Salman Khan's IIFA allegiance

"Salman is on very good terms with Wizcraft, who organize the IIFA Awards and his loyalty to the IIFA Awards could be the main reason he chose not to go for the Zee Cine Awards."

Khan was professional enough to return the agreement and the cheque when he decided not to do the show.

A leading tabloid earlier reported that Salman did not go for the show because he was unhappy with the choreographer and the treatment meted out to him by Cineyug, the organizers of Zee Cine Awards.

However, his secretary tells us, "Salman could not attend the Zee Cine Awards because of a hamstring pull in his left leg which he suffered during the shooting of Wanted. He was in Mumbai only."

A Zee Network official also toed the same line. "As far as we know, he did not perform at the Zee Cine Awards because of the injury. We do not have any more details because the Zee Cine team is not back from London as yet"

Khan was also chosen to receive the Variety Zee Cine Award 2008, which is awarded to actors/actresses who take Bollywood to a global stage. But his secretary says, "I have no idea that Salman has been awarded the Variety Zee Award so I do not know who has or will pick it up."

Girlfriend Katrina performed solo at the awards held on April 26. Other performers included King Khan, Saif Ali Khan and girlfriend Kareena Kapoor.

Salman has not attended or performed at any of the awards functions this year, whether it is the Filmfare Awards or the Stardust Awards.

It seems only Salman knows the real reason behind his absence at the Zee Cine Awards 2008 and it will be a treat to see him at IIFA Awards later this year, which hopefully His Highness will attend.

Salman will be seen in Subhash Ghai's Yuvraj and as the host of Dus Ka Dum which airs on Sony from June 26.