‘When Salman Khan speaks, everyone listens’: Kunal Kohli backs actor over trolls

Mumbai: Filmmaker Kunal Kohli has backed Salman Khan after the actor spoke out against social media trolling, body-shaming and intrusive paparazzi culture during the latest episode of Bigg Boss 20.

During the show's ‘Weekend Ka Vaar’ episode, Salman addressed the way celebrities are targeted online over their appearance, age and weight. He also questioned the kind of photographs taken by paparazzi and the audience that consumes and encourages such content.

Kohli shared a video message on X praising Salman for raising concerns about social media etiquette and what he described as a decline in basic courtesy.

“Salman Khan respect! You made the most important points on social media etiquette, behaviour, trolls & paps and the people who follow n encourage such behaviour. Aur jab bhai bolta hai toh uske baad koi nahin bol sakta.”

In his video, Kohli said Salman had highlighted important concerns surrounding the evolution of social media and paparazzi culture.

“Salman has just made the most important and the most relevant points on the paparazzi, and the lack of social media etiquette in the last couple of years or decades. Social media has grown but the responsibility, the etiquette, the behaviour has declined beyond humanitarian levels.”

Kohli also criticised the photographs taken by paparazzi of celebrities in vulnerable or private moments, while referring to the trolling people face over changes in their appearance.

“The shots that paps take of women getting off cars, sitting on tables, back shots, trolls talking about people who have aged, people who have gained weight, lost weight- it has all gone out of control.”

He further praised Salman for the authority with which he addressed the issue on Bigg Boss 20, saying the contestants listened closely to the actor.

“The points that Salman made- so beautifully, so correctly and with so much authority- that Bigg Boss 20 participants were standing up and listening to him with awe. And that is the power of a personality like Salman. That when he talks, people listen,” he said.

Kohli also emphasised that public figures should not be denied basic dignity simply because they are in the public eye.

“You cannot hide under the fact that you are in the public eye, you are going to be faced with all these things. No. I am sorry. There are levels of decency, respectability and basic human courtesy that everyone in society has to follow. And the people who are watching it? You are as bad as the people who are posting it,” he said.

During the episode, Salman also responded to comments about his own weight and appearance. Addressing trolls who said, “Bhai mota hogaya hai,” he replied, “Karlo na troll, ye lo,” before taking off his hat and jacket.

The actor also spoke against body-shaming and comments targeting people's age and appearance. He appeared to extend support to his friend and fellow actor Katrina Kaif, who has faced online comments about her appearance and weight.

Bigg Boss 20 premiered on September 6, 2026.