Dabangg is one of the most loved franchises of Salman Khan but it also has its share of controversies. As the first part of the series approaches its 15th anniversary, its director Abhinav Kashyap has once again spoken openly about his fallout with Salman Khan and his family.
Abhinav Kashyap, who directed the 2010 film that went on to become one of Bollywood’s most successful franchises, claims that his decision not to direct the sequel led to a campaign of sabotage against him.
In an interview, the filmmaker did not hold back when describing his experience of working with Salman Khan. He alleged that the actor showed little interest in acting and was more invested in his celebrity power than his craft. According to Abhinav Kashyap, Salman barely involved himself in the process of filmmaking and only turned up as a favour. He went further, calling the star ill-mannered and vindictive, and accused him of being at the center of Bollywood’s star system where families with long-standing influence control projects and retaliate against those who do not comply.
Abhinav Kashyap connected his struggles with those of his brother Anurag Kashyap who also faced difficulties working with Salman Khan’s circle. He recalled how Anurag had written the script for Tere Naam in 2003 but eventually walked away from the project after disputes with producer Boney Kapoor. Abhinav suggested that his brother had warned him against working with Salman, fearing he would be bullied or sidelined, though he had not gone into great detail at the time.
Reflecting on the Tere Naam episode, Abhinav said Anurag left the film after being denied credit for the story and after what he described as misbehaviour from Boney Kapoor. He claimed that the same pattern repeated with Dabangg, where the contributions of those behind the script were overshadowed, undermining the foundation of good filmmaking.
Despite Abhinav Kashyap’s repeated allegations over the years, Salman Khan has never responded publicly to the claims. The actor has chosen to remain silent even as the Dabangg franchise continues to be one of his biggest commercial successes and a defining part of his career.
For Abhinav Kashyap, however, the film’s success is overshadowed by memories of conflict. His latest remarks serve as another reminder of how his relationship with the most influential family of Bollywood collapsed just as his career seemed to be taking off, leaving behind a bitter legacy even as Dabangg is celebrated by audiences to this day.
