Bollywood superstar Salman Khan found himself at the center of a social media debate following his appearance at the Joy Forum 2025 in Saudi Arabia, where his comments about the kingdom’s diverse expatriate population drew mixed reactions online.
The prestigious event brought together three of Indian cinema’s biggest names—Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Aamir Khan—for a rare joint appearance. The trio engaged in a wide-ranging conversation about Indian cinema’s evolution and its expanding global footprint, with the discussion quickly gaining traction across digital platforms.
During his remarks about the growing appetite for Indian films in the Middle Eastern market, Salman highlighted the multicultural makeup of Saudi Arabia’s audience. “Right now, if you make a Hindi film and release it here (in Saudi Arabia), it will be a superhit. If you make a Tamil, Telugu, or Malayali film, it will do hundreds of crores in business because so many people from other countries have come here. There are people from Balochistan, there are people from Afghanistan, there are people from Pakistan… everyone is working here,” the actor said.
The statement, particularly his reference to Balochistan alongside Afghanistan and Pakistan, quickly became a talking point on social media. Users debated whether the actor’s phrasing represented a geographical misunderstanding or was simply an attempt to acknowledge the various regional communities present in Saudi Arabia. While some critics questioned the context of his remark, supporters argued that his intent was clearly to recognize the diverse workforce contributing to the kingdom’s entertainment landscape, and that the comment was being overanalyzed.
The viral moment has added another layer to Salman’s reputation for generating buzz, both intentionally and unintentionally, during public appearances.
Meanwhile, the actor continues to focus on his upcoming film, Battle of Galwan, directed by Apoorva Lakhia. The project, based on real events, features Chitrangda Singh and an ensemble cast in what promises to be an action-packed drama. With production underway, anticipation is already building among fans eager to see Salman take on this new role.
As online conversations about his Joy Forum appearance continue, the incident serves as yet another reminder of Salman Khan’s enduring ability to command attention, whether through his film projects or off-the-cuff remarks at high-profile events.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.
