Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 19, 2016)

Mirror (September 17) recently reported that Shraddha Kapoor was taking time off from her busy schedule to attend her best friend Eshanka Wahi's wedding in Dubai next month. Now, we hear that Alia Bhatt flew off to Spain on Friday at midnight after wrapping up the second schedule of Shashank Khaitan's romcom, Badrinath Ki Dulhania, also featuring Varun Dhawan. The 23-year-old actress drove down from Jhansi for eight hours straight to Lucknow from where she caught a flight to Mumbai. Hours after landing in Mumbai, she hopped on to another flight to Spain to surprise her closest pal, Akansha Ranjan, on her birthday.

Akansha was already in the European country, celebrating her birthday week with childhood buddies Meghna Goyal, Tanya Saha Gupta, Devika and Rhea Khurana. The all-girl gang journeyed through Spain catching historical sites like The Plaza de EspaƱa in Seville and the Giralda, bell tower of the Seville Cathedral before landing in Marbella. Alia joined them an hour after Akansha rang in her birthday on September 18, leaving Akansha speechless.

The birthday girl, whom Alia fondly calls Kanchu, thanked her bestie, saying, “Every time I feel you've given me the best birthday, you manage to top yourself! Thanks for another year of having it all. This is the best surprise ever, I love you.“ Overwhelmed, Alia lovingly responded “Saat samundar paar main tere peeche peeche aa agayi.“

The girl gang went out to party at a luxurious roof-terrace club in Marbella called Pangea, known for its panoramic views and music. “They all had a blast shaking a leg to some popular tracks, clicking selfies and gorging on the local delicacies, including ice creams. The hangovers were nursed with organic juice in the morning, followed by a day out in shorts and dresses. They will return to the Bay by Wednesday but will explore Spain's countryside a little more before they head back home. They're enjoying the Paella and plan to hit the spa,“ a source told Mirror.

After Alia returns from her short vacation she will fly off to Singapore to shoot the remaining scenes and songs of Badrinath Ki Dulhania.