Salman Khan has stepped in publicly to defend Rajpal Yadav after a comment made by journalist and host Saurabh Dwivedi at the Screen Awards 2026 in Mumbai went viral and drew widespread outrage online. Salman’s tweet, directed personally at Rajpal Yadav, is now itself trending as one of the most read celebrity responses of the week.
What Saurabh Dwivedi Said at Screen Awards 2026
The incident took place during the Screen Awards 2026 in Mumbai where Saurabh Dwivedi was serving as one of the event’s hosts. During a segment on stage, Dwivedi made a remark directed at Rajpal Yadav that referenced the actor’s reported financial case involving loan repayment.
Dwivedi said on stage: “Rajpal bhai, dollar kitna bhi upar-neeche ho jaye, aapko utne hi paise lautane padenge, jitne udhar hai.”
Translation: Rajpal bhai, no matter how much the dollar goes up or down, you will have to return the same amount of money that you owe.
The remark was a public reference to Rajpal Yadav’s well-documented legal and financial troubles, made in front of an assembled gathering of Bollywood’s biggest names at a prestigious industry award function. Rajpal stayed silent for a brief moment after the comment before responding with a smile, saying: “Masla toh sun lo ek baar. Main toh masla hi sunana chahta hoon.” Translation: At least listen to my problem once. I actually want to tell my problem.
The grace and restraint Rajpal showed in that moment, smiling and responding gently when a far more sharp reaction would have been understandable, is itself part of what made the public reaction so intense. Viewers watching the clip felt they were witnessing a veteran actor of 30 years being publicly humiliated on an industry stage with his financial difficulties weaponised as entertainment.
The Internet Reacts
The video spread rapidly across social media platforms with millions of views within hours of circulation. The reaction was overwhelmingly critical of Dwivedi and sympathetic to Rajpal Yadav.
One user wrote that Saurabh Dwivedi’s head has been taken over by arrogance and that he humiliated a legend like Rajpal Yadav in a full gathering. Another asked pointedly about the choice of hosts at award functions. The consensus in the comments across platforms was that using a person’s financial difficulties as material for public mockery at an industry event crossed a fundamental line of human dignity regardless of how prominent or serious the financial case in question might be.
Salman Khan’s Tweet — The Full Text
As the backlash grew, Salman Khan posted directly to Rajpal Yadav on X in Hindi, a personal and warm message that addressed the dollar comment directly and reframed the entire situation.
Salman wrote: “Rajpal bhai aap 30 yrs se kaam kar rahe ho aur hum sabne aapko repeat kiya hai baar baar kyunki aap apna kaam jante ho aur ek value laate ho, kaam toh aapko bohot milega aur issi dollar rate pe milega aur milte rahega. Hakikat yeh hai. Aur yeh yaad rakhna ke kabhi kabhi flow mai kuch nikal aata hai, dena hi hai toh dimag mai rakho dil se kaam karo, dollar upar ho ya neeche kya farak padta hai dena toh India mai hi hai.”
Translation: Rajpal bhai, you have been working for 30 years and all of us have cast you again and again because you know your craft and you bring value. You will get plenty of work and at the same dollar rate and it will keep coming. That is the reality. And remember that sometimes things slip out in the flow, if you have to pay then keep it in your mind and work with your heart, whether the dollar goes up or down what difference does it make, you have to pay back in India only.
Salman’s tweet does several things simultaneously. It validates Rajpal Yadav’s professional standing across 30 years of Hindi cinema. It acknowledges his financial situation without shame or judgment. It gently contextualises Dwivedi’s comment as something that slipped out rather than dwelling on it. And it gives Rajpal the most powerful form of public support available in Bollywood, an unprompted, personal, public endorsement from Salman Khan.
Who Is Rajpal Yadav
Rajpal Yadav is one of Hindi cinema’s most beloved comic actors with a career spanning three decades and appearances in some of Bollywood’s most iconic comedies including Hungama, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Chup Chup Ke, Waqt, and Phir Hera Pheri. His physical comedy, timing, and ability to elevate even minor roles into memorable performances have made him one of the most repeatedly cast character actors in the industry. His financial difficulties, which have been a matter of public record for several years involving a civil dispute, have never diminished his professional standing or the warmth with which the industry and the public regard him.
Salman Khan’s tweet confirming that the industry has cast Rajpal again and again and will continue to do so is as direct a public rebuttal of any attempt to reduce Rajpal to his financial troubles as anyone in Bollywood could have delivered.
This article is based on the viral video from Screen Awards 2026, public social media reactions, and Salman Khan’s tweet to Rajpal Yadav as of April 7, 2026. All statements attributed to individuals are sourced from publicly available video and social media posts. This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only.