OPINION

Goodbye, My Salman Khan

August 24, 2007
Sakshi Juneja

Okay, I know he hasn’t been arrested as yet but it’s just a matter of sometime now.

Sessions Court in Jodhpur which upheld the five-year jail term for actor Salman Khan in the Chinkara poaching case, turning down the actor’s appeal against his sentencing last year. The actor failed to appear for the hearing, saying he missed the flight to Jodhpur from Hyderabad where he is currently shooting.

Salman will now be arrested unless he surrenders before the court himself. [IBN Live]

It’s astonishing isn’t it, the way our thinking works? When Sanjay Dutt was handed with 6 years prison sentence, I felt a little bad but overall was happy with the outcome. As they say, “Justice had prevailed”, though I know there are many who would argue with me on this.But the thing that bothered me the most since Sanjay Dutt’s punishment was what would become of my favorite Salman Khan. To make things clear, no I am not delusional – I am well aware of the fact that many across the nation are more sympathetic towards Sanjay but not Salman. To the actor’s disadvantage, his past (besides the crimes committed) has a lot to do with it as well – troubled relationships, scandals, (rumored) underworld connection, dadagiri and the likes.

No, I am again making it clear; the purpose of this post is not to defend him. Like any other ordinary citizen, I too believe that be it Salman, Ambani or whoever golden spoon fed dude, should be treated equal in the eyes of the law. If a crime has been committed then they should pay for it; no two ways about it.

But no matter how logical and appropriate the consequences may sound, the fan inside of me wants to disagree. It’s hard not to be affected, it’s difficult not to be filled with sadness – it’s tough to be immune. The selfish nature within wants to see him walk off scot-free; his negative past to be forgotten or some loophole to be found in the system, so that the charges against him are dropped. Then again in life things usually don’t happen as per our wishes, no matter how desperately we want them to come true. On the other, I truly believe…what goes around comes around.

These are naught but the ramblings of a distressed fan and they end thus:

Dear Salman, I shall always remember you for the good things and forever you shall be my Hero No. 1 but dude without any denial now is the time to reap what you have sown.

Goodbye but only for now.

Saakshi O. Juneja is an active blogger, feminist and overboard dog lover. Currently working as a Business Development Manager for a sportswear manufacturing company in Mumbai, India. Did graduation in Marketing & Advertising from Sydney, Australia. As far as blogging is concerned...is a complete Blog-a-holic.
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#1
NKF
August 24, 2007
07:35 AM

I agree with you. I too would have loved for him to walk away. I don't agree that he completely deserves what he got. Unless the people (media) who wrote about him saw, personally, what he did, there is a great possibility that he is saying the truth. They never write, at least with the same enthusiasm, about all the good deeds he has been doing for a long time, not just recently.
Also why let the others engaged in that case walk away and not him? I would think an extensive community service would be the best punishment for what is so called his crime (if he actually did it). Again this is my opinion, and I guess everyone is entitled to his/her opinion.

#2
manish
August 24, 2007
07:36 AM

Everything u said was correct except one line that sanjay gets more sympathy then salman, I do not agree to this as Mr.Dutt has gone by and beared much more then Mr. khan.It is very easy for u and me to comment on their lives but it is very tough to be it.

#3
temporal
URL
August 24, 2007
07:44 AM

saks:

subjectiveness aside...

it is important for the laws to be upheld...unfortunately we do not have a tradition of community service....if we had that plus a somewhat hefty fine..perhaps it would deter others from flouting the environment

perhaps this time for incarceration that he might get will have two fold benefits....one, he would come out a better person and two, more importantly all the publicity that it begets will deter others from poaching and flouting the law of the land

ps:how are you?

#4
Sakshi
URL
August 24, 2007
07:54 AM

Temp : Yippeee....so nice to hear from you. Been ages na, me good. How you going?

Well as for Sallu baba hopefully things will turn out for the good.

#5
Anupallavi
August 24, 2007
11:44 PM

Looks like I'm in the minority here. Outside celluloid Hero and Sallu in the same breath are at best oxymorons.

We are talking of the nut who ran over, killing one and maiming 3 in his drunken late night stupor ; Not to mention the witnesses now turning hostile, issues with his license and the vehicle's registration. Add black buck killings, threatening Aish et all and he is anything but a role model.

There was a point in time, eons ago when he was an OK actor and a big star. Thanks to him slipping into totale bole, stifled robotic movements, perpetual state of toplessness, he was easy to ignore. I have not see any of his movies in the last 3-4 years and it's my protest against his callousness. It's a drop in the ocean, but I sleep better knowing I did my bit...

