While Deepika was more restrained in her reaction, Sonakshi said the news was 'terrible'
As the barometer of Bollywood emotions rises dangerously with a collective celebrity lament for actor Salman Khan, some film insiders are reserving comment. After the actor was handed a five year jail term for culpable homicide not amounting to murder on Wednesday, his colleagues have been either beating a path to his door or offering sympathy on Twitter or both. (Also Read:
Salman Khan's Celeb Visitors: Aamir Khan, Sonakshi Sinha)
Actress Deepika Padukone is not among them, Deepika, whose name was doing the rounds as Salman's likely leading lady in Ali Abbas Zafar's
Sultan, said at a press conference promoting new film
Piku, "Like I said it's subjudice. I don't think I can comment on that. At a personal level, I will personally tell him whatever I feel." (Also Read:
Salman, Bollywood's Blockbuster Khan)
Her
Piku director Shoojit Sircar agreed, saying, "It's very difficult because I was on in the court and I have not heard anybody. I don't know what kind of arguments has been given. So it's very difficult to give my point of views because I think point of views lies with the court of law."
Others have not been quite so restrained. Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt told NDTV after the verdict, "It was a body blow. We were engulfed by despair and confusion, a feeling of overwhelming powerlessness. I get this this feeling that there is an end and there is an ending to that end and I don't think we have reached that end yet, because unless he exhausts all the legal possibilities available to him, there will be an element of hope. But at the same time, I want to categorically state that you can't talk yourself out of situations you work yourself into, and I think it is important for us as a fraternity and us as a nation to keep our moral compass intact and ask ourselves some questions no matter how painful they are. Do we allow our own to get away with deeds which are perceived to be reckless by the law? I don't think that is what we are saying, but let that punishment be proportional to the crime because there is a feeling that the punishment is too harsh."
Actress-politician Hema Malini, a close friend of the Khans, told news agency PTI that her sympathies were with the actor and his family but that she respected the court's verdict. "A law is a law. This is unfortunate. Salman's family are law-abiding citizens and they have already undergone 13 years of mental torture. His philanthropic work is well known and he is known to help the needy people," she said.
Actor-politicians Chiranjeevi and Raj Babbar spoke to NDTV after the verdict.
Chiranjeevi said, "I am really feeling bad that Salman, being my colleague, has been convicted and I still think he has scope to appeal to the higher courts. He has a chance to take bail and meanwhile he can do justice to his films."
Raj Babbar said, "I have empathy for whoever lost his life in this incident and respect the judiciary, but the verdict will impact not only me, but whoever who knows Salman."
Describing Mr Khan as "excellent human being," filmmaker Subhash Ghai told news agency IANS, "Now he can apply for bail and justice in higher courts. That is the beauty of judiciary system too. Let's wait and watch. I sincerely pray for him because I know him closely as a good person and a compassionate thinker.
Wajid Ali, one half of the composing duo Sajid-Wajid who are responsible for several Salman film soundtracks, told PTI that the actor was being penalized for being famous. "This is a very sad moment. I am shocked at the verdict. Salman
bhai is a simple and real man. I hope he will take it in the right spirit. It was an accident which can happen with anyone on an unfortunate day. Salman's name has made this case popular. He paid the price of being a celebrity," he said.
Several of Salman Khan's colleagues expressed solidarity with the actor on Twitter, with many being careful to qualify their tweets saying they respected the judicial process.
Actress Preity Zinta, who has co-starred with Salman in films like
Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega and
Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, was among the first of the actor's friends to visit his home after the verdict was announced.
She wrote on Twitter later