Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; June 4, 2015)

Rumour mills are abuzz with stories about growing distance  between Salman Khan and his Kick (2014) heroine Jacqueline Fernandez, who had apparently become more-than-friends during the film’s making. But if recent events are any indication, Jacqueline seems to be no longer on Salman’s radar.

A clear hint in this direction came from Salman himself. During a Bollywood awards ceremony in Dubai recently, Salman was talking about his buddy filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala and his plans to direct him again in Kick 2. “Sajid and I will work together then… whenever it happens. However, there will be no Jacqueline. She has been ‘Kick’ed out. Now we will find someone else,” the star reportedly said.

Says a source, “Salman may have made this statement in his inimitable humorous style, but it is a telltale sign of things not being well between him and Jacky. Salman is known to reveal what is on his mind through his trademark wisecracks.”

There were other signs of their growing distance too. Jacqueline was conspicuous by her absence when the entire industry turned up at Salman’s house to extend moral support post his hit-and-run court verdict. Though it was claimed that she was travelling then, she didn’t talk about him on social media either.

Earlier, Jacky had been roped in to do an item number in Salman’s upcoming production Hero — the launchpad for star kids Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty. However, the makers decided to drop the song though the actress had already started rehearsing for it. The reason strangely was that the film would become too long if the item number was incorporated.

Last December, Salman had visited Sri Lanka at Jacqueline’s behest to visit her restaurant there besides conducting eye camps as part of his charitable foundation and cavass for former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakasa. In January, she had been part of Sallu’s show Bigg Boss to promote her film Roy. But things seem to have change since then.

The actress was unavailable for comment.