It has been over a decade since Dabangg hit theatres but the rift between director Abhinav Kashyap and Salman Khan continues to make headlines. In a recent interview, Abhinav once again made serious allegations against the Bollywood superstar and his family, calling Salman “insecure” and accusing him of reducing his brother Arbaaz Khan’s role in the 2010 blockbuster.
Abhinav Kashyap claimed that Salman would often interfere with the film’s production, even late at night. According to him, one night around 1:30 a.m., Salman entered his room, saw a chase sequence featuring Arbaaz, and decided to remove it. He alleged that the change was made because Salman wanted more screen time for himself.
The director went on to suggest that the relationship between the Khan brothers was strained, claiming that despite living together, they had serious disagreements. He recalled witnessing an argument between Salman and Arbaaz on the sets of Dabangg, saying it became so heated that Salman lost his temper and began throwing utensils. Abhinav Kashyap said that he tried to intervene but was told to stay out of it.
In his latest round of accusations, Abhinav Kashyap also claimed that Salman Khan went as far as “kidnapping” the film’s editor to control the final cut of Dabangg. He alleged that Salman took the editor and the editing equipment to his farmhouse and only allowed him to return after an issue was resolved. Abhinav Kashyap added that the editor was threatened during the process, Salman warned him not to make changes to the film without his approval.
These explosive statements reignited discussions about the long-standing fallout between the two. The controversy reached the small screen when Salman Khan addressed the matter on Bigg Boss 19. Without naming Abhinav Kashyap directly, he said that someone who had worked with him in Dabangg was now making baseless accusations and even dragging others, like Aamir Khan, into it. Salman reminded the director that constant negativity would only isolate him from the industry. He said that many people had stopped working with him because of his attitude, adding that when Salman himself once offered him a film, Abhinav Kashyap had declined.
Speaking in a more emotional tone, Salman Khan said that he was saddened by how the filmmaker had chosen to handle things. He urged him to stop attacking others and instead focus on rebuilding his life and career. Salman expressed concern for him, saying that his family must be worried about the path he had taken. He advised Abhinav Kashyap to reconnect with his loved ones and return to a more positive and productive space, emphasising that he still saw talent in him and wanted him to succeed.
As the war of words continues, it seems unlikely that the tension between the two will ease anytime soon. What began as a professional disagreement during Dabangg has now stretched into a long-standing public feud, with both sides standing firm in their version of events.
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