Court Bars Abhinav Kashyap from Making Defamatory Remarks, Salman Khan Gets Major Relief

Mumbai: In a significant legal relief for Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, a Mumbai court has restrained director Abhinav Kashyap from making any “derogatory or insulting remarks” against the actor or his family. Salman had filed a defamation suit seeking unconditional apology and damages of ₹9 crore.

The legal action follows a series of 26 video interviews and podcasts released by Kashyap between September and December 2025, in which he allegedly made “false, defamatory, and highly insulting” statements targeting Salman Khan and his family. In addition to Kashyap, other parties, including Khushboo Hajare and multiple social media platforms, have been named in the suit.

Court Finds Remarks Defamatory and Insulting

The court, after reviewing the podcasts, observed that Kashyap’s statements were “prima facie defamatory, insulting, abusive, and degrading in nature.” It noted that these remarks harmed the public image and reputation of the actor and emphasized that freedom of speech does not permit the use of offensive or threatening language against any individual or their family members.

Allegations by Abhinav Kashyap

Abhinav Kashyap, who directed Salman’s blockbuster Dabangg (2010), alleged in interviews that Salman and his family had subjected him to “torture” during the film’s production. He claimed that Salman allegedly kidnapped the film editor and the editing machine, only releasing them after an explanation about voltage fluctuations. Kashyap also accused the actor of interfering with his work and attempting to replace him with Salman’s brother, Arbaaz Khan, as the director.

In his statements, Kashyap reportedly made derogatory comments about Salman’s personal life, age, appearance, and compared him to notorious criminals while discussing Salman’s upcoming film Battle of Galwan. The suit also mentions specific insulting remarks aimed at Salman’s father, Salim Khan, and brothers, Arbaaz and Sohail Khan.

Salman Khan Seeks Unconditional Apology and Compensation

In his petition, Salman demanded a permanent injunction preventing the publication of any defamatory content, removal of existing controversial material, unconditional apology, and damages of ₹9 crore.

Salman had previously addressed the issue indirectly on Bigg Boss 19, criticizing those who “sit idle and spread nonsense” without having meaningful work, an apparent reference to Kashyap’s public statements.

Anurag Kashyap Distances Himself from His Brother

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, Abhinav’s brother, clarified in a separate interview that he was not associated with his brother’s remarks and described him as “unwell,” advising people not to take his statements seriously.

The Mumbai court’s interim order reinforces that no one has the right to defame or insult another person or their family under the guise of freedom of expression, providing Salman Khan and his family legal protection against further defamatory statements.