Aishwarya Rai

It’s by design and not merely coincidence that Salman Khan and his once-upon-a-time girlfriend Aishwarya Rai haven’t come face-to-face after she became Mrs Bachchan. Salman Khan has been going out of his way to avoid encounters of any kind with his ex.

Khan has been using all the evasion tactics (placing an informer at public events, marriages and private parties) to update him about the movements of the Bachchans so he doesn’t find himself at the same venue as Ash and her new hubby, who is always by her side at every event.

At the wedding reception of the Wizcraft MD, held on November 22, at Taj Lands End in Bandra, Sallu made a back-door entry to the ballroom with brother Sohail Khan and bodyguard Shera minutes after the Bachchans (Amitabh, Aishwarya and Abhishek) left the premises. Sallu made sure he didn’t make his entry until AB’s Baby and Bahu had exited.

A highly placed source present at the reception told HiTLIST that Salman had asked his bodyguard Shera, who was present at the reception, to keep him informed about their arrival and departure. The source adds, “Shera was constantly in touch with the groom’s guest coordinator and as the Bachchans walked out of the venue at around 10. 50 pm, the actor was given the green signal to make his red carpet entry. Even so, Salman opted for a quiet back entry with his brother and bodyguard.”

According to sources, Salman checks the guestlist before attending any event. If he sees the names of the people he hates or wants to avoid, he makes a point to send his informers ahead, who then coordinate with the actor. No wonder you don’t see Khan bumping into John Abraham, Akshay Kumar and Shahid Kapur at events.