11 March,2026 09:43 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Anurag Kashyap, Abhinav Kashyap
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap recently opened up about the long-standing controversy involving his brother, filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap, and actor Salman Khan during the making of the film Dabangg. Speaking during mid-day's Sit With Hitlist, Anurag addressed the issue but made it clear that he prefers not to publicly comment on the matter out of respect for his brother's wishes.
The filmmaker acknowledged that he is aware of the situation but has chosen to remain silent because Abhinav had previously asked him not to discuss it publicly. Explaining his stance, Anurag said, "I know exactly what is happening, but I don't want to make any comment on it. Simply because a long time back he had asked me not to talk about him."
He emphasised that family respect is the main reason for maintaining his silence, even though the controversy has been widely discussed over the years. "And being a brother and I love him, I also understand in the sense a lot of things have been said," he shared.
The conversation also briefly touched upon the legal developments related to the dispute. When asked about reports of a case connected to the controversy, Anurag acknowledged it but still chose not to elaborate. "And there is also, I think, the case that he has lost," he said. When the interviewer clarified, "A defamation case?" Anurag responded, "Yes, a defamation case. Which is already there."
Despite being aware of the details, the director reiterated that he cannot publicly discuss the matter. "But I can't say anything publicly about it," he stated firmly. "I can say whatever I want about myself. But he is a brother, and he has said very simply and clearly that I should not talk about him."
During the same conversation, Anurag also spoke about his family and recalled how his parents' personalities influenced him as he grew up. Reflecting on them with humour, he said, "I think my dad was so handsome; my mother was so beautiful. I was like, âIf you guys had come here in the industry, you would have become Vinod Khanna or Dilip Kumar,' because he used to look like Vinod Khanna."
He even joked about how things might have been different if his parents had joined the film industry. "I would have been a nepo kid; my life would have been easy. If not Dharma, then it would have been Karma Productions. Something would have happened," he said with a smile.
Anurag concluded the anecdote by expressing admiration for his father, adding, "My dad is an actor from his heart."
