Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was fatally shot in Bandra, Mumbai, on Saturday. He was taken to Lilavati Hospital, where doctors tried to treat him for two bullet wounds. He was 66.
A veteran politician in Maharashtra, Baba Siddique served as a minister during the coalition government of Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP.
How Baba Siddique helped end the feud between Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan
Siddique was well-known for his political connections and his lavish parties. At a memorable event in 2013, he helped bring together two of Bollywood’s biggest stars, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, who were in the middle of a cold war. Shah Rukh and Salman, once good friends, had been avoiding each other since a heated argument at Katrina Kaif's birthday party in 2008. They finally came face to face at the Iftaar party hosted by Siddique, which was the perfect setting for their long-awaited reconciliation.
Baba Siddique's Iftaar parties every Eid were a big deal in South Mumbai's social scene, drawing many Bollywood stars. It’s said that Siddique was asked to help bring Salman and Shah Rukh back together. He seated Shah Rukh next to Salman's father, Salim Khan, at the party.
Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan at Baba Siddique's Iftaar party
In a viral video, Shah Rukh talks to Salim Khan before Salman approaches. Shah Rukh stands up, and the two stars nod at each other before sharing a hug. Baba Siddique then joins them and asks photographers to take pictures.
Baba Siddique was a veteran politician who spent 48 years with the Congress Party before joining the Nationalist Congress Party earlier this year. He served as an MLA for three terms and was also a minister in the Maharashtra government.