Salman Khan recalls ‘spooky presence’ and 'cupboards opening on their own' at his Mumbai home he stayed for decades

Highlights:

Bollywood actor Salman Khan has shared an unsettling memory from his younger days, recalling how he sensed an unexplained presence in his bedroom at Galaxy Apartments in Bandra, Mumbai. The actor said lights would flicker, cupboards would open on their own and his music system would sometimes switch on without anyone touching it.

During a conversation with filmmaker Karan Johar on Koffee With Karan Season 9, Salman revisited the strange experiences he associated with the room where he lived with his family for decades.

‘I never stayed alone in that room’

Karan recalled visiting Salman at home while the actor was shooting for Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai in 1998. He was surprised by the modest bedroom, which had only a bed and a cupboard.

Salman then described why he never felt entirely alone in the room.

"I never stayed alone in that room. I always stayed there with somebody whom I had never seen, only heard. Every time I came out of that room, the lights flickered. The cupboards used to open on their own; the music system would turn on on its own. Whenever I was in the bathroom, I could feel someone's presence outside, fidgeting with the cupboards."

The actor said these incidents made him believe that something was there, although he had never seen it.

"That's how I figured out there was somebody or something there."

When Karan asked whether he thought the room was haunted, Salman clarified that he did not necessarily see it that way. Instead, he described a feeling of an unseen presence, particularly when music was playing.

"Not haunting... but a presence was felt. Whenever I played music, I could feel its presence. So, I used to play music for it and walk out of the room. There was a billiards table outside, and whenever we played there, we could hear that someone was inside the room."

Despite the unusual occurrences, Salman said he was not particularly frightened because the presence had never harmed him. He even had a humorous request for whatever he believed might be in the room.

"No, because it didn't do anything. My only request to it was: 'If you are a really beautiful woman, then reveal yourself to me.'"

The actor did not explain what might have caused the flickering lights or the cupboards and music system appearing to operate on their own. His account remains a recollection of experiences he could not explain, rather than proof of paranormal activity.

From strange experiences to gunfire outside Galaxy Apartments

Galaxy Apartments has been the Khan family's home for decades. Located in Bandra West, the Mumbai residence is one of Bollywood's best-known celebrity addresses, with fans often gathering outside to catch a glimpse of Salman.

The apartment has also been the site of a serious security incident. On April 14, 2024, two men on a motorcycle fired shots outside the building while Salman was reportedly at home. Mumbai Police investigated the incident and alleged links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The shooting led to heightened security around the actor and his family. Although Salman's recollections of an unexplained presence date back to his younger days, the gunfire outside his home was a documented real-world threat.

His story of Galaxy Apartments therefore spans two very different kinds of unease: the strange occurrences he remembers from his bedroom and the security concerns that have surrounded his home in recent years.