Salman Khan, during a recent Weekend Ka Vaar episode of Bigg Boss 18, took entrepreneur Ashneer Grover to task. The actor confronted Grover over past remarks made about him, exposing what Salman described as the businessman’s ‘doglapaan’ and ‘fake arrogance.’
Salman Khan’s Confrontation with Ashneer Grover
In a promo clip from the episode, Salman confronted Ashneer, who appeared as a guest on the show. The actor accused him of spreading false narratives in the media about their professional interactions. Salman referred to Ashneer’s attitude as hypocritical, questioning why the entrepreneur’s demeanor had changed so drastically from their previous encounters.
Salman stated:
“Mere baare me kehte huye suna hai that you have signed me. Sab figures bhi aapne galat bataye. Toh phir yeh dogalapan kya hai? eh jo attitude ab hai, tab wahan nahi dikha tha.”
Although Ashneer attempted to clarify that his statements were misinterpreted during a podcast, Salman was not convinced, asserting that Grover’s current attitude differed significantly from his past behavior.
What Did Ashneer Grover Say About Salman Khan?
During a past appearance on the Vaghera Vaghera podcast, Ashneer had shared details of his first meeting with Salman Khan while signing him as the brand ambassador for BharatPe. According to Ashneer, Salman had refused to take a photograph with him, an incident that left the entrepreneur annoyed.
He recounted:
“Usko humne sponsor rakha tha, uske shoot ke liye mila tha, usko brief karne ke liye company ke baare mein. Teen ghante baitha tha uske saath, uske manager ne bol diya photo nahi khichwani, sir thoda bura maan jaate hain. Maine bola nahi khichwaunga photo, bhaad mein jaa tu, aisi kaunsi heropanti hogayi.”
Ashneer’s Respect for Salman’s Business Acumen
Despite their differences, Ashneer acknowledged Salman’s sharp understanding of branding and his image. He revealed that Salman had emphasized being portrayed as “larger-than-life” in advertisements, citing the failure of Tubelight as an example of what happens when his on-screen image doesn’t align with audience expectations.
Ashneer said:
“But banda smart hai. Logon ko lagta hai ke hawa mein hai, banda genuinely smart hai, usko business samajhta hai, usko branding samajhti hai, usko apni image clear hai. Jab hum ad bana rahe the, usne clear bol diya tha ke mujhe larger than life hi dikhana kyunki maine picture banayi thi Tubelight, woh pit gayi kyunki mujhe usme mandbuddhi dikha diya. Mujhe laga sahi banda hai, yeh sab cheezon ki realisation hai.”
When Ashneer Requested Salman to Lower His Fees
In another anecdote from 2022, Ashneer recalled requesting Salman to reduce his endorsement fee for BharatPe. Initially quoted ₹7.5 crores, Salman eventually agreed to ₹4.5 crores, understanding the financial constraints of Ashneer’s startup at the time.
Ashneer explained:
“I decided to get Salman Khan as brand ambassador in 2019. Nobody could even think about it at that point. I was a small company, and I had to generate trust overnight for my business. So I thought I should take Salman as my brand ambassador. When I approached Salman’s team, they told me that they will charge Rs. 7.5 crores, which is when I started calculating as I had Rs. 100 crore on me. I will give him Rs. 7.5 crore, spend another Rs. 1-2 on making the advertisement, and then I have to pay broadcasters as well. It’s going to be a Rs. 20 crore expense and I have only Rs. 100 crore in my pocket, with no certainty if I would get another round of investment. So I asked Salman to decrease his price, and he agreed to do it for Rs. 4.5 crore.”
The faceoff between Salman Khan and Ashneer Grover on Bigg Boss 18 has sparked widespread attention, with viewers divided on the confrontation. While Salman openly criticized Ashneer for his remarks, Grover attempted to downplay the controversy, adding more intrigue to their professional dynamic.
What are your thoughts on this heated exchange? Let us know!
