Recently Hrithik Roshan’s hi-profile birthday bash saw the who’s who of the film industry gather under one roof, and they all ate, drank and made merry together, so much so that differences were forgotten and even lines were crossed.

The Bachchan-Khan war seems to be a thing of the past, for sure Abhishek and Shah Rukh Khan bonded big time at Hrithik’s party. In fact, after the party, they even drove back to Mannat for the after-bash in the same car! Abhishek, who had come with wife Aishwarya, pulled Gauri onto the dance floor, and did a jig or two!

At Karan Johar’s bash last year, Gauri walked up to Ash and allegedly apologised for all the bad blood that existed between them. And now this relationship has taken a full 360-degree turn... with these power couples spending time with each other at Sonali Bendre’s birthday bash and at another party recently.

Those in the know say that if this spirit of bonhomie continues, there might be a day soon when a filmmaker, who is close to both the Bachchans and the Khans, may just announce a film with SRK and Aishwarya — two of the biggest attractions in the Hindi film industry. Shahrukh Khan took the first move of friendship at a party last year; he went ahead and conversed with Aishwarya from then slowly their friendship grew branches and now developed into a big tree. Today they bond like never before.

It’s because of this special bond that SRK has taken a bold step, which may very rare dare to take. He has acted as a peacemaker between the two warring actors Abhishek Bachchan and Vivek Oberoi. Abhi and Vivek almost stopped talking after Aishwarya dumped him and tied the knot with Abhishek Bachchan. Things went weird after Vivek made some stunning revelation about Ash at Farah Khan show, ‘Tere Mere Beech Main’. But now Shahrukh Khan thought that they should end the truce and join hand. With this motive, he invited Abhi, Ash and Vivek to his party at ‘Mannat’. As has become usual norm, Shah Rukh Khan and gang continued with their party at ‘Mannat’ after Hrithik Roshan’s birthday celebrations got over at the hot spot.

A source close to Vivek says, “Shah Rukh certainly did not want any of his guests to feel tense at his home. Besides, he had personally invited Abhishek, Aishwarya, Vivek and many others to Mannat, when they met at Hrithik’s birthday party in Juhu.”

The grapevine has it that Shah Rukh Khan so astutely handled the situation that it became lighter the moment he saw it getting tensed up between the two warring factions. However, Shah Rukh Khan was careful enough not to let know anyone of them that he was trying to make the atmosphere lighter due to their perceived enmity.

The end result of Shah Rukh effort was that Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya and Vivek Oberoi partied with all others of the fraternity at Manant and enjoyed every bit of it. Shahrukh helped the two gentlemen to erase the discomfort and created a lighter and friendly atmosphere between the two. The two actors after a while seemed comfortable at each other’s company.

Vivek was also seen bridging the gap between him and the Senior Bachchans by talking to Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan. It may be recalled that only a day prior to this, Vivek had taken the initiative to speak to Aishwarya’s father-in-law Amitabh at an awards function saying, “Sir, it has been a long time, aap to aaj kal baat hi nahin karte.” In turn, Amitabh had given him a patient ear and also shared a few laughs with him. The three got along very well.

After joining Shah Rukh Khan camp (recently Vivek called SRK his godfather in industry), this is first big victory for Vivek Oberoi, who had always been shunned by Jaya Bachchan (remember her ‘Man on a mission’ remark about Vivek on Karan Johar’s show), due to his past with Ash and Salman Khan.

In fact, Vivek has been trying for a long time to mend his ways with Bachchans and had even visited them after Amitabh’s mother had left for her heavenly abode. But all this did not have much effect until King Khan intervened and included Vivek among his friends. Even, Karan Johar’s ‘Kurbaan’ helped him get into the good books of Bachchans as Karan is like family to Bachchans and SRK alike.

Vivek, who went on every channel and newspaper saying he has mended his ways, has apparently been accepted (no evidence to say that it is unconditional) by the Bachchans. A few months ago this bharat-milap would seem implausible. The rumour mills even alleged that though the Big B and Vivek had been signed to endorse the same brand, they wouldn’t share the same frame even for a commercial. Now to think that all this bitterness is a thing of the past. One of these days Vivek may find himself forgiven by Salman Khan also. Or is that being too hopeful?