He deserves every bit of punishment he gets in this and the hit and run case. He has so richly earned it. The only way I could even tolerate the guy is if he had some grey cell grafted as well when he got his bald pate fixed.

PS : Saks, It's not your article, I just despise the guy..., sorry.

#6
Sakshi
URL
August 25, 2007
02:10 AM

Dear Anupallavi, no offence taken. Believe me I know how hard it is to be a Salman fan. But I guess knowing him a little better from the non-filmy point of view also has alot to do with why....I like him.

As they say.."seeing is not always believeing". Anyway, To Each Its Own.

#7
Anupallavi
August 25, 2007
08:30 AM

:) "To Each Its Own" @ http://www.sakshijuneja.com/blog/? . Peace...

#8
NKF
August 25, 2007
08:34 AM

Hi Anupallavi, I guess everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. After all you made your choice and I made mine. You chose to believe the worst of Salman, believing everything the media said about him, while I chose to believe his side and look beyond his so called bad boy image and respect all the charity work he does from the heart.
I guess non of us saw him poaching that dear, or running over people and killing one, but a lot chose to believe that he actually did it (guilty until proven innocent). As for Ms. Aish, I don't know what exactly happened between them, but I fail to see her as a victim here. If anything I think he was more in love with her ( to the extent of obsession) than she ever was (though I think she was only using him for his name).
But that is what I call unfair, because in one case, people want Salman to be punished for everything they think he ever did, and that is why I think he got 5 years, while others walked away or paid a fine only.

In young age everybody can do mistakes, , but fortunately a lot of people don't get caught, and then they can judge others who did.

PS- You have missed on some (not all) very good movies by not watching Salman's movies for over 4 years.

#9
Shyam
August 25, 2007
05:02 PM

"PS- You have missed on some (not all) very good movies by not watching Salman's movies for over 4 years."

For example?

#10
Deepa Krishnan
URL
August 25, 2007
10:30 PM

Like I keep saying. The real question about Sallu-bhai is, does he wax?

#11
Anupallavi
August 25, 2007
10:40 PM

NKF, young age ? Is 40 the new teens now ? Age apart, to try and say it is OK for a bonafide adult to act recklessly, leave alone if he/she is a public figure looked upto by younger generations, is stupidity. Many may have got a rap on their knuckles for the same crime, but celebrities are held to higher standards, in adoration and admonition,ask Martha Stewart.

But to say Salman is not guilty of the hit and run is plain ridiculous. Just read up on the details, it does not take an Einstein to arrive at an opinion ; I understand it's not proven yet, but still.

Missed on good movies ? Yeah right, like (as Shyam points out)? Even if there were any, I would still miss em.

#12
Anupallavi
August 25, 2007
10:44 PM

Deepa, That was funny. You referring to the brazilian kind ;-) ? (Sallu is known to have sported sarongs in a couple of movies, so you know, he may have ....)

Giving credit where it's due, the guy does have a good body.

#13
Deepa Krishnan
URL
August 25, 2007
10:55 PM

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? All that hair, growing s..l..o..w..l..y back in prison.

(Saakshi The Fan is not going to forgive me for this one)

<>

#14
Sakshi
URL
August 25, 2007
11:35 PM

Deepa : For Sakshi (the Fan), Bollywood journey hasn't been all merry, as one would perceive. From being ridiculed over Salman fixation to being labeled as Sanjay Dutt's younger twin......Sakshi has been thru it all.

So some more Salman taunting doesn't cause more ripples. As a matter of fact, you have been very polite..even in your Sallu joke. :)

As for the hair growing back s..l..o..w..l..y, firstly I doubt he will be in there that l..o..n..g. And even if he is, then supplies of "Veet" and "Wax Strips" can always be made. ;)

#15
Anupallavi
August 25, 2007
11:36 PM

:) LOL, I'll shut up, I've said enough.

#16
anon
August 27, 2007
12:50 AM

I posted this on Sakshi's blog - but I will post it here -

Maybe he is guilty, maybe not but the case as it was prosecuted against Salman is pretty weak. It relies solely on the testimony of one witness who changed his statements a couple of times - even later on saying that he was coerced by the police to testify against Salman (however, his statement was to the press and not the court - therefore is not admissable) Questions of his reliability should be raised.

I don't care one way or another about Salman - I've only seen a few of his movies and wasn't terribly impressed. But everyone even the most "bratty" deserves a fair trial. You should not be happy that somebody got sent to jail simply because you think that person is "bad." That is not justice and sets a very bad precedent. The prosecution has to prove with evidence that the accused is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and for whatever reason, I don't believe that is the case here. When the judge states that he wants to make "an example" of Salman and gives a sentence that is totally disproportionate to the crime, then you have to wonder if justice was truly the motivation of the court.

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