Cinema VinesSalman Khan made headlines last weekend after a fiery rant on the Bigg Boss 20 “Weekend Ka Vaar” episode, during which he stripped off his shirt to showcase his physique and called out the culture of trolling. The Bollywood star, who has long been a polarising figure, used the platform to address comments that critics had made about his age and weight, urging viewers to stop targeting him for his appearance.
In a clip that quickly went viral, Khan removed his hat and shirt on stage and said, “Bhai mota hogaya hai, bhai ko troll karo… Karlo troll, yeh lo. Karlo troll. Aao, troll karna hai na? Troll karna pasand hai? Yeh dekho, close‑up karlo.” The actor’s tirade extended beyond himself, as he criticized other contestants for their behaviour and lambasted the broader trend of body‑shaming on social media.
The backlash intensified when Sofia Hayat, a former Bigg Boss 7 contestant, took to X (formerly Twitter) to call Khan a “hypocritical idiot.” Hayat claimed that during her own stint on the show, the actor had mocked her looks and praised others, such as Gauahar Khan, for their bodies. She posted, “SALMAN is an hypocritical idiot. When I was in Bigg Boss he criticised my body and face..and told Gauahar (Khan) her body was good. Argh,” before adding that criticism of Khan’s appearance was unwarranted and that age should be seen as a blessing.
Beyond the body‑shaming dispute, Khan also addressed the expectation that celebrities comment on political issues. He argued that actors should not feel obliged to weigh in on matters they may not fully understand, and that journalists should not assume that a star’s voice is mandatory. He further defended fellow performers, stating that a film’s commercial failure should not define an actor’s worth, as they invest significant effort into each project to entertain audiences.
The episode, which aired on Colors TV and is available on JioHotstar, sparked a heated debate among viewers and industry insiders. While some praised Khan for standing up against online harassment, others felt his approach was self‑serving. Sofia Hayat’s response added a new layer to the controversy, highlighting the ongoing tension between celebrity image management and social media culture.
