Entrepreneur and former Shark Tank India judge Ashneer Grover has fired back at Bollywood superstar Salman Khan over their exchange on Big Boss 18. The controversy stems from Grover’s appearance on the show in November 2024, where Salman confronted him over past comments regarding their interaction.
The Bigg Boss 18 exchange
Ashneer Grover appeared on a Weekend Ka Vaar episode of Big Boss 18, hosted by Salman Khan. During the episode, Salman questioned Grover about statements he has previously made, suggesting that the Bollywood actor has refused to take a photo with him during an ad shoot. Salman dismissed these claims, stating that their meeting was with Grover’s team rather than with him. The superstar further added that he was unaware of Grover’s name before the show but recognized his face from the viral video.
Grover, however, remained silent during the episode and even issued an apology to Salam, stating that he never intended any disrespect. Salman, in turn, cautioned Grover about the impression he was creating and advised him to be more careful with his statements.
Ashneer’s recent response
Two months after the Bigg Boss 18 episode, Ashneer Grover finally broke his silence at an event in NIT Kurukshetra. Addressing the controversy, he accused Salman of creating unnecessary drama and picking a flight. He said, “Faltu ka panga leke apna competition khada kiya usne. Main toh shnati se gaya tha jab mereko buluaya. Ab drama create karna ke liye app kisiko bol do, arrey main toh aape mila he nahi. I don’t even know your name. Abey naam nahi janta toh bulaya kyun tha? (He created unnecessary competition by picking a flight. I had gone peacefully when I was called. And now, to create drama, he’s telling everyone, ‘Oh, I never even met you. I don’t even know your name.’ If you didn’t know my name, then why did you call me?)
Grover also refuted Salman’s claim that they had never met before. He pointed out that Salman had served as a brand ambassador for his company and asserted that that deal couldn't have happened without their meeting. He said, “Aur ek baat main bata deta hun. Tum agar meri company ke brand ambasador the to aisa nahi ho sakta ki tum merese bina mie brad ambasador ba gaye. Mai bhi k@mino ki taran company chalata tha. Everything has to go through me.” (And let me tell you one more thing. If you were the brand ambassador of my company, it wouldn’t have been possible for you to become the brand ambassador without meeting me. I ran my company like a ruthless person. Everything had to go through me.)
Background of the feud
The controversy dates back to a podcast where Ashneer Grover claimed that he had met Salman Khan during an ad shoot, only to be informed by Salman’s manager that the superstar wouldn’t take a picture with him. Salman, during the Bigg Boss 18 episode, refuted this claim and accused Grover of presenting a misleading narrative. The actor stated, “Meeting was not held with you but with your team. Maybe you were also present there. We have not had any discussions. I saw what you said. You presented that we befooled you. This is wrong. Those numbers were wrong.”
While Grover has initially remained composed on the show, his recent remarks suggest lingering resentment over the incident. The clash between the outspoken entrepreneur and the Bollywood superstar has sparked significant discussions on social media, with fans taking sides in the ongoing dispute.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether Salaman Khan will respond to Ashneer Gover’s latest statements or if this marks the end of their public spat.