Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, known for his muscular physique and decades-long image of fitness, has opened up about the physical toll that his demanding action roles have taken on his body. During a recent appearance on Karan Johar’s chat show Koffee With Karan 9, the actor candidly addressed years of injuries and health complications that have affected his appearance, offering fans a rare glimpse into the struggles behind his on-screen persona.
Responding to criticism he faced over his shirtless appearance on Bigg Boss 20, Salman acknowledged that a combination of injuries and health issues had impacted his physique during that period. He said it was unfair for die-hard fans who admired his shirtless look to see him in that state, admitting that regardless of age, such expectations were difficult to meet given his physical condition at the time.
The actor specifically linked several of his injuries to his work on the 2016 sports drama Sultan, in which he played a wrestler. He revealed that the film left him with a broken head, hernia-related issues, and a damaged shoulder. He further listed additional health complications, including problems with his knee and back, along with trigeminal neuralgia and an aneurysm, while clarifying that none of these justified how he looked during that phase.
Salman also spoke about why staying fit continues to matter to him, noting that many fans, especially younger ones, view him as a fitness benchmark. He recalled instances where young fans compared their own fathers’ appearance to his, questioning why their fathers could not look as fit. At the same time, the actor acknowledged that several industry colleagues are in better physical shape than him, reflecting on the pressures that come with being a long-standing action star while dealing with age and health challenges.
Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and produced by Yash Raj Films, Sultan released in 2016 and starred Salman Khan as Sultan Ali Khan, a former wrestling champion from Haryana. The film also featured Anushka Sharma as Aarfa and Randeep Hooda as Sultan’s coach, alongside Amit Sadh. Centered on themes of personal struggle, redemption and a comeback to competitive wrestling, the film was a major commercial success, earning over Rs 623 crore worldwide.
Source: The Times Of Bengal
