Industry gives clean chit to Salman and his new film

Mumbai, July 15 (IANS) Distributors and exhibitors say the controversy over the release of purported transcripts of Salman Khan's conversations with Aishwarya Rai would have no bearing on his new film "Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya" released Friday.

The eagerly awaited film by David Dhawan, which also stars Sushmita Sen and Katrina Kaif, has been released with a record number of prints all over, taking into consideration the market for Salman-starrers.

The release comes a day after alleged taped conversations between Salman and Aishwarya, in which he asks her to appear for a show by a gangster, were published on the front pages of a national daily. This was followed by another 'exposé' Friday of other conversations, also peppered with swear words, between the two.

According to Arun Sharma, programming manager of INOX, the development is unlikely to affect the box-office prospects of the film despite the timing of the controversy.

"The development may have its effect on the way he is perceived by the masses, knowing that he is a star of the masses but we are not expecting it to have any immediate effect on the box-office prospects of 'MPKK'... We will have to wait and watch in the next few days how Salman fans, who constitute the repeat audience, react to the film," he said.

He said such episodes do have a bearing on the image of the star but don't reflect on the box office immediately unless the film itself is controversial by nature.

Manoj Desai, executive director of G-7, who has booked Maratha Mandir as one of the main theatres for the film, echoes Sharma's views.

With his fingers firmly crossed, he said: "The advance booking for the film has been very promising for the first three days. We will have to find out about the sustaining power of the film after the initial response. It depends on the developments in the next four days.

"But I am quite amazed by the fact that this controversy has come at a time when Salman's film has been scheduled for release."

According to veteran West Bengal and Mumbai distributor Harss Mancchanda, Salman is too big a star for his box-office following to be affected. "The traders and the masses are well aware that it is an old news. It is a chapter from Salman's past. He's moved ahead in life ever since and changed for the better."

Salman's friends and supporters from the industry have also come out in his support. Said producer Pahlaj Nihalani: "I have not worked with Salman in any film so far nor have I been associated in terms of business but I know him to be a very straightforward and no-nonsense person, who is more concerned about his work than anything else."

Director Anees Bazmee, who has worked with Salman for the first time in the much-anticipated "No Entry", said: "I had heard so much about Salman's mood swings and his hard-to-get attitude before I worked with him. However, he turned out to be just the opposite, very respectful and one who went out of his way to ensure the other's comfort... I and my other counterparts in the industry are unlikely to be affected by the development."

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Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya