Key Highlights:

  • Salman Khan criticised trolls targeting actresses over post-pregnancy weight gain during "Bigg Boss 20's" Weekend Ka Vaar.
  • His remarks came in the context of criticism directed at Katrina Kaif after her appearance at the Ambani family's Ganpati celebrations.
  • Salman addressed the episode's ScoutOP-Arishfa Khan conflict before broadening his comments to online trolling in general.
  • He said celebrities are often targeted over weight, family, career failures and milestones like motherhood.
  • Salman also revealed he himself has faced trolling over his age, saying "you can't be Maine Pyaar Kiya all the bloody time."

A Pointed Message During Weekend Ka Vaar

Salman Khan got visibly upset with those trolling actors over their appearance during the latest episode of "Weekend Ka Vaar" on "Bigg Boss 20." He lashed out at people criticising actresses for gaining weight after pregnancy, remarks widely seen as a veiled response to the online body-shaming directed at actress Katrina Kaif.

The Context Behind Salman's Remarks

Recently, Katrina made a rare public appearance at the Ambani family's Ganpati celebrations alongside her husband Vicky Kaushal, and several users took to social media to comment on her weight gain following the birth of her son, Vihaan. This wave of online criticism appears to have directly prompted Salman's comments during the show.

Addressing a Conflict Between Contestants

During the episode, Salman initially addressed a separate issue between contestants ScoutOP and Arishfa Khan. Earlier in the week, following a disagreement with Arishfa during a task, ScoutOP had asked his YouTube and gaming community to "khatam kardo isko" (finish her off), a remark that drew criticism for encouraging his online followers to target a fellow contestant.

A Broader Message on Online Trolling

Referring to this incident, Salman used the moment to speak more broadly about how it has become an increasing trend for users to hide behind their screens and troll people by commenting on their appearance. "Kisi ko neecha dikha ke aap paise kama rahe hain" (You are making money by putting someone down), the actor said, directly calling out the practice of generating engagement or income through demeaning commentary about others.

A Reflection on Character

Salman went further, framing such behaviour as a reflection of the person doing the trolling rather than the target. "Aap apni upbringing dikha rahe ho" (you are only showing your upbringing), he added, suggesting that the impulse to body-shame or belittle others online reveals more about the troll's own values than anything about the person being targeted.

Naming the Common Targets of Online Abuse

Salman also pointed out that celebrities are frequently targeted over a range of personal factors, including their weight, family, career failures, and personal milestones such as motherhood, highlighting how online criticism often extends well beyond professional work into deeply personal aspects of a public figure's life.

A Direct Defence of Post-Pregnancy Weight Gain

Without naming Katrina Kaif directly, Salman addressed the specific criticism she had faced. "Pregnant hone ke baad everyone puts on weight" (Everyone puts on weight after becoming pregnant), he said, normalising a natural physical change that has nonetheless become a common target for online body-shaming directed at new mothers in the public eye.

Confidence in a Return to Fitness

Salman added that when she eventually decides to return to films, she would be fit once again, expressing confidence that any current physical changes were a temporary and entirely expected part of the post-pregnancy period rather than something warranting public criticism.

Salman on Facing His Own Trolling Over Age

During the episode, Salman also revealed that he himself has been a target of online trolling, specifically over ageing. "Budha hogya, of course 60 saal ka hogaya. You can't be Maine Pyaar Kiya all the bloody time," he said, acknowledging his own age while pushing back on the expectation that he should remain visually unchanged from his earlier, younger film roles decades into his career.

Questioning the Motivation Behind Trolling

Concluding his remarks, Salman posed a direct question about the underlying motivation behind such behaviour. "What do you want to troll and why do you want to troll?" he asked, challenging the audience and viewers more broadly to reflect on what purpose online criticism of this kind actually serves, beyond causing harm to the person being targeted.