Dabangg director Abhinav Kashyap slams Salman Khan as ‘gunda’ and ‘ill-mannered’

Highlights:

• Abhinav Kashyap called Salman Khan a “gunda,” “badtameez,” and “ganda insaan.”
• Claimed Salman has not been interested in acting for 25 years.
• Alleged Salman only shows up as a “favour” to films.
• Criticised the Khan family as “vindictive” and controlling Bollywood’s star system.
• Accusations come years after Kashyap directed Salman in Dabangg (2010).

Filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap, who shot to fame with the blockbuster Dabangg (2010), has once again launched scathing criticism against superstar Salman Khan and his family. In a recent interview with Screen, Kashyap used strong language, branding Salman as a "gunda" (goon), "badtameez" (ill-mannered), and a "ganda insaan" (bad person), and accused the Khan family of having a vindictive hold over the Hindi film industry.

“Salman is not interested in acting”

Abhinav Kashyap alleged that Salman Khan is disinterested in his craft and claimed the actor has not been truly invested in acting for the past 25 years. “Salman never gets involved. He is not even interested in acting, and he hasn’t been since the last 25 years. He does a favour by turning up to work. He is more into the power of being a celebrity than being a good actor,” Kashyap asserted in his interview. He added that he was unaware of these traits before working with Salman on Dabangg but later came to see his behavior as problematic.

Khan family accused of industry control

Kashyap extended his criticism to Salman’s entire family, referring to them as “vindictive” and “controlling.” He called Salman the “father of the star system” in Bollywood, attributing the rise of celebrity-centric power dynamics to the Khans. According to Kashyap, the family, with over 50 years in the industry, uses its influence to manipulate film projects and retaliate against those who won’t conform to their expectations. “If you don’t agree with them, they come after you,” he said, suggesting that careers are often derailed by this alleged control.

Allegations of sabotage

Abhinav Kashyap claims that his own career was sabotaged after Dabangg, which became a cultural phenomenon and commercial triumph. He chose not to direct its sequel, Dabangg 2, amid growing tensions. Kashyap alleges that the Khan family blocked his subsequent projects, limiting his opportunities. The filmmaker pointed to his brother, Anurag Kashyap’s similar struggles, recalling that he was removed from the film Tere Naam after disagreements with the Khans. Kashyap maintains that his experience is not isolated, but rather indicative of a larger pattern within the industry.

Salman Khan’s response and current projects

Salman Khan has continued to remain mostly silent on these allegations, rarely addressing such controversies publicly. However, in a recent interaction, Salman dismissed claims of sabotaging anyone’s career, stating, “Sabotaging anyone’s career is not in my hands. If I could do that, I would sabotage my own career.” The actor is currently enjoying a full slate of upcoming projects, including Battle of Galwan, which dramatizes the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes, and the AR Murugadoss film Sikandar. He also continues to host the popular reality show Bigg Boss 19.

Franchise and impact

After Abhinav’s exit, the Dabangg franchise pressed on with Dabangg 2, directed by Arbaaz Khan in 2012, and Dabangg 3 by Prabhu Deva in 2019. Kashyap, meanwhile, directed Besharam (2013) post-Dabangg, but the film failed to replicate his earlier success. The revived public spat between Abhinav Kashyap and Salman Khan continues to fuel debate over nepotism, power, and control in Bollywood, highlighting the complicated relationships that underpin India’s film industry.