Why Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif missed Karan Johar’s birthday bash?

The sensation seekers were left disappointed after the much-anticipated face-to-face encounter of Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan didn’t materialize at Karan Johar’s birthday bash late last week.

The who’s who of B-Town turned up for the birthday party of the 40-year-old bachelor, Karan Johar. But two people who were invited but didn’t show up were Salman and Katrina. The two skipped the party because they were in Bangkok shooting for director Kabir Khan’s film Ek Tha Tiger, but there could be more to their absence than meets the eye.

It is believed that Salman Khan, though he accepted the invitation to KJo’s bash, wasn’t really gung-ho about sauntering into a party teeming with Shahrukh loyalists, let alone the man himself, and the shoot of Ek Tha Tiger in Bangkok was as good an alibi gets.

Photo Gallery: Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif leave for Bangkok

Katrina Kaif, on the other hand, had a good enough reason to take a tiny break from the shoot and fly down to Mumbai for the birthday bash of the man who made her an overnight item sensation, Chikni Chameli. But alas, Chiki Chameli nahin aayi, with or without her pahua. The reason she didn’t -- cynical and incredulous though it may sound, but that’s what the buzz says -- is that Katrina didn’t want to be seen as someone trying to find a place in KJo’s circle of friends. So she, too, skipped the bash.

Photo Gallery: Bollywood star power at Karan Johar’s birthday bash

Not that it hurt Karan Johar a pinprick because there was so much star power at the birthday bash that it could easily be dubbed as the Bollywood party of the year. That besides, there’s always a next time to meet and mingle with those who missed out.

Photo Gallery: Pretty ladies at Karan Johar’s birthday bash