Unlike some of his acrimonious partings with former girlfriends, Salman continues to look out for Katrina. Says a friend of Katrina, "They've parted ways quite some time back. But Salman is fiercely protective of her. No one is allowed to badmouth Katrina in Salman's presence, contrary to the bitching sessions that went on till the wee hours when he parted bitterly with some of his other women."
Katrina continues to be 'Katrina Bhabhi' among Salman's friends. This respect that she elicits from the Khan camp reflects more on her personality than on his. To put it briefly, Katrina invites no negativity from the people she is close to. Says a friend, "She doesn't invite proximity. But once you are a part of her close circle, she effortlessly draws you close to the goodness of her heart. It is impossible to be angry or sarcastic with Katrina. Forget about being violent. No man would dare to misbehave with her."
Salman, in all his time with Katrina, never ever showed a violent streak. As she once told a friend, "I don't know what his equation with other women was. I know only that Salman retaliates when provoked. I've never seen that side of him."
There is a cute anecdote that defines Katrina's relationship with Salman. When they were very much together, a close friend of Salman had dropped in at the Khans' residence in Bandra. After a while, Katrina sauntered into the living room wearing a pair of jeans and a casual top. "Baby, it's too skimpy," Salman drawled. Katrina went back inside and came out wearing an even briefer top. Everyone, including Salman and Katrina, laughed. Katrina has an enormously mollifying effect on Salman. I remember once when he was drinking heavily he rang her up to join us. She refused. Sheepishly, Salman confessed, "She won't join us because I'm drinking."
Even now, when they are no longer a couple, Salman will listen to Katrina. He knows she will fearlessly say only what is right for him. She has the knack of cutting across the humbug and getting to the core of a problem. Unlike some of his other girlfriends, Katrina never tried to isolate him from his friends. For a good five years, Salman took her around the film industry recommending her to all his filmmaker friends. Some like David Dhawan happily complied and cast her. Others like Sanjay Leela Bhansali were harder nuts to crack.
Salman wanted Bhansali to cast him and Katrina in Bajirao Mastani. He didn't think that was right casting. Salman moved on. He knew she was star material. Katrina or Sonakshi, Salman knows a star when he sees one.
Now when she's moved on and is fanatically focused on her career, Salman, who is known to be bitter about betrayals, is not the least bitter about Katrina. Says a friend, "She knows she has moved to another level in their relationship where they are no more boyfriend-girlfriend. Salman has attained a level of empathy with Katrina that he has never reached in any previous relationship."
As one friend put it, they are sorted because she is sorted. They are no longer a couple, but Salman Khan continues to look out for Katrina, as he has done in the past for most of his girlfriends. Somy Ali and Sangeeta Bijlani continue to be one distress-call away from the large-hearted Khan. The same is true of Katrina. When last month the Income Tax raid took place at Katrina's residence, Salman was immediately on his phone to find out more details from his friends in the concerned department. And, after the raid, Salman was the first to ring up Katrina asking about her. Says a friend of Katrina, "Salman continues to care for Katrina's well-being. He knows she's alone in Mumbai and he makes regular enquiries about her. After the raid, Salman called up to ask, 'You ok, need anything?' He was as usual terse but he made his point. Katrina knows she has a 4 am friend. But she is quite capable of looking after herself."
That's the other thing that Salman likes about her. She can think clearly during crises. He can't. Says the friend, "Katrina had her sister Isabel over. So she was fine even after the raid. But she was deeply touched by Salman's concern. Salman is in Pune shooting for a film that Katrina said no to. This once he doesn't seem to mind being turned down because he knows Katrina doesn't mean to offend him. He will stand by her and probably be the best-man at her wedding."
Rising to the occasion comes easily and naturally to Katrina. Someone had said after her first film Boom that her career had gone bust. Katrina started from scratch and made a comeback. Somebody said she can't speak Hindi. She got herself a coach. Then someone said Salman will never forgive her for moving on. She proved these naysayers wrong too. Salman continues to be Katrina's friend. She won't let that change.
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