Comedian Sunil Pal has launched a strongly worded attack on Salman Khan and Bigg Boss, responding to the Bollywood star’s recent criticism of social-media trolling and body-shaming.
Speaking to paparazzi at an event, Pal challenged the idea that celebrities should be insulated from public criticism and argued that Salman’s stardom was built through decades of audience support.
“We made Salman Khan; Salman Khan did not make us,” Pal said, adding that the actor became a star because people across India watched his films.
His comments followed a recent Bigg Boss 20 Weekend Ka Vaar episode in which Salman addressed online abuse directed at celebrities, including criticism of his own appearance and trolling aimed at Katrina Kaif over her post-pregnancy weight gain.
‘You Should Be Ashamed’: Pal Invokes Hanuman Ansh
Pal went beyond the trolling debate and used the recent box-office performance of Hanuman Ansh to criticise the economics of mainstream Hindi cinema.
He claimed that Hanuman Ansh, made for around ₹2 crore, had earned ₹500 crore, while films costing ₹500 crore were struggling to earn even ₹50 crore. He then said major stars should be “ashamed” and “learn a lesson.”
However, the ₹500 crore figure should be treated specifically as Pal’s claim rather than a verified box-office total.
Recent Hindustan Times reporting from September 20 described Hanuman Ansh as having crossed approximately ₹236 crore worldwide, while an earlier September 15 report said it had crossed ₹200 crore in India. The film was reportedly made for roughly ₹2 crore and opened with only around ₹10 lakh before gaining significant momentum.
That distinction is important: Pal’s broader point was about a small-budget film outperforming expectations, but the ₹500 crore number he cited is not supported by the recent box-office figures available in the sources reviewed.
Sunil Pal Calls Bigg Boss a ‘Gutter Show’
Pal reserved some of his strongest criticism for Bigg Boss itself.
He urged Salman to stop hosting the programme and described it as a “gutter show.” He argued that the reality programme elevates controversial personalities to celebrity status and claimed that people associated with it, including its host and contestants, should be open to trolling and criticism.
Pal also questioned Salman’s long association with the programme, saying the actor had hosted it for around 17 years.
His characterisation of Bigg Boss represents Pal’s personal opinion, rather than a factual assessment of the programme.
The show remains one of India's prominent reality-TV franchises, and Salman has been closely associated with its Hindi edition for many seasons.
What Salman Khan Said About Celebrity Trolling
Pal's remarks came after Salman used Weekend Ka Vaar to address what he described as increasingly abusive online behaviour toward celebrities.
Salman referred to people mocking him as “budha” and making jokes about his bald appearance. He also responded to criticism directed at Katrina Kaif over her weight after pregnancy.
Defending Katrina, Salman said weight gain after pregnancy was normal and argued that she could focus on getting back into shape when she returned to films, while currently wanting to spend time with her family.
Salman also removed his shirt during the episode while responding to comments about his own physique.
He criticised people who, in his view, make money by attacking others online, referring to such individuals as “parasites.”
Salman Also Questioned Pressure on Stars to Discuss Politics
Salman's comments extended beyond body-shaming.
He questioned why actors and other celebrities are expected to publicly comment on political matters and suggested they should not automatically be drawn into political debates unrelated to their professional work.
He also criticised alleged paid trolling and aspects of film-review culture.
Salman additionally spoke about paparazzi behaviour toward female celebrities and said women should confront photographers when they believe inappropriate pictures are being taken.
Several entertainment personalities, including Varun Dhawan, Neha Dhupia and Rohit Shetty, subsequently supported Salman's stance against celebrity trolling, according to Hindustan Times.
Pal’s Remarks Turn Trolling Debate Into Wider Bollywood Argument
What began as Salman's defence of celebrities against online abuse has consequently developed into a broader debate about the relationship between stars, audiences and criticism.
Pal's response makes two separate arguments.
First, he maintains that celebrities depend on audiences for their status and therefore cannot dismiss criticism from the public. Second, he has used the success of Hanuman Ansh to argue that star power and enormous budgets do not automatically translate into box-office success.
The latter argument comes at a time when Hanuman Ansh has attracted considerable attention for its unusual theatrical trajectory.
The film reportedly opened in around 350 theatres, only to see its screen presence fall dramatically to approximately 25–30 screens following the arrival of larger releases including Toxic. Despite that pressure, it subsequently continued its theatrical run and emerged as a significant commercial success relative to its reported ₹2 crore budget.
That makes the film a relevant example in the continuing industry discussion about whether production budgets, established stars and large releases remain reliable indicators of audience demand.
Pal's much stronger conclusions about Salman and Bigg Boss, however, remain his own views.
