Abhinav Kashyap Salman Khan Dispute: Abhinav Kashyap, the filmmaker behind Dabangg, is back in the headlines, reviving his old feud with Salman Khan. In September and October 2025, he made fresh claims that the Khan family deliberately ruined his career after Dabangg’s blockbuster success in 2010. This isn’t new; their falling-out first blew up in public back in June 2020, when Kashyap accused the Khans of bullying him, wrecking his projects, and throwing their industry weight around.
Dabangg’s Rs 219 Cr Success and the Split
Let’s rewind to Dabangg. Directed by Kashyap and starring Salman Khan, the film released in theatres on September 10, 2010, and shattered multiple records and became the highest-grossing Hindi film of that year.
According to Box Office India data, it grossed approximately 219 crore rupees worldwide on a budget of just 42 crore rupees. Salman’s quirky cop character, Chulbul Pandey, became a sensation. It also marked Sonakshi Sinha’s big Bollywood debut.
But here’s the twist: Even after such a massive hit, Kashyap didn’t direct Dabangg 2. Instead, Arbaaz Khan, Salman’s brother, took over for the 2012 sequel. Dabangg 3 came out in 2019 with Prabhu Deva directing. After Dabangg, Kashyap only directed one more film, Besharam, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Pallavi Sharda, which flopped both with critics and at the box office.
The 2020 Sabotage Allegations
In June 2020, just days after Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, Kashyap posted a long Facebook note. He accused Salman, his brothers Arbaaz and Sohail, and their father Salim Khan of using threats and industry clout to derail his career. Kashyap said Arbaaz warned the head of Shree Ashtavinayak Films not to work with him, which forced him to return a Rs 7 crore signing fee, plus Rs 90 lakh in interest. He also claimed Sohail Khan pressured Viacom Pictures’ CEO at the time, Vikram Malhotra, to drop him from a project.
Kashyap didn’t stop there; he revealed he’d filed a police complaint in 2017 about threatening messages he believed came from Sohail Khan. The police never found out who sent them, and the case went nowhere.
Khan Family’s Legal Response
The Khans weren’t quiet about these accusations. Arbaaz Khan told Hindustan Times they hadn’t spoken to Kashyap since starting Dabangg 2, had parted ways professionally, and were taking legal action. Salim Khan, Salman’s father, brushed off the whole thing with sarcasm, telling Bombay Times that Kashyap might as well blame his ancestors if he wanted to accuse people. He refused to give it any more attention.
When Kashyap later accused Salman’s charity, Being Human, of money laundering, Arbaaz said the family had already filed complaints with film associations. Meanwhile, Kashyap’s brother, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, distanced himself from the mess. On Twitter, he said Abhinav had told him long ago to stay out of his business, and he was doing just that.
September 2025: Feud Reignites
Fast-forward to September 2025. Kashyap gave an interview to SCREEN magazine, reigniting the feud. He didn’t hold back, calling Salman Khan out for caring more about his fame than about acting. Kashyap said that during Dabangg, Salman cut down the parts of veterans like Om Puri and Mahie Gill so he’d stay in the spotlight; a clear clash between the director’s vision and the superstar’s ego.
He also pulled in his brother’s history with Salman, saying Anurag Kashyap wrote the script for Tere Naam but left after a fight with producer Boney Kapoor, never getting credit for his work. According to Abhinav, Anurag had warned him about working with Salman.
In that same interview, Abhinav claimed the Khan family runs the industry like a fiefdom and doesn’t tolerate pushback. He accused them of sabotaging Besharam’s release and planting negative stories about him in the press.
Salman Khan Responds on Bigg Boss 19
Salman Khan broke his silence on October 12, 2025, right on the Bigg Boss 19 stage. He didn’t drop Abhinav’s name, but the dig was obvious. Salman asked what Abhinav had actually done recently and threw in a pointed remark about how nobody wants to work with someone who just talks badly about others. Then he said, look, even after everything, the Khans still offered Abhinav another movie. Abhinav said no. Salman pretty much brushed off all of Abhinav’s accusations and straight-up questioned whether anyone in the industry really trusts him anymore.
