The overseas distribution rights for Salman Khan’s new historical drama, Veer, have been sold for a record-breaking 150 crores, beating the record of 120 crores set only two weeks ago for Vipul Shah’s London Dreams. This means the movie will need to take at least 40 crores at the Indian box office to be a financial hit and provide the comfort zone required by the distributors. It should already be profitable for the producers provided they stay within budget.

The film also stars Sohail Khan and Mithun Chakraborty. Ever since he won the Best Male Debut Award for Maine Pyar Kiya in 1989, Salman has been one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars even when appearing in movies with less than satisfying scripts such as the recent God Tussi Great Ho. In five different years, he has appeared in Bollywood’s highest grossing film and the distributors will no doubt be hoping that Veer will be number six. Amongst his best known films are Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Biwi No.1, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, for which he won a Best Supporting Actor Award, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Tere Naam, No Entry and Partner.

Salman’s life is ever-colourful. The stepson of Helen and of course the brother of Sohail Khan, he is currently known for his ex-relationship with Aishwarya Rai and his current one with Katrina Kaif which appears to be stormy on his side but relaxed on hers. A dedicated power builder, he also has a wax dummy of himself in Madame Tussaud’s in London.

His high profile and occasional rashness has led him into problems. In 2002, a street dweller died when the car he was driving went off the road and collided with the front of a bakery and in 2006 he was involved in an illegal hunting party. The slow process of the Indian legal system means that elements of both these cases are still on file.

Salman’s current rivalry with Shah Rukh Khan has been widely publicized, the two having fallen out big time at Katrina Khan’s birthday party. He is also currently the host of TV’s 'Dus Ka Dum' game show, where his easy-going charm has won plaudits if not the level of audience that the producers may have wished for.

Salman is a gifted artist and has a painting of Aishwarya in his home that it’s said Katrina wants to get rid of but he refuses to part with it. Recently, he also offered to paint Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya’s husband, which should be seen as Salman’s way of making amends for his behaviour after he broke up with Aishwarya.

Salman will soon be seen in Heroes and Yuvraaj.