'Marigold' helmer standing by Khan
Carroll believes thesp capable of crossover status
Carroll, in India scouting for locations for his $8 million-$10 million Hyperion Pictures project, told Daily Variety he believed Khan could become India's first successful crossover star despite his brush with the law.
"Everyone has turned on Salman, but it was an accident, and accidents happen," Carroll said. "I have decided to take a wait-and-see attitude."
He added: "Khan has the kind of look that would appeal to the West, and he has a terrific sense of humor. He speaks English well and colloquially -- which is what we need. We also believe he will work well with whichever American actress we choose. He has a very appealing personality, and we are sure his spontaneity and energy will translate well to the West."
Khan was involved in an incident Sept. 28 in which authorities say his vehicle left the road and ran over five homeless people sleeping on the pavement in a Mumbai suburb, killing one of them.
The actor, who fled the scene, faces 10 years in jail if convicted. Police claim he was drunk and driving without a license.
Khan, who is out on bail, denies he was at the wheel of the vehicle and said he ran away when a crowd started throwing stones at him.
With the Indian legal system taking years to grind through a backlog of cases, Carroll did not believe the event would affect Khan's commitments to the movie.
Khan had volunteered to drop out of the 75-day India shoot -- scheduled to start in March -- but Hyperion rejected this option, Carroll said.
Storyline concerns a Hollywood actress -- yet to be cast -- stranded and penniless in India, taking a role in a Bollywood production to earn money to get home.
The English version will be dubbed into Hindi for distribution in India. Producer Tom Wilhite plans to release the movie simultaneously in India and the U.S.
