Baba Siddique accidentally played a role in uniting two megastars of Bollywood.

Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was shot dead in Mumbai’s Bandra district today. Mr Siddique, a political veteran in Maharashtra, quit the Congress after nearly five decades of association with the party and joined the Nationalist Congress Party, allied with the ruling BJP, in February this year.

He had served as a minister when the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP coalition government were in power.

Mr Siddique was known not only for his political connections across party lines but also for throwing lavish parties. At one such party in 2013, Mr. Siddique accidentally played a role in uniting two megastars of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan.

Despite occasional conflicts and well-publicized disagreements, the two actors have maintained a bond over the years. A significant moment in their relationship occurred at Baba Siddique’s Iftaar party in 2013, which ended a five-year cold war.

The Iftaar party hosted by Mr Siddique became the backdrop for the much-awaited reconciliation between the Khans. Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, who had previously avoided each other after a heated argument at Katrina Kaif’s birthday bash in 2008, finally came face to face. The tension that had overshadowed their relationship dissolved as they warmly greeted each other and embraced each other deeply. A photo capturing the moment went viral on social media and news channels alike.