Katrina benefiting from Salman friendship

Lately, Ajay Devgan and Salman Khan have been getting along like a house on fire while shooting together for Vipul Shah's London Dreams. While the two actors had earlier starred together in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, it was only after they signed their latest film that they started bonding on the film's sets.

But more than Salman and Ajay, it is the former's girlfriend Katrina Kaif who is benefiting the most from this new-found friendship. Consequently, Katrina has now signed Ajay Devgan's home production to be directed by Rohit Shetty.

Our source from the unit of London Dreams said, ''Earlier, Ajay and Salman had worked with Bhansali but they were not close friends. However, they got along famously during the London and Chandigarh schedule of London Dreams. After discovering that they quite enjoy each other's company, they started hanging out together after pack up every day. Often, they were spotted smoking together in between shots.''

According to our source, Ajay and Salman often played pranks on the film's sets too. During the London schedule, they would also drink together in the evenings after pack up. Interestingly, when Salman stopped drinking during the Chandigarh schedule, he was often overheard telling Ajay about the ill-effects of drinking. What further impressed Ajay was that Salman completely abstained from alcohol even though it was bitterly cold in Chandigarh.

''In a way, signing Katrina for his next home production to be directed by Rohit Shetty seems like Ajay's gift to his new friend Salman. This will be the first time that Katrina will be doing a film opposite Ajay,'' added the source.

Ajay's home production also stars Sanjay Dutt and Fardeen Khan in lead roles. Katrina, Ajay and Rohit Shetty were unavailable for comment.