New Delhi, Nov 30 (PTI) Superstar Salman Khan is nostranger to controversies and the actor believes rows such asaround "Padmavati" affect the movie business adversely.
The 52-year-old star today said a film suffers a lot inan unfriendly environment as people avoid theatres, fearingviolence.
"I am not sure if there is any benefit (out of this) butit definitely leads to loss. There is loss, a lot of loss, Ihave seen it for myself. People are scared to go to thetheatres. Business goes down 100 per cent.
"Even if the film is in news, no one goes to theatres outof fear. Theatre owners are also scared because they don'twant violence and stone-pelting outside their theatres. Peopledo panic," Salman said when asked about protest around thefilm.
The actor was in conversation with senior journalistShekhar Gupta at the HT Leadership Summit here.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama is embroiled in acontroversy with various Rajput groups and political leadersaccusing the director of distorting history.
The Deepika Padukone-Shahid Kapoor-Ranveer Singhstarrer's release date has been deferred from December 1 tillfurther notice by the makers.
Salman has worked with Bhansali in three films -"Khamoshi: The Musical", "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" and"Saawariya".
When Gupta asked Salman if the director had a trackrecord of hurting sentiments, the actor, never the one to givea straight answer to a question, quipped that Bhansali hadoffended him.
"I don't know about others but he definitely offended me.
I gave him two hits -- "Khamoshi" and "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam"and he took Shah Rukh in the next one (Devdas)," he joked.
On a more serious note, the actor said although one mustrespect people's sentiments, calling for a ban on a filmwithout even watching it was unfair.
He said the only decision that would matter will comefrom either the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) orthe Supreme Court.
"I don't think it is fair to hurt anyone's sentiments. Itis also not fair to comment on a film without seeing it. Thecensor board will give its certificate and we will go by it.
"It (the film) has been talked about so much that it isno longer clear what is right or what is wrong. The censorboard or the Supreme Court will take a decision and everyoneshould respect that."Incidentally, Bhansali and CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi met aparliamentary panel on IT today to discuss the problems andissues surrounding the film. PTI RDS BKBK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.