Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; August 1, 2016)

Before he leaves for Ladakh for Kabir Khan’s Tubelight, Salman Khan is wrapping up commitments in Mumbai. The star shot for an ad with Kick co-star Jacqueline Fernandez in a Bandra studio on Friday, but the schedule lasted much longer than expected. Reason? Salman put it on hold to catch up with Deepika Padukone, who was at the same studio.

Says a source, “While getting ready to face the camera, Salman was told that Deepika was also shooting on the same floor. So, he decided to meet her and they ended up chatting for a long time.” The socialising led to an almost two-hour delay in his ad shoot. Jacky, too, reached late for a press meet for the ninth season of dance reality show, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, which she is judging.

The source adds that Salman and Deepika were not too friendly earlier, but after meeting each other at recent social events, they have struck a rapport: “They came close to be cast together on a few occasions, but their pairing has, so far, been jinxed. But, with Deepika now likely to work with Salman in Tubelight, they are bonding big time.”

Salman and Deepika were unavailable for comment.