The 'human' side of Salman Khan
Troubled by the 2002 case, the actor slowly and gradually took to charity
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-05-06 13:47 GMT
Mumbai: Bollywood's reigning superstar Salman Khan, who has been fighting the hit-and-run case in courts for over 12 years, is known for taking up humanitarian causes. Troubled by the 2002 case, the actor slowly and gradually took to charity. During this period (from 2002), Salman, son of noted script writer Salim Khan, turned to philanthropy by forming 'Being Human', a Non-Governmental Organisation.
The NGO, supported by Salman Khan Foundation, has adopted villages in Maharashtra and outside the state. Soon after the mishap on September 28, 2002, in which one person died and four injured, Salman was arrested and put behind the bars for a few days. While in Bandra Police Station lock up, the actor refused to have home food and returned the tiffin brought by his
family. Instead, he had jail food which was served to all the inmates, police sources said.
The "cutting chai" served to him in jail became his 'pass time' as the actor refused to have home made tea, the sources said. The actor had shared the space in the lock up with petty criminals. However, after few days he was granted bail in the case.
In 2002, the Bombay High Court, acting on a PIL, had directed the actor to pay interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased, Rs 3 lakh to those injured seriously and Rs 1.5 lakh to others. Salman deposited the money with the court.
During the last decade while his trial in the case was on, Salman's Bollywood career saw several highs and lows not to mention his personal life which has always been under media glare. After delivering big Bollywood hits for three years (after 2002) in a row ---'Tere Naam' (2003), 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi' (2004) and 'No Entry' (2005)-- his career nosedived with mediocre films like 'Jaan-E Mann', 'Saalam-E-Ishq', 'Marigold' and 'Baabul' besides a string of flops. Only 'Partner' in 2007 (where he teamed with Govinda) was the saving grace for him during this low period.
But two years later, in 2009 with Prabhu Deva's 'Wanted', Salman's career got a fresh lease of life after which he never looked back and followed it up with a hit in 'Veer' (2010) and bounced back with mega blockbuster 'Dabaang' and cemented himself as the most bankable Bollywood star for masala entertainers.
'Dabangg' went on to win several popular awards, including the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. It was later remade in Tamil and Telugu. Thereafter his high-flying Bollywood graph touched new zeniths every year with top box-office grossers like 'Bodyguard' 'Ek Tha Tiger', 'Ready', 'Dabangg-2', 'Jai Ho' and 'Kick' (2014), all of which are part of the elite Rs 100-crore club.
Besides, he also dabbled with television during the last decade by successfully hosting popular shows like '10 Ka Dum' and several hit seasons of reality show' Bigg Boss' besides a plethora of endorsements.