Mumbai: Just eight months shy of 50, actor Salman Khan has hits worth several crores behind him. Apart from giving a blockbuster hit every year since his resurgence with 2009 release 'Wanted', he has a successful franchise in the 'Dabangg' series and his last release 'Kick' is among the Hindi film industry's top five all time grossers.
Salman Khan is a producer's golden goose and a verdict against him in the 2002 hit-and-run case is likely to spell losses to the tune of Rs 200 crore at the box office as he is committed to film projects till 2017.
The actor is currently working on two films - 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' with his 'Ek Tha Tiger' director Kabir Khan and 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' which reunites him with his 'Maine Pyaar Kiya' director Sooraj Barjatiya. Nearly Rs 200 crore is said to be riding on these two films alone, the shooting for which is scheduled to finish by June 2015.
"Other people might tell you that around 500-600 crore is riding on him, which could be the case, but if you check right now, around 150-200 crore is a good number to work around with because he is a mega star, of course minus the marketing, all the glam and all the other angles that are involved in filmmaking," film trade analyst Amul Mohan says.
Khan is also committed to a sequel of Anees Bazmee's 2005 'No Entry'. The third installment of the 'Dabangg' franchise which is reportedly a prequel to the film, is also said to be on the cards. Besides, talks are also going on about Yash Raj films' 'Sultan' and Karan Johar's much delayed 'Shuddhi', both of which have reportedly got Salman's approval. Of these only Sultan is scheduled to go on floors in 2015.
If Wednesday's ruling doesn't go in Salman's favour, not just film projects but the brands that he endorses will also face a huge hit. The superstar endorses 10 brands ranging from colaS to motorcycles and has several crores riding on endorsements alone.
"Advertisement has not grown up enough to make that choice, take that risk and use him properly. So the last time he was endorsing Thumps Up and this little episode around him happened they pulled the campaign down. We tend to discards yesterday's heroes and yesterday's gun fatty," ad film director Prahlad Kakkar says.
Meanwhile, the small screen, too, will be hit with Salman's absence. He has been hosting popular reality TV show Bigg Boss since it's fourth season and industry rumours suggest that he is tipped to return as the host in its next season as well. The actor has also struck a Rs 500 crore deal with a leading channel for exclusive satellite rights to his upcoming films.
Within a few hours from now, Additional Sessions judge DW Deshpande will pronounce his verdict in the 2002 hit-and-run case. The 49-year-old actor, faces charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. He is accused of ramming his car into a pavement in Bandra in Mumbai in 2002 - killing one person, injuring four others and then running away from the scene of the crime.
If convicted, Khan will have to serve a jail term of maximum 10 years. In the past, Salman had told the court that he was neither drinking nor was he behind the wheel at the time of the accident.
Judge Deshpande has summoned the actor to remain present in the court at 11.15 AM on Wednesday. The prosecution and defence concluded arguments on April 21 in the trial which was conducted afresh after the magistrate added the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and referred the case to the sessions court. The culpable homicide offence, which provides for punishment upto 10 years, can be tried by a sessions court and not by a magistrate.
A court had in 2013 framed charges in a fresh trial against Khan for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The prosecution examined 27 witnesses to prove its case. Khan's lawyer Srikant Shivade argued that post-mortem report of the deceased suggested that he had received crushing injuries and it had been caused when a crane called in by the police could not lift the heavy SUV in one go and dropped it on the victims.
The defence lawyer argued that the mishap had occurred as the car crashed into a shop after its left tyre had burst. He also alleged that road was being repaired near the shop where the mishap occurred and stones were scattered at that place.
The prosecution said it was relying upon the statement given by Khan's police bodyguard Ravindra Patil to police saying he had warned the actor not to drive in a rash and negligent manner but he did not heed to his advise. Patil, who died during the trial, had also said that Khan was under the influence of liquor when he met with the accident.
However, he had not said a word about Khan's claim that his driver Ashok Singh was behind the wheel. Salman Khan's lawyer argued that the evidence of Ravindra Patil, an eyewitness, should be discarded as he was dead and was not available for cross examination. On the other hand, the prosecution argued his evidence should be considered as he had seen Khan driving the car and was a key witness.
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