Salman Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, Shilpa Shetty, More Bollywood Stars Mourn Baba Siddique's Death: 'Shocked Beyond...'

Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar, was tragically shot and killed by three unidentified individuals in Bandra East, Mumbai, on Saturday evening. Following the incident, he was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he was declared brought dead. His untimely passing has sent shockwaves across the country, particularly within the Bollywood fraternity, as Baba was known for his close ties to numerous stars.

The news of Siddique’s death has drawn heartfelt tributes from various celebrities who had the privilege of knowing him. Riteish Deshmukh took to his official X account to express his sorrow, writing, “Extremely saddened and shocked beyond words to learn about the tragic demise of Shri #BabaSiddique ji. My heart goes out to @zeeshan_iyc and the entire family. May God give them strength to brave this difficult time. The perpetrators of this horrific crime must be brought to justice.”

Priya Dutt, former Member of the Lok Sabha and sister to actor Sanjay Dutt, shared her grief on social media. “Today, I’m shaken by the news of Baba Siddique’s tragic death; it has shocked me. Baba was more than a political associate; he was family. To my father, Baba Siddique was like a son, and to me, he was a brother and a dear friend. Throughout my father’s political journey and beyond, he stood steadfast by his side. When I entered politics, he guided me through its ups and downs, offering his unwavering support. His loss feels like the departure of a family member. My heart bleeds for Bhabhi, Zeeshan, and Arshia. May God grant them the resilience to bear this immense sorrow. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Farewell, dear brother.” She also visited Baba Siddique’s family at the Lilavati hospital.

As the news spread, Bollywood stars, including Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty, Veer Pahariya and Raj Kundra, were seen arriving at Lilavati Hospital to offer their condolences to Siddique’s grieving family. Shilpa Shetty was notably seen breaking down in tears as she left the hospital in her car, visibly shaken by the loss of her friend.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also visited the hospital late night. During a press conference, he addressed the public, stating that two individuals had already been arrested in connection with the shooting of Baba Siddique. The Chief Minister promised that the case would be handled in a fast-track court, ensuring swift justice for the family. “This is an extremely unfortunate incident, and I spoke to the doctors and police. Two people have been arrested; the accused are from UP and Haryana. The third accused is absconding. We have instructed Mumbai Police to take strict action against those who take the law and order into their hands… I am sure that Mumbai police will soon arrest the third accused,” he assured.

In light of this devastating news, Salman Khan has reportedly cancelled the shoot of Bigg Boss 18 Weekend Ka Vaar to mourn the loss of his close friend Baba Siddique. The bond between the two was well known. Salman was also a regular at Baba Siddique’s annual Iftar parties.