stronghold of West Bengal to the BJP. His birthday message to Modi, therefore, carries a degree of cross-party significance, coming as it does from a political opponent turned well-wisher.
The Bigger Picture
The post is a reminder of the layered personal relationships that often cut across political lines in Indian public life. Sinha and Modi have a long shared history in the BJP, making the gesture as much a personal one as it is a political signal. As Modi marks another year in the country's highest office, the birthday spotlight will inevitably extend beyond well-wishes to commentary on the government's policy record and electoral momentum.
Point of View
But Sinha's explanation — wishing early to avoid being drowned out — reflects the scale of the Modi personality cult that now shapes even how opponents choose to engage with the Prime Minister. For a TMC-affiliated figure to publicly and warmly address Modi as 'our friend' signals the blurry personal loyalties that persist beneath sharp political divisions. It is worth noting that as Modi enters his 76th year, the question most observers are really asking is not about birthday wishes but about succession, third-term legacy, and whether the BJP's 2029 electoral calculus remains as Modi-centric as it has been since 2014.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Shatrughan Sinha wish PM Modi a day before his birthday?
Sinha said he wanted to wish Modi in advance so his message would not get lost in the large volume of birthday greetings expected on 17 September 2026. He posted his wishes on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday along with throwback photographs of the two together.
When is PM Modi's 76th birthday?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 76 on 17 September 2026. He has served as India's Prime Minister since May 2014, making this his 12th birthday in office.
What did Shatrughan Sinha write in his birthday post for PM Modi?
Sinha wrote: 'Wishing you in advance before it gets lost in the flood of good well wishes tomorrow... Many happy returns of the day for our friend, friend of society, hon'ble PM @narendramodi. May you be blessed with great well-being, love, happiness, peace & a very healthy long life ahead.' He also included the hashtag #BirthdayWishes.
What is Shatrughan Sinha's political background?
Shatrughan Sinha is a veteran actor-politician who served as a BJP Member of Parliament from Patna Sahib and held ministerial portfolios under PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He joined the Indian National Congress in 2019 and is currently associated with the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Is Shatrughan Sinha currently in the BJP?
No. Sinha left the BJP and joined the Indian National Congress in 2019 before moving to the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), which recently lost its stronghold of West Bengal to the BJP.
