Salman Khan was ‘disturbed’ after hit-and-run case but his ‘morale was good’ on set, recalls Puneet Issar: ‘Salim Khan decided that he should just work’

Actor and filmmaker Puneet Issar recently opened up about the time he directed Salman Khan in the 2004 film Garv, during the period when Salman was embroiled in the infamous hit-and-run case. Despite the ongoing legal battle and the intense media scrutiny, Puneet shared that Salman remained professional and continued to shoot for the film. Speaking about Salman’s mindset during that turbulent phase, Puneet revealed that while the actor was understandably disturbed, his family collectively decided that the best course of action was for him to stay focused on work. Puneet said, “Obviously, the man (Salman) was disturbed. Ultimately, his family members decided that he should start work and concentrate on it.”

He also recalled a conversation with Salman’s father, the legendary screenwriter Salim Khan, who asked him to guide Salman and ensure that he remained dedicated to his work. Puneet shared with Siddharth Kannan on his YouTube channel, “Salim saaab maintained that during that phase of Salman’s life, he should just work. Salim saaab told me to tell Salman to stay busy at work, and this was a collective decision taken by his family. It was a right decision and that’s what he did.”

Despite the public scrutiny and speculation surrounding him at the time, Salman managed to maintain a strong work ethic and kept his morale high on set, Puneet recalled and shared, “His morale was very good on set. He is a professional. He has a comfort zone, he works in that, he would come work out and shoot.”

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In 2002, Salman Khan was accused of driving over a pavement that resulted in one death and multiple injuries. The case went on for many years and in December 2015, the Bombay High Court acquitted Salman of all charges, citing lack of sufficient evidence. Apart from this case, Salman was also involved in another high-profile legal battle. In 1998, during the filming of Hum Saath Saath Hain, he was accused of hunting endangered blackbucks. After a prolonged legal process, Salman was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to five years in prison. However, after spending two nights in Jodhpur Central Jail, a sessions court granted him bail, and he was released after three days.

Through both controversies, Salman Khan continued to maintain a steady presence in the film industry and continued to work in films.