Bollywood actor Salman Khan sits in a car as he leaves a court in Mumbai, India, May 6, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was sentenced on Wednesday to five years in prison for killing a homeless man with his SUV in a 2002 hit-and-run after a night out drinking at an upmarket bar.

Judge D.W. Deshpande found Khan guilty of culpable homicide and other charges for driving his Land Cruiser into a group of homeless men sleeping rough in suburban Mumbai, rejecting the actor's claim his driver was to blame.

"After going through the arguments put forth by both sides, I have come to the conclusion that five years is proper punishment," Deshpande told the packed court.

Khan has always denied being behind the wheel, but the conviction and sentence are likely to hit the career of one of the Indian movie industry's biggest box-office stars.

The 49-year-old looked stunned and tired as the sentence was read out, sinking into his chair as his family gathered around.

Khan, the star of blockbusters such as Dabangg (Fearless), fled the scene of the crash that left one man dead and several others injured.

The verdict had been keenly awaited both by his legions of fans and Bollywood studios, who stand to lose millions of dollars if they have to cancel filming movies for which he has been signed up.