The long-standing public feud between entrepreneur Ashneer Grover and superstar Salman Khan has flared up once again. With both personalities now hosting their own reality shows—Salman Khan with Bigg Boss 19 and Grover with the new show Rise & Fall—the former “Shark Tank India” judge has taken a direct jab at Khan’s hosting style.
In a recent interview, Grover subtly, yet clearly, critiqued Bigg Boss, stating that reality shows in India have become “more about [the superstar host] than the contestants.” He emphasized that the “balance of power” should shift back to the contestants, who are the ones putting in the hours and creating the content, as opposed to a host who only appears on weekends. “The fact is, who is putting in the hours? Bhai aap to ek weekend mein aa rahe ho. Jo 24 ghante lage hain woh to contestant lage hue hain,” Grover told News18 Showsha.
This latest comment is the most recent installment in a series of public spats between the two. The conflict first made headlines when Grover recounted an incident from a sponsored ad shoot, claiming that Salman Khan’s manager had told him the superstar would not pose for a photo with him. Grover’s candid recounting of the event, where he said, “Maine kaha saale, maine bola, nahi khichwaunga photo, bhaad main ja tu,” was widely publicized.
The tension came to a head in 2024, when Grover appeared as a guest on Salman Khan’s Bigg Boss 18. On the show, Salman grilled Grover about his past statements and accused him of giving a wrong impression to the public. “I saw what you said. You presented that we befooled you. This is wrong. Those numbers were wrong,” Salman said, which led to Grover apologizing and clarifying that he did not intend to be disrespectful.
Grover’s new reality show, Rise & Fall, has a unique concept where contestants are divided into “Rulers” living in a luxurious penthouse and “Workers” living in a basement, with their positions constantly shifting based on performance. The show is seen by many as a more strategic and game-oriented format compared to the interpersonal drama of Bigg Boss.