Last Updated:
Abhinav Kashyap calls Salman Khan a “gunda” not interested in acting, accuses Khan family of being vindictive and controlling Bollywood.
Dabangg director Abhinav Kashyap has reignited his long-standing feud with Salman Khan, calling him a “gunda” who is not interested in acting.
As Dabangg nears its 15th anniversary, filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap has once again opened up about his bitter fallout with Salman Khan and his family. Kashyap, who directed the 2010 blockbuster that launched one of Bollywood’s biggest franchises, has alleged that his refusal to helm Dabangg 2 led to a campaign of sabotage against him.
Abhinav Kashyap on Salman Khan’s Behaviour
In a candid interview with SCREEN, Abhinav did not mince words when describing his experience of working with Salman. “Salman is never 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, but he is not interested in acting. He is a gunda (goon),” the filmmaker said.
He further alleged that the actor was “ill-mannered” and “vindictive.” Kashyap added, “He (Salman Khan) is the father of the star system in Bollywood. He is from a film family which has been in the industry since 50 years. He continues the process. They are vindictive people. They control the whole process. If you don’t agree with them, they come after you.”
Anurag Kashyap’s Fallout During Tere Naam
Abhinav also drew parallels between his own career struggles and the setbacks faced by his brother, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. He recalled how Anurag had written the script for Salman’s 2003 film Tere Naam but eventually walked away after clashes with producer Boney Kapoor.
“The same happened with him (Anurag Kashyap) in Tere Naam. How would he guide or advise me? He told me before Dabangg that you won’t be able to make a film with Salman. He just didn’t tell me in great detail why. He just thought I’ll get easily bullied, he knows these vultures,” Abhinav shared.
According to him, Anurag left the project after Boney Kapoor “misbehaved” and was denied credit for the story, a situation that mirrored Abhinav’s own fallout with the Khan camp. “The basis of any good film is a good script. They didn’t give him credit either,” he said.
Salman Khan’s Silence
Despite Abhinav’s repeated allegations over the years, Salman Khan has never publicly addressed the feud. The actor continues to remain silent on the claims made against him and his family, even as the Dabangg franchise remains one of his biggest commercial successes.
Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he’s breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, he’s always on the hun…Read More
Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he’s breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, he’s always on the hun… Read More
Check latest Bollywood news updates, events and award shows, upcoming hindi movies releases, exclusive interviews, box office collections, reviews, trailers, and more. Download the News18 App.
September 07, 2025, 18:00 IST
