Fostered connections between politicos and film stars at his iftar parties
MUMBAI: The murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Maharashtra legislator-turned-minister Baba Ziauddin Siddique has shocked not only people of the state and those belonging to his party, but the leaders and activists of rival outfits as well. He was shot dead by three assailants in Bandra East on Saturday evening as he was getting into his car after leaving his son’s office. Mumbai police have now confirmed the involvement of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, the prime accused in the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, in Siddique’s killing. Incidentally, Siddique’s murder comes six months after Bishnoi gang members fired shots at Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s home in Mumbai. Given Siddique’s connections with B-Town superstars, particularly Salman, police are now investigating potential links between these events.
Siddique, a three-time MLA and former Maharashtra Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies, built a strong relationship with veteran Congress leader and actor-director Sunil Dutt early in his career. While this connection played a key role in helping him secure his MLA candidacy, it also helped him make inroads into Bombay’s film circles. Even as advancing politically, Siddique also gained fame by hosting lavish iftar parties attended by the who’s who of Bollywood. From Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan to Sunil Dutt’s son Sanjay Dutt and Shilpa Shetty, his gatherings attracted numerous A-listers and prominent politicians, thus also fostering interaction between the two groups.
The influence Siddique and his parties had on these celebrities became particularly evident to all in 2013 when he played mediator in ending the five-year feud between Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, as the politician paved the way for the two to hug each other and make up at his iftar party at a five star hotel in Mumbai. Shah Rukh and Salman had never spoken to each other since an ugly brawl at Katrina Kaif’s birthday bash in 2008.
However, at the 2013 iftar party, NDTV reported, Siddique seated Shah Rukh next to Salman’s father and legendary screenwriter Salim Khan. This setup led to a heartwarming moment where Salman patted SRK on the shoulder and the two soon embraced, effectively ending one of Bollywood’s most talked-about rivalries. In the midst of this reconciliation stood Baba Siddique. “They both wanted it… Allah shows the way. I had no role to play,” India Today quoted the politician as saying back then, thus maintaining an image of humbleness.
Not just the big stars, the politico also welcomed smaller celebrities to his iftar parties, ensuring they received equal treatment. A photo featuring then-emerging actors Sushant Singh Rajput and Ankita Lokhande happily interacting with him highlights this inclusivity. He consistently attracted a diverse array of stars, from Shehnaaz Gill and Kapil Sharma to Urmila Matondkar and Jackie Shroff.
At the same time, his connections with these celebrities extended beyond the iftar gatherings. This was evident when Salman, Sanjay Dutt and Shilpa Shetty rushed to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital, where Siddique was admitted after being shot at. Shilpa was visibly emotional as she left the hospital in her car.
Agencies