Suniel Shetty defends Salman Khan's box office performance, calls him 'the most misunderstood human being on the planet': ‘Unki naa chalne waali film Rs 200 crore kamati hai'

Time of India

25-05-2025

, who has often been vocal about his admiration and affection for
, recently came to the superstar's defense amid criticism surrounding his recent films. In an interview with Lallantop, Suniel not only praised
's character but also addressed the box office conversations around his so-called 'flops.'
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'Salman is a human of another level'
Recalling the time Salman got emotional while speaking about him to his son at an event, Suniel said, 'Salman is the most misunderstood human being on the planet. If I had to describe him in words, one would be 'human being' and the other 'being human' – that is Salman. He is a human of another level with every act of his. I share a beautiful relationship with him. I don't meet him regularly, but there is a lot of love and respect.
'
'His flop is a Rs 200 crore film'
Suniel also strongly defended Salman's recent films that didn't meet expectations at the box office. He said, 'Unki flop hum Rs 200 crore ki film ki baat karte hain, jabki aadhi industry ke liye vo hit nahi superhit hai.' (We call his Rs 200 crore film a flop, whereas for half the industry, that would be considered not just a hit but a superhit.)
He added, 'Sometimes you go wrong in selection of films.
And he works from heart. When Salman gets a good subject film it will do magic. Unki naa chalne waali film Rs 200 crore kamati hai. Iss saal ki saari films ka number dekh lena—you'll know it will be lower than a Salman Khan film.' (Even his underperforming films earn Rs 200 crore. Just look at the box office numbers of all the films this year—you'll see they're lower than a Salman Khan film.
)
Salman's recent films and what lies ahead
Salman Khan has faced mixed responses with his recent releases.
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Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan garnered around Rs 184.6 crore globally, while Tiger 3, despite heavy expectations, made Rs 464 crore worldwide, falling short of the franchise's earlier performance. His latest film Sikandar also received criticism for its storyline and reportedly grossed just under Rs 185 crore worldwide, despite claims of Rs 200 crore in 10 days.
Salman Khan Cheers For Sooraj Pancholi's 'Kesari Veer' Release
Still, Salman's fanbase remains loyal, and he continues to headline big-budget projects. His upcoming films include a new action venture with Sanjay Dutt and the long-awaited Kick 2 with Sajid Nadiadwala.
Meanwhile, Suniel Shetty is also keeping busy, last seen in Kesari Veer and next appearing in Welcome to the Jungle, alongside a stellar ensemble including Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Paresh Rawal, Lara Dutta, and Raveena Tandon.