He reprised his role as the lovable reel gangster, and a nation laughed with him in Lage Raho Munnabhai. The movie -- a big hit -- has even made it to the Oscars independently.

But the smiles could not wipe out the real frowns and the tension. The shadow of the 1993 Mumbai blasts case hung over his life. In a long-awaited verdict, Mumbai’s Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act court found him guilty of possessing illegal weapons. It ruled, however, that he was not a terrorist. His fans sighed in relief, though he still can get a few years in jail.

Sometimes it seems uncanny - how a controversial star can talk about Gandhigiri and a nation can listen to the preachy message coated in comedy.

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