Bollywood tense over Salman's sentence

Mumbai, Aug 25: It is raining trouble in Bollywood with Sanjay Dutt sentenced to six years RI and now Salman Khan being sentenced to five years imprisonment for poaching endangered wild animals by a Jodhpur Court.

In 1998, Salman was arrested by the local police from the shooting of Rajshri Productions film, ''Hum Saath Saath Hain'', for killing endangered wild animals and had spent about a week behind the bars.

He is currently facing trial in three different cases of killing black bucks and chinkaras. The other actors who are involved in the same case are co-stars from the film -- Sonali Bendre, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu and Neelam.

Salman was arrested on October 13 in 1998, for killing chinkaras but was later released on bail on October 15. In 2006, the trial court sentenced Salman to one year imprisonment in the Bhavad poaching case. On April 10, 2006, he was sentenced to five years of RI in the Goda poaching case but got bail three days later.

Yesterday, the court upheld the five year term against him.

The producers in Bollywood are on tenterhooks as over Rs 200 crores are riding on Salman Khan. A Bollywood producer said, ''These are times of mixed feeling for us, foreign film makers like Sony are approaching us and our big heroes are getting imprisoned.'' Salman (42) is the son of the legendary script-writer Salim Khan.

Bollywood insiders vouch for his heart of gold despite his knack of getting into trouble with law.

In September 2002, Salman crashed his Land Cruiser near the American Express Bakery in Bandra, killing one man and injuring others. He was also arrested by the police for allegedly having connections with the underworld. He was questioned about Bharat Shah, the producer of his film ''Chori Chori Chupke Chupke'' (2001) for his links with the underworld.

Salman is also well known for his philanthropic deeds in the industry as he frequently visits sick children in hospitals, and often donates blood also.

The film that established him as a superstar in Bollywood was Rajshri Productions' smash hit ''Maine Pyar Kiya'' in 1989. His biography includes many other successful films like ''Saajan'' (1991), ''Andaz Apna Apna'' (1994), ''Hum Aapke Hain Kaun'' (1994), ''Karan Arjun'' (1995), ''Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'' (1998) and ''Tere Naam'' to name a few . He also received international acclaim for his portrayal of an AIDS patient in the film ''Phir Milenge'' in 2004. He was voted 7th best-looking man in the world by Peoples' Magazine.

Incidentally, one of the biggest hits of the year is the Salman Khan-Govinda starrer ''Partner'' which has raked in Rs 80 crores.

Salman's personal life seems filled with controversies. He has had well publicised affairs with Sangita Bijlani, Somy Ali, Aishwarya Rai and now Katrina Kaif. While Bijlani and Ali both came out and spoke to the media alleging abuse against Salman, Rai categorically stated that she will never work with him due to personal reasons.

Salman was also accused by Vivek Oberoi in 2003 for calling up the latter 41 times during one night and threatening him death as well.

It is estimated that he was paid INR 30,000,000 for his film ''Mujhse Shaadi Karogi'' (2004). Some of his forthcoming films are ''God Tusi Great Ho'' with Amitabh Bachchan and remake of the Tamil hit ''Pokhri''. Films yet to start are ''Tom and Jerry'' and ''Mr and Mrs Khanna''.

UNI