When Shah Rukh Khan slapped Shirish Kunder at the Agneepath success bash in January, the tremors were felt all across the city. The police reacted in their trademark heavy-handed fashion, coming down heavily on clubs and pushing for a 1.30am deadline for all party animals.

Funnily enough, it’s SRK’s own colleagues who’re now leading by example. Actor Kangana Ranaut, who is throwing a birthday bash on March 23, has asked all invitees to come in by 9pm. “Kangana sent me a message earlier this week, asking us to come early,” reveals Farah Khan Ali, jewellery designer. “I guess it’s now becoming a trend for hosts to ask their guests to adhere to deadlines.”

Paparazzo Viral Bhayani, who’s usually posted outside every star-struck party in the city, admits that the ubiquitous cop presence has led to celebrities mending their ways. “These days, the police is catching everybody, and it’s too embarrassing for these stars to be caught because it’ll be all over the news the next day,” he opines, adding, “They’re also being stopped for drunken driving checks. I was walking past the Juhu Circle next to hotel Tulip Star, and I noticed that the cops had pulled over an A-list movie star. I couldn’t take a picture because that would have led to bad blood between us, but the police immediately alerts the media when they catch a celebrity.”

Puneet Gidwani, of Red Om event organisers, adds, “I don’t even really see celebrities going out partying to clubs anymore. They prefer to have private bashes at their homes instead.” Ask Raman Macker, whose Aurus was the epicentre of the most recent controversy, if their star bashes are now winding up early, and he says, “We have always honoured and respected rules, and encouraged celebrity guests to arrive on time. Now, they do.”