Salman Khan gets 5 years in jail: ₹600 crore riding on the Bollywood star

Salman Khan sentenced to 5 years in jail in blackbuck case: With Race 3, Bharat and Dus Ka Dum in Salman’s kitty, this is what Bollywood has at stake.

Salman Khan was held guilty by a Jodhpur court in the blackbuck poaching case. While the court let off other actors named in the 1998 case -- Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre -- Salman was sentenced to five years in jail and ₹10,000 fine. Read: Salman Khan blackbuck case, other court cases: 10 things to know

As Salman Khan is held guilty in the blackbuck case, a look at money riding on Bollywood’s Bhai.

Salman Khan, without a doubt, is the biggest box office draw in India today. The 52-year-old star has delivered one blockbuster after another in the last decade or so with films such as Ek Tha Tiger and its sequel Tiger Zinda Hai, the Dabangg franchise, Sultan, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and many more. The rare dud, Tubelight, failed to deter his fans for whom his image is that of his character in Bajrangi Bhaijaan – a good man caught in a bad situation who always finds his way back, thanks to his pure heart. Multiple court cases, a number of controversies and trouble with the women in his life have not been able to stop his fans from thronging the theatres every time a Bhai film is out. Maybe that is the reason industry is wary as the actor was held guilty in the blackbuck case in Jodhpur today.

Speaking to PTI, trade analyst Komal Nahata said, “It is a huge loss to the industry and trade as he is a big star who guarantees big success. Race 3 has ₹125-150 crore riding on it. He has not started any other film so it isn't that films will be stuck. He may have planned it like that, knowing April 5 is the date of the judgement.”

Another analyst Girish Wankhede told the agency that at least ₹600 crore is riding on the actor. “All his films make a minimum of ₹200 crore. Three films have already been announced. Race 3 is the biggest Eid release. So approximately 600 crore are riding at the box office," Wankhede told PTI.

Salman Khan (C) arrives at the airport in Jodhpur on April 4, 2018 ahead of a verdict in the long-running blackbuck poaching case. (AFP)

Race 3

Salman has multiple films in his kitty. From the industry perspective, these are multiple superhits in the making. Remo D’Souza’s Race 3 -- where Salman is the major draw backed by an ensemble cast of Jacqueline Fernandez, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah and Saqib Saleem – has finished shoot. However, the film is in post-production and needs to be promoted and advertised. Salman is not only acting in the film, he is also a co-producer. The film’s estimated budget is over ₹100 crore and it is expected to do massive business at the box office when it comes out this Eid.

Bharat

A lot is riding on this film given it brings back the Salman Khan-Ali Abbas Zafar combo. The duo has earlier given blockbusters such as Tiger Zinda Hai and Sultan. Official remake of Korean film, Ode to My Father, the film is mounted on a lavish scale and might mark the return of Priyanka Chopra to Bollywood. The film went to pre-production in February. It is expected to release on Eid, 2019.

Dabangg 3 and Kick 2

Talks have been on about the sequels to these two hits that had Salman at the helm of affairs. While no dates have been announced when they will begin shooting, they are very much in the offing.

Dus Ka Dum

After Bigg Boss, Salman Khan is returning to the small screen with his popular game show Dus Ka Dum. Sony has already released the promo and Salman has also shot for teasers. This is supposed to be Salman’s answer to Amitabh Bachchan’s Kaun Banega Crorepati.

Salman endorses multiple brands as well. In fact, the actor earned ₹232.83 crore in 2017, backed by endorsements of several consumer-facing brands, according to Forbes.