BY Sudhir Mishra
Wild Life And Salman Khan Sudhir Mishra It was October, 1998, when the ambitious family saga of Rajshree Films was being filmed in the beautiful locations around Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Rajshree Productions and Salman Khan have a special bond as both the earlier films produced by Rajshree, “Maine Payar Kiya” and “Hum Apke Hain Kaun”, had propelled Salman Khan in the category of superstars.
But this time it was different. It was another ambitious family saga called “Hum Sath Sath Hain”, which presented Salman Khan in a lead role for the third time in continuation in a Rajshree Movie. The outdoor location for the film was chosen around Jodhpur.
Most of the film crew along with lead actors arrived at Jodhpur in the last week of September, 1998. Salman Khan and his co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam checked in at Ummed Bhawan Palace Hotel at Jodhpur. The shooting started on time with the arrival of some of the most well known artists of Bollywood.
But there was something inauspicious right from the beginning for “Hum Sath Sath Hain”. The movie, in its final analysis, actually failed to create the same magic and hysteria at the box office and was in no way close to the earlier Rajshree block buster, starring Madhuri Dikshit and Salman Khan, “Hum Apke Hain Kaun”. Several reasons were given for the mediocre performance of the movie despite the presence of superstars like Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali, Neelam. .
One extraordinary reason for the mediocre performance is given by the locals of Jodhpur.Bishnoies in Rajasthan believe that after killing their reverend black bucks during the shooting of “Hum Sath Sath Hain” Salman Khan’s fortune was bound to suffer a jolt. Nobody had really expected that the Bishnoi community to have the courage to fight the brutal killing of their reverend black buck by cine star Salman Khan in 1998.
It was a gloomy evening of October 2nd , the birthday of the father of the nation, who preached the principle of non violence, when Salman Khan was apprehended for killing two black bucks which are endangered under the provisions of Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972.
It was the courage of some villagers, which actually led to the arrest of Salman Khan under Section 2/51, 9/51, 39 and 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, which is punishable for imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year and shall not exceed seven years. The investigating officer, who interrogated Salman It was the courage of some villagers, which actually led to the arrest of Salman Khan Khan after arresting him, is Mr. L. K. Bora, Assistant Conservator of Forest Jodhpur. During investigation, statements of key witnesses revealed that a Maruti Gypsy was used for chasing and hunting of revered black bucks.
In the Gypsy there were seven persons, including Salman Khan, who was driving the vehicle, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam Kothari. They were present at the time of the shooting of the black bucks. Later the Gypsy and arms used by Salman Khan were recovered by the officers of the forest and wildlife department. Now a complaint has been filed under section 2/51, 9/51, 39 and 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 in the district court of Jodhpur. The trial is presently at the stage of examination-in-chief of crucial witnesses. More than three cases have been filed for the same cause of action and possession of arms without approval from the appropriate authority. Both police and the wildlife department have filed separate cases against Salman Khan for various issues linked with the killing of the reverend black bucks. The trial being followed by the forest department is exclusively based on the Wild Life (Protection) Act and the same is a singular hope for activists, conservators, and lovers of wildlife. They are monitoring this case with due care and caution, as the outcome of this case will deter other celebrities from the now no-longer fashionable concept of Sikar for their sheer pleasure.
The multiplicity of cases filed against Salman Khan is proving very costly for the superstar as a hefty sum of money is draining out regularly from his account. Not The multiplicity of cases filed against Salman Khan is proving very costly for the superstar. only this the burden of the cases and a fear of conviction is also taking its toll on his film career. He is still deprived of any major super hit in recent years.
The trial of Salman Khan in Jodhpur in connection with the killing of the black bucks is being followed by forest and wildlife department, police and NGOs with utmost care and sincerity as the outcome of the case will determine the survival of endangered wildlife species in a measured way. This case is important in many ways. Firstly it has created awareness throughout the country about wild life and wild life laws. It has also strengthened the belief of common people in laws and law enforcing agencies. The most important outcome of this incident is that it has been revealed that the commitment of the citizen alone (the Bishnois in the present case) can compel the authorities to take action and protect the rapidly diminishing wild life and forest.