by Sanjeev Srivastava BBC Bombay correspondent

Those who know the 37-year-old Salman Khan insist there are few things the actor loves more than his image of a larger-than-life macho superstar who lives dangerously.

For Salman Khan, the eldest of the three sons of well-known screenplay writer Salim Khan, the car accident in Bombay is not his first brush with the law of the land.

A few years ago, he was arrested in the western Indian state of Rajasthan when he was charged with illegally hunting and killing a deer. The case is still before the courts.

However, one will find as many people who will swear by his kindness as those who condemn him for his behaviour.

Bollywood antics

Stories about his antics at parties are the toast of Bollywood, India's huge popular film industry.

Aishwarya Rai: Said she was beaten up

And for one of the most popular stars with women, Salman Khan has never really acquired a reputation for chivalrous behaviour.

His relationship with one former girl-friend was reportedly punctuated with incidents like the infuriated Salman Khan emptying a bottle of Coke on her head in a restaurant.

But it is his recent relationship with the former Miss World, Aishwarya Rai, that has really fed the Bollywood gossip columns.

She finally decided to speak out about his behaviour after he drove down to a film set last month where she was filming with another superstar, Shahrukh Khan, and forced her to leave.

In a recent interview to The Times of India, Ms Rai said she was beaten up by Salman Khan.

She said she broke up with him in March this year - not just because she was suffering physical violence at his hands, but also because he was cheating on her.

Generosity

But then there is another side to Salman Khan.

Bollywood is one of the world's biggest film industries

There have been stories of Salman Khan giving all he had in his pocket to beggars.

There also instances when he has vacated his room for his fans.

His devotion to his family, particularly his brothers, is also well known.

He is also reported to go out of his way to help friends.

And Salman Khan has given us two of the biggest ever hits of Indian cinema - Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hain Kaun.

There is little doubt, though, that the recent car accident is something which is going to haunt him for some time to come and may well overshadow his career.