'Dabangg' director accuses Salman Khan’s family of bullying, sabotaging his career

However, seems like the Khan family is ready to fight back as Arbaaz vows legal action against Abhinav Singh Kashyap

Sushant Singh Rajput's untimely demise has opened a Pandora's Box on mental health, depression and the dark side of Bollywood. The tragic incident has kick-started a debate on favouritism, nepotism, bullying in Bollywood.

Many - such as Kangana Ranaut, Saif Ali Khan, Raveena Tandon, Vivek Oberoi - have asked the bigwigs in the industry to reflect upon groups that have been silently formed in the Indian film industry.

One of the prominent names to have spoken out against bullying is Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg director, Abhinav Singh Kashyap.

In a detailed Facebook post, the film-maker shared how the Khan family has sabotaged his career and subjected him to bullying.

“The reason I moved out of making Dabangg 2 ten years ago is that Arbaaz Khan, in collusion with Sohail Khan and family, was trying to take control of my career by bullying me. Arbaaz Khan sabotaged my second project with Shree Ashtavinayak Films that I was signed up with by personally calling their head Mr Raj Mehta and threatening him with dire consequences if they made a film with me. I had to return the signing money to Shree Ashtavinayak films and moved to Viacom Pictures. They did the same thing.”

“Only this time the sabotager was Sohail Khan and he intimidated the then Viacom CEO, Vikram Malhotra. My project was sabotaged and I was made to return my signing fee of Rupees 7 Crores plus interest of Ninety odd lacs. It’s only then that Reliance Entertainment came to my rescue and we forged an enduring partnership for my film Besharam,” Abhinav added.

The film-maker further mentioned, “All my projects and creative endeavours have been sabotaged and I have been repeatedly threatened with life and rape threats given to/for the female members of my family. The sustained gaslighting and bullying destroyed my mental health and that of my family and led to my divorce and breaking up of my family in 2017.”

Abhinav concluded his post, said he won’t give up, “I refuse to cow down and will fight on till I see the end of either them or me. Enough tolerance. It’s time to fight back.”

However, seems like the Khan family is fighting back.

Talking to Bombay Times, Salman's father, Salim Khan sarcastically responded to Abhinav's allegations and shared, “Ji haan, humne hi sab kharab kiya hai na. Aap pehle jaake unki filmey dekhiye phir hum baat karte hai. (Sure, we have destroyed his career. First, go and watch his films and then we should talk).”

“Unhone mera naam daala hai na unki statement mein. Unhe shayad mere pitaji ka naam nahi pata. Unka naam hai Rashid Khan. Unhe hamaare dadaon aur pardadaon ke naam bhi daalne dijiye. Let him do whatever he wants, I am not going to waste time in reacting to what he says. (He has added my name in his statement. Maybe he doesn’t know my father’s name. His name is Rashid Khan. He should add the names of our forefathers too)” added Salin.

Reacting to the Kashyap’s allegations, Arbaaz confirmed to Hindustan Times that the Khan family will be taking legal actions against the director and that he last communicated with Kashyap “in 2012 before starting Dabangg 2”.

He further adds, “In fact, we have already taken legal action even before this post; it was after his earlier post (when Kashyap spoke about having differences with Arbaaz and Salmaan and led him to step down from the Dabangg franchise). We have had no communication with Abhinav since we started working on Dabangg 2. We parted ways professionally. Don’t know where all this coming from. We are taking legal action.”

Kashyap’s note comes after actor Sushant Singh Rajput killed himself on Sunday. The film-maker appealed to the government to have a detailed investigation around his death.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.