In a significant legal victory for Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, a Mumbai civil court on Friday, January 30, 2026, passed an interim order restraining filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap and others from making any further derogatory or defamatory comments against the actor and his family.
Judge P.G. Bhosale issued the ex-parte injunction after Salman Khan filed a ₹9 crore defamation suit against Kashyap. The court observed that while freedom of speech is a fundamental right, it does not provide a license to use “abusive or threatening language” or to tarnish an individual’s privacy and image.
The Roots of the Conflict
Abhinav Kashyap, the director of Salman’s 2010 blockbuster Dabangg, has been vocal about his fallout with the Khan family for years. However, the feud escalated between September and December 2025, when Kashyap allegedly gave a series of 26 video interviews and podcasts on the “Bollywood Thikana” channel.
The lawsuit highlighted several controversial claims made by Kashyap:
- Family Slurs: Allegedly labeling the Khan family as a “jihadi ecosystem” and “convicted criminals.”
- Personal Attacks: Making derogatory remarks about Salman’s age, appearance, and workout regime.
- Professional Sabotage: Accusing Salman, Arbaaz, and Sohail Khan of bullying him and destroying his career after he refused to direct Dabangg 2.
- Creative Ownership: Claiming he was cheated out of credit and demanding ₹200 crore for his original vision of Dabangg.
The Court’s Observation
The court reviewed the content of the interviews and found them to be “prima facie defamatory and insulting.” The judge emphasized that the reputation of a person is a valuable asset and that no one should be allowed to make disparaging statements against an individual’s family members.
Along with Abhinav Kashyap, the order also names Khushboo Hazare and various social media platforms, directing them to prevent the further circulation of the contentious content. Salman Khan’s legal team, led by advocate Pradeep Gandhy, is seeking a permanent injunction and an unconditional apology from the defendants.