In November 2024, former Shark Tank India judge Ashneer Grover appeared on Salman Khan’s reality show Bigg Boss 18 as a guest during a Weekend Ka Vaar episode. The Bollywood superstar confronted him over past remarks that had stirred controversy. Now, two months after that episode, Ashneer has responded, accusing Salman of provoking an unnecessary conflict and creating drama where none existed.
A video making rounds on social media captures Ashneer addressing students at NIT Kurukshetra. He took a direct jab at Salman for saying he didn’t know him. Speaking candidly, Ashneer remarked, “Faltu ka panga leke apna competition khada kiya usne.” He criticised Salman Khan’s comment that he had no idea who he was despite inviting him to the show. He questioned, “I don’t even know your name. Abey naam nahi jaanta toh bulaaya kyun tha?”
On Bigg Boss 18, Salman had claimed never to have met Ashneer before. Countering this, Ashneer argued that if the actor had been the face of his company’s campaign, their paths must have crossed. He pointed out that he ran his company with an iron grip, ensuring every deal went through him. There was no way a major endorsement like that could have happened without his involvement.
Seems like #AshneerGrover needs another ROUND OF CLASS from MEGASTAR #SalmanKhan 🔥😂
— CineHub (@Its_CineHub) February 1, 2025
Sher ke pith piche bolne ki hi AUKAAT hai bas in logo ki !! @BeingSalmanKhan pic.twitter.com/iQ0JxorClj
When Ashneer stepped onto the Bigg Boss stage, Salman wasted no time in addressing the controversy. The host accused him of spreading false claims, particularly about signing him and quoting inaccurate figures. He also noted that Ashneer’s tone had changed over time. Defending himself, Ashneer admitted that some of his podcast statements were exaggerated but stood by the fact that signing Salman was a significant business move. Salman, however, refuted Ashneer’s version, stating, “The meeting wasn’t with you but with your team. Maybe you were there, but we never had any direct discussions.” He acknowledged the possibility of Ashneer being present but denied having personal conversations. The actor made it clear that he never deceived anyone and that the numbers Ashneer mentioned were incorrect.
For those unfamiliar with the backstory, Ashneer had previously spoken on the Vaghera Vaghera podcast about his 2019 meeting with Salman during a BharatPe shoot. He recalled spending nearly three hours on set but claimed that Salman refused to take a photo with him, which irked him. Despite that, he acknowledged the superstar’s sharp business acumen and well-maintained public persona.
In another instance, while speaking at a university event in 2022, Ashneer revealed that during his company’s early days, when he was working with a limited budget of Rs 100 crore, he requested Salman to lower his endorsement fee. The actor agreed, which Ashneer saw as a strategic business move.
The clash between the two has reignited discussions about celebrity endorsements and the reality of business negotiations. Despite the back-and-forth, Ashneer continues to make headlines, unafraid to call out powerful figures. Whether this latest controversy will affect future collaborations remains uncertain, but one thing is clear, Ashneer Grover is not one to back down from a challenge.