When Baba Siddique ended infamous Shah Rukh Khan-Salman Khan feud at his 2013 party

Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, who was shot dead in Mumbai on Saturday, has always had close bonds with B-town stars. He often threw parties in which several A-listers gathered and socialised. In one such party in 2013, Siddique ended the long-standing feud between actors Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan.

The rift between the two Khans had started in 2008 after an argument at Katrina Kaif's birthday bash. The two stars avoided each other for nearly five years due to the feud.

The feud finally ended at Siddique's iftar party on April 17, 2013. At the time, Siddique was serving as an MLA from Bandra West constituency. At the gathering, Siddique is said to have strategically seated Shah Rukh Khan next to Salman Khan's father, Salim Khan. This was done to ensure the two stars came face-to-face.

As planned, Shah Rukh and Salman greeted and hugged each other. The moment was captured on cameras, and it became a major thing on the internet.

For those unaware, Siddique represented Bandra (West) seat three times, i.e., in1999, 2004, and 2009, as a Congress MLA. His son Zeeshan Siddique is also a Congress MLA from Mumbai.

He quit Congress to join the NCP in February this year. However, Siddique did not cite any reason for his decision to leave the party. He only stated that “some things are better left unsaid."

Siddique has been a minister of state for food and civil supplies, labour and FDA in the state government (2004-08) and was also a municipal corporator for two consecutive terms. He also served as the chairperson and senior vice-president of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee and parliamentary board member of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.

Siddique was killed by three men at Kher Nagar in Mumbai just outside his son’s office around 9.30 pm on Saturday. He was taken to Lilavati Hospital where he was declared dead.