Mumbai: Salman Khan’s fate in the 13-year-old hit-and-run case was decided before lunch on Wednesday. And the star may have known this is the end of the road, at least for the next five years now.
It has been revealed the beleaguered actor was busy dubbing his portions for the upcoming film Bajrangi Bhaijaan late into Tuesday — hours before the verdict. Sources close to the actor revealed how Khan was in a rush to wrap up his commitments before the verdict and subsequent sentencing.
“While most of Bajrangi Bhaijaan has been locked, a segment of the film was pending. The reason isn’t entirely clear, but a last-minute dubbing session was arranged by the makers of the film,” claimed a source from the production house.
Filmmakers have been anxious to unlink their projects with Khan at the earliest. The actor’s legal hassles besides the 2002 Mumbai hit-and-run case (there’s the black buck shooting too) have caused much anxiety in the industry. The actor himself has been busy winding up as many of his projects as he can.
Also, on Tuesday, there was a meeting at father Salim Khan’s home that was attended by Salman, his managers and brothers Arbaaz and Sohail Khan. Arbaaz remained unavailable for comment.
A shattered family:
On condition of anonymity, a close friend of father Salim revealed how mum Salma was the most affected. “Salma toh tutt hi chuki hai (she is completely broken). She has also fallen sick. None of the family members are able to console her in any manner. No one in the house is speaking a single word… there is graveyard-like silence at home. Salim sahib is trying to keep his agony under control, however, being a father he is in shock too and is not taking any calls,” the insider said.
The source also added that the family was just not expecting the five-year punishment. A mob of fans and close friends visited Khan at his home on Tuesday. “Sonakshi Sinha is supporting the family by being with them throughout. Shah Rukh Khan visited them on Tuesday. The family has had so many visitors that all the rooms in Salman’s residence are fully packed… and there is hardly any space to accommodate more people,” the source added.
What next?
While Salman’s team can appeal the court’s five-year sentence, projects like Karan Johar’s Shuddhi and Boney Kapoor’s No Entry Mein Entry are in a limbo until there is clarity on Salman’s availability. The one film that has been the hardest hit is Sooraj Barjatya’s Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. While Kabir Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijan is complete and in all probability will release as scheduled this year, it is Barjatya who may face major losses because the latter’s mega budget PRDP is still incomplete... and it seems unlikely that it can be wrapped up before Salman begins to serve his sentence.
10 Facts about Sallu:
1Salman loves his parents and his brothers, above all. He has all this time refused to move out of the small family flat at Galaxy Apartments... only to be close to his parents.
2 So small is Salman’s bedroom that there is no room for his wardrobe. You will find clothes strewn all over the bed and in every conceivable
corner in the room.
3The one person who knows Salman better than anyone else is his faithful security guard Sheroo, who has been with him for decades. Everywhere that Salman goes, Sheroo is bound to go.
4Yaaron ka yaar dushmanon ka dushman (a friend to a friend, and an enemy to the enemy). If Salman is a terrific friend to have, he’s also a terrible enemy to have. Salman also never forgives his friends after a fall-out. Ask dress designer Shabina Khan, filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and producer Bunty Wallia. They were at one time part of the close circle. He swore by their names. Now, he just swears.
5 Loves to hang around with girlfriends of foreign origin… Somy Ali from Pakistan, Katrina Kaif is half-British and if reports are to be believed Salman’s latest girlfriend is from Romania.
6 Hugely generous to his friends. Is known to give away expensive watches.
7 Was the first choice for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani. The film is now being made with Ranveer Singh. Some trouble there.
8 Has completed all work on Kabir Khan’s Bajrangi Bhajaan. While shooting for the film in Kashmir, he turned down the request to act as a J&K brand ambassador, saying his future is uncertain.
9 Salman had predicted he would never get married..
10 Considered Sanjay Dutt his idol at one time. They both have five-year jail sentences to deal with.
