January 4, 1999
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Heroes, Villains and Zeroes '98 SALMAN KHAN Flouting laws can make villains even out of heroes.
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It took a Bollywood star whose puffed-up machismo spilled from his
films to the scrublands of Rajasthan for people to realise just how easy it is to hunt
endangered species in India. Salman Khan down in Jodhpur in October to shoot a film
allegedly shot black bucks instead. And his heroines-Tabu, Neelam and Sonali
Bendre-reportedly clapped. But they were in the wrong place. This was the land of the
Bishnois who worship nature. Attacked by them, Khan and his crew found themselves in the
eye of public storm. The facts remain confused and a postmortem report even said the black
bucks died due to "leaping and overeating". But bristling green were determined
not to let Khan off the hook. Eventually he was arrested. It took him five days to get
bail. But by then the country was waking up to how the elite still go on shikars as if it
is their right. Yes, hunting is illegal but many believe they are above the law. It
happens only in India. Isn't that how a hit Bollywood song goes?
