MORE SETBACKS FOR BOLLYWOOD AFTER SALMAN'S ARREST
New Delhi, 24 August 2007 (IANS)

After Sanjay Dutt, it is now jail for Salman Khan and the Hindi film industry is feeling the pinch. Dutt's jail term had put Rs.1 billion (Rs. 100 crores) worth movie projects on hold and on Friday Salman Khan's possible incarceration would stall projects in the pipeline worth another Rs.750 million. A Jodhpur court upheld the five-year sentence given to Salman by a lower court in April 2006 for killing an endangered chinkara deer in 1998.

Salman had filed an appeal against the ruling of the chief judicial magistrate who sentenced the actor to imprisonment and a fine of Rs.25,000 for poaching a chinkara in 1998. He had to spend three nights in Jodhpur Central Jail before the district and sessions court gave him bail.

Salman has three films on the floor presently - Rumi Jaffery's romantic comedy 'God Tussi Great Ho', Sanjay Leela Bhansali's musical 'Sawariya' and Boney Kapoor's crime thriller 'Wanted: Dead or Alive'. "None of his films are less then Rs.250 million and he was supposed to sign two more films. But that now seems unlikely," said a source close to the actor. In fact, the macho actor was shooting for Boney Kapoor's crime thriller 'Wanted' in Hyderabad when the judge gave the ruling. "But he has now returned to Mumbai. Salman's family is not talking at all," added the source.

Directed by Prabu Deva, "Wanted" is a remake of hit Telugu film "Pokri" and has Ayesha Takia in the female lead.

If the actor goes to jail, it will mean a huge loss for the producers.

"When filmmakers go to sign an actor - they keep his image in mind. In Salman's case, he is known for his 'naughty boy' image since his 'Baghi' days when he hit a photographer who tried to click him with Sangeeta Bijlani," said Mumbai-based publicist Dale Bhagwagar. "After 'Baghi', filmmakers consciously signed Salman - a naughty boy, but loved by the masses. So, there is no question of the filmmakers being shocked," added Bhagwagar.

Apart from the three films, Salman was in talks with Rajkumar Santoshi for his 'London Dreams'. "Santoshi was very keen to cast Salman but then he got busy with his 'Halla Bol'. Now we can't say anything about the project," said another source. Salman is also doing special appearances in two films - he is playing himself in Farah Khan's second directorial venture 'Om Shanti Om', and featuring in Chetan Bhagat's 'Hello'. However, the fate of these two films don't hinge on Salman.

Salman, who faces an arrest warrant, will now file a review petition in the Rajasthan High Court to give him seven days to surrender.

"People who understand law in Mumbai are sure that Salman will get a bail," added the source. After his jail stint last year, Salman featured in 'Partner', 'Marigold', 'Salaam-E-Ishq', 'Baabul', 'Jaan-E-Mann' and 'Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar'. Of these films, only 'Partner' hit bull's eye.