By ANW Entertainment Desk
September 12, 2025
In a bombshell interview that has sent shockwaves through Bollywood, filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap, best known for directing the 2010 blockbuster *Dabangg*, has unleashed a torrent of accusations against superstar Salman Khan and his influential family. Calling Salman a “gunda” (goon), “badtameez” (ill-mannered), and a “ganda insaan” (bad person), Kashyap claims the actor has long lost interest in genuine acting, preferring instead the perks of celebrity power. The director further alleges that the Khan family operates as a vindictive force in the Hindi film industry, sabotaging careers of those who dare to challenge their authority. This explosive revelation comes just days before *Dabangg* marks its 15th anniversary on September 10, 2025, reigniting a feud that first erupted five years ago.
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Abhinav Kashyap’s scathing remarks were made during a candid conversation with SCREEN magazine, where he didn’t hold back on detailing his bitter experiences. “Salman Khan is not interested in acting anymore. He turns up on set like he’s doing everyone a favour. He’s more invested in being a powerful celebrity than being a good actor,” Kashyap stated emphatically. He went further, describing Salman as a “gunda” and admitting that he was unaware of this side of the star before collaborating on *Dabangg*. The film, which starred Salman as the iconic cop Chulbul Pandey, was a massive hit, grossing over ₹140 crore worldwide and revitalizing Salman’s career during a slump. However, what began as a professional triumph quickly soured into personal animosity.
The roots of this conflict trace back to post-*Dabangg* developments. Kashyap claims that after the film’s success, the Khan family—comprising Salman, brothers Arbaaz and Sohail—pressured him to direct the sequel, *Dabangg 2*, but on their terms. “They wanted a slave director for the sequel. They harassed me, and that’s why I stepped away willingly,” he revealed, echoing complaints from 2020 when he first accused the family of blacklisting him. According to Kashyap, refusing to toe the line led to a systematic sabotage of his career, including being sidelined from projects and facing a toxic work environment that took a toll on his mental health. He even blamed the Khans for contributing to his divorce, though details remain personal and unverified.
Kashyap’s allegations extend beyond his own grievances, painting a broader picture of Bollywood’s power dynamics. He accuses the Khan family of perpetuating the “star system,” where A-listers like Salman wield unchecked influence due to their generational legacy in the industry—Salman’s father, the legendary Salim Khan, has been a screenwriter since the 1970s. “He [Salman] is the father of the star system in Bollywood. They are vindictive people. They control the whole process. If you don’t agree with them, they come after you,” Kashyap asserted. This, he claims, creates an environment where dissent is punished, stifling creativity and fairness.
Adding a familial layer to the narrative, Kashyap drew parallels with his brother, acclaimed director Anurag Kashyap. He recounted how Anurag, who wrote the script for Salman’s 2003 film *Tere Naam*, was mistreated by producer Boney Kapoor and left the project without credit after alleged misbehavior. “Anurag warned me before *Dabangg* that I wouldn’t be able to make a film with Salman—you’ll be bullied or manipulated,” Abhinav shared, suggesting a pattern of the Khans pushing out creative contributors who don’t conform. Anurag Kashyap, known for films like *Gangs of Wasseypur* and *Sacred Games*, has occasionally alluded to industry nepotism but has not directly commented on these recent claims.
This isn’t the first time Abhinav has gone public with his frustrations. In 2020, he posted a lengthy Facebook rant accusing Salman, Arbaaz, and Sohail of creating a “vindictive and toxic atmosphere” that derailed his career post-*Dabangg*. At the time, Sohail Khan filed a defamation suit against him, but the matter appears to have simmered until now. Abhinav’s follow-up directorial venture, *Besharam* (2013) starring Ranbir Kapoor, was a commercial flop, which he attributes partly to the fallout with the Khans. Since then, his career has been sporadic, with unfulfilled promises of comebacks.
Social media has erupted over the interview, with X (formerly Twitter) buzzing with reactions. Posts from users like @CastingOnX highlighted Kashyap’s claims of credit denial for *Dabangg*, while @htshowbiz amplified the “slave director” quote.
Hashtags like #SalmanKhanControversy and #AbhinavKashyap are trending, with fans divided—some defending Salman’s box-office pull and philanthropy, others questioning the industry’s alleged mafia-like control. One viral clip from a fan account shows Salman addressing similar career-sabotage accusations on *Bigg Boss 19*, where he hosts. “Kaunsa career? If I ruined anyone’s career, it’s my own,” Salman quipped humbly during a recent episode, seemingly alluding to his own career highs and lows.
Interestingly, this weekend’s *Weekend Ka Vaar* episode of the show will be hosted by Arshad Warsi and Akshay Kumar, as Salman is away shooting his next film.
Speaking of which, amid the controversy, Salman remains unfazed, focusing on his professional commitments. The 59-year-old actor is currently in Ladakh, braving extreme conditions to shoot *Battle of Galwan*, a patriotic war drama directed by Apoorva Lakhia.
The film is based on the real-life 2020 Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops on June 15, where 20 Indian soldiers, including Colonel B. Santosh Babu, lost their lives defending the border at 15,000 feet.
Salman portrays Colonel Babu in what promises to be an intense action-thriller, co-starring Chitrangada Singh. First-look images released in July 2025 showed a rugged, leaner Salman in military fatigues, hinting at the physical transformation he underwent for the role.
Shooting commenced in August, with rigorous training to depict the hand-to-hand combat in harsh terrains. “It’s slow. I’m not feeling it yet. But I will, especially in the cold water scenes in Ladakh,” Salman told India Today recently, underscoring the challenges.
The project, produced by Salman himself under Salman Khan Films, aims to honor the Indian Army’s valor and has generated patriotic buzz. No official release date has been announced, but it’s slated for 2026. Meanwhile, Salman juggles this with hosting *Bigg Boss 19*, where his no-nonsense style continues to draw TRPs.
The timing of Kashyap’s interview, coinciding with *Dabangg*’s milestone and Salman’s high-profile shoot, has fueled speculation of ulterior motives. Industry insiders suggest it could be a bid for relevance, given Abhinav’s stalled career, while supporters see it as a brave exposé on nepotism. Bollywood has long been rife with such power struggles, from the Sushant Singh Rajput controversy to ongoing debates on the “insider vs. outsider” divide. As of now, neither Salman nor his family has issued a formal response to the latest barbs, maintaining their signature silence.
This saga underscores the fragile egos and high stakes in Hindi cinema, where collaborations can make or break fortunes. Will Abhinav’s revelations lead to legal repercussions or industry reforms? Only time will tell. For now, fans await Salman’s on-screen rebuttal in *Battle of Galwan*, a film that might just redefine his legacy beyond the controversies.