The Battle of Galwan “Criminal” Row
In October 2025, Abhinav Kashyap ramped up his attack on Salman Khan, this time aiming at Khan’s casting in the upcoming war movie Battle of Galwan. The film, directed by Apoorva Lakhia and produced by Salman Khan Films, is set to hit theatres on Republic Day 2026 and tells the story of the 2020 Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops. Chitrangda Singh and Pankaj Tripathi are also part of the cast, but it’s Salman Khan in the spotlight, and not just for his role.
During an interview with Bollywood Thikana, Kashyap didn’t hold back. He called Khan a “criminal” and questioned whether someone with a criminal record should play an Indian soldier. Kashyap pointed straight at Khan’s past, the 2002 hit-and-run case, the blackbuck poaching charges. “A criminal like him will play a soldier?” he said. “He’s not saying a word to me, but his followers sure don’t like me criticising him.”
Kashyap also took a swipe at Khan’s business empire, from Salman Khan Films to his long list of brand endorsements. “That’s his problem, his money can’t buy everything. I’m not for sale. He can’t buy me,” Kashyap said.
Not everyone’s against Khan, though. In October 2025, Rakhi Sawant stepped up to defend him, praising his support for her career and the help he gave her mother during cancer treatment. She shot back at Kashyap, calling him a “womaniser” and telling fans not to buy into his allegations.
Bollywood Power Dynamics Exposed
This all blew up against the backdrop of bigger debates in Bollywood, especially after Sushant Singh Rajput’s death in 2020. People started talking openly about nepotism, talent agencies, and how much power the old film families really have. Kashyap’s charges fit right in; he’s painted himself as the “outsider” daring to take on a superstar-backed dynasty, and a lot of fans who are fed up with Bollywood’s gatekeepers have cheered him on.
The fight digs into some real issues: directors wanting creative freedom, superstars wanting to protect their image. Kashyap claims veteran actors had their roles slashed to keep the spotlight on Khan, a sign of how much control the big stars really have. Honestly, it’s rare for a director to go public with complaints about someone as powerful as Khan.
Still, Kashyap’s claims haven’t been independently verified. The Khan family insists they’ve done nothing wrong and have always fought back with legal action.
Two Careers: Success vs Silence
Abhinav Kashyap hasn’t released a movie since Besharam back in 2013. Meanwhile, Khan’s career is unstoppable. His production house, Salman Khan Films (SKF), keeps rolling out new projects. He’s still one of India’s biggest box office draws, with films easily crossing Rs 100 crore.
Battle of Galwan and the action flick Sikandar are next on his list. The Dabangg franchise, which made Khan’s Chulbul Pandey a household name, has grown beyond three films to include an animated series and even inspired remakes in Tamil (Osthe, 2011) and Telugu (Gabbar Singh, 2012).
What Happens Next
The Khan family’s lawsuit against Kashyap, which started in 2020, is still hanging in the air. No one’s said it’s over, and there’s been no word about a settlement. The Khans have a habit of taking critics to court. Remember the time they went after KRK? So, with those “criminal” comments from 2025 floating around, more legal drama could be on the way. Neither side looks ready to back down or meet in the middle.
Every time someone from either party says something new, the whole mess pops back into the spotlight. Kashyap says he won’t stop talking about what happened. The Khan family keeps insisting they’ll stick to the legal route.
Meanwhile, the buzz is building for Battle of Galwan, set to hit theatres on Republic Day 2026. People are talking about Salman Khan teaming up with Chitrangda Singh and Pankaj Tripathi; it’s his first time diving into a patriotic war drama. As for Kashyap, the big question is whether he’ll ever get a shot at directing again. It’s been over a decade since his last film. These days, his accusations have overshadowed his work behind the camera. That’s what most people know him for now, whether his claims hold up or not.
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