The place was Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The day was 2 April. And it was midnight when everyone was celebrating India’s historic World Cup victory, which was made possible by defeating the Sri Lankan cricket team.

Superstar Rajinikanth and his daughter Soundarya, who had come all the way from Chennai to the business capital of the country to watch the cricket action live, found it difficult to come out of the stadium thanks to unprecedented crowds.

And the help came from an unexpected quarters. The rest you read in BJP National president Nitin Gadkari’s words: “I saw Rajinikanth and his family struggling to extricate themselves from the crowds after the match. I got them escorted out of the stadium and took them to my home for tea. Rajinikanth invited me to Chennai.”

Gadkari was in Chennai on Thursday to campaign in support of his party candidates and he spoke to the Superstar over phone, in the presence of journalists. “I am now leaving for Madurai,” the BJP chief told the top actor, after exchanging pleasantries.