Fans, celebrities throng Salman Khan residence at Bandra

Fans, media professionals and celebrities gathered in large numbers outside Salman Khan's residence in Galaxy Apartments at Bandstand, Bandra on Wednesday, following the actor's conviction in the 2002 hit-and-run case.

The mood was sombre among his admirers, and the chaos outside the place led to traffic jams. The police department had to deploy cops to control the crowd. The apartment complex was heavily guarded and nobody was allowed entry inside the premises except Khan's friends.

Several B-town celebrities visited the residence throughout the day. These included Preity Zinta, and Sonakshi Sinha. There was also Sangeeta Bijlani, who spent a few hours with Khan's mother Salma, who had taken ill after hearing the verdict. Playwright Feroz Abbas Khan and actor Raza Murad were also present there. Many in the fraternity were unhappy with the news.

Fans thronged Salman Khan's residence, and many wanted to catch a glimpse of the actor before he is taken to the prison. Ruchi Pal, a 21-year-old student, said, "I have been waiting here since morning. When I heard he got interim bail from the high court, I decided to wait till evening to get a glimpse of the actor when he returns. He does not deserve to be behind bars for that long."

Another fan, Dinesh Sanghvi, 28, said, "The punishment is harsh, especially since it comes after 12 years. We hope the higher courts will show leniency. It is hard to imagine Bollywood without Salman."