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A whopping sum of over Rs 200 crore is riding on Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, who was today convicted of all charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, in the 2002 hit-and-run case.
The 49-year-old actor, who essayed many popular roles in blockbusters over a successful career spanning over two-and-a-half decades, has still many projects to be completed, apart from endorsements of products.
His two upcoming films, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which stars Kareena Kapoor, and Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo opposite Sonam Kapoor, are currently in the last stages of shooting.
Till the last moment, the film industry kept its fingers crossed and Salman's well-wishers and fellow actors were hoping that nothing adverse would happen to him.
But, their hopes have been belied.
The actor had returned last evening to the city after shooting in Kashmir for Bajrangi Bhaijaan, directed by Kabir Khan.
According to Amod Mehra, a Bollywood analyst, Salman had committed to do four others films, including Dabangg 3 and No Entry Mein Entry, which were at the stage of announcement.
In all, an investment of Rs 200 crore is riding on Salman, who has delivered a string of box office successes in the last few years, according to another trade analyst Komal Nahta.
The actor was today convicted for ramming his car, while drunk, into a roadside bakery at suburban Bandra in the early hours of September 28, 2002, killing one person and injuring four others.
After Sanjay Dutt, Salman is the second big star from Mumbai film industry to get embroiled in a high-profile criminal case in recent years. He is also facing trial in a Rajasthan court for hunting a black buck during the shooting of Hum Saath Saath Hain.