Sajid Nadiadwala's Salman Khan starrer "Jaaneman" is in trouble after the actor was sentenced Monday to five years' rigorous imprisonment in Jodhpur on a charge of poaching a chinkara, a protected species of gazelle.

The film was in the final stages of production and was due for an August release.

Vivek Vaswani, group advisor of Nimbus Motion Pictures, who struck a pricey deal with Nadiadwala for distribution rights in Mumbai, said: "We have decided to wait and watch the situation for some time.

One cannot rule out intermittent delays in the little work that needs to be completed besides the likely shift in the probable release timing."

Nevertheless, Vaswani is determined to stand by the actor.

"Salman is an old friend and I have known him since the 'Patthar Ke Phool' days. I am severely disturbed by the judgment. Instead of punishing him with a rigorous imprisonment of five years, it would have been befitting to fine him to the tune of Rs.10 million and set up a sanctuary for endangered species."