Filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap, who directed the 2010 blockbuster Dabangg, has once again sparked controversy with new claims about Salman Khan.
In a recent interview, Abhinav Kashyap alleged that Salman’s dominance on set affected both the filming and the final cut of Dabangg. He claimed that behind-the-scenes conflicts changed the tone of the movie.
The director recalled one key incident involving Om Puri. A scene required Salman’s character, Chulbul Pandey, to bow to Puri’s character. However, Salman reportedly refused to touch the veteran actor’s feet, leading to several rewrites.
According to Abhinav, tensions escalated when Om Puri confronted Salman for overshadowing his co-stars. Salman allegedly told him to quit the project if he disagreed. Despite this, Om Puri continued out of respect for Abhinav, as it was his debut film.
Kashyap also claimed that Salman’s influence extended into post-production. He said several edits reduced other actors’ screen time, including Mahie Gill, whose role he described as mishandled and unfairly cut.
He added that Arbaaz Khan’s portions were also altered, though those issues were reportedly settled within the Khan family. The film’s runtime was originally 2 hours and 45 minutes but was shortened by 25 minutes, mostly affecting supporting characters.
Abhinav Kashyap expressed regret over the changes, saying they hurt the careers of his co-stars. Salman Khan, who is now filming Battle of Galwan, has not yet responded to these allegations.
