Salman Khan supports Rajpal Yadav over Saurabh Dwivedi's comment, says 'Dollar upar ho ya neeche...'

Superstar Salman Khan has formally addressed the alleged public humiliation of actor Rajpal Yadav, issuing a public statement on Tuesday to defend the veteran comedian’s professional integrity and industry standing. The support follows a viral incident at an awards ceremony where a host pointedly referenced Yadav’s past financial irregularities and legal conviction in a cheque bounce case. Writing via his official X handle, Khan emphasized Yadav’s three-decade-long contribution to cinema and dismissed the relevance of personal financial history to the actor's craft, specifically addressing a jibe made about fluctuating exchange rates and debt repayment.

Salman Khan’s Public Support for Rajpal Yadav

Salman Khan shared a lengthy note on X addressed to the actor, stating that the industry continues to cast him because he "knows his work" and brings consistent value to projects. Khan wrote to @rajpalofficial, "Rajpal bhai aap 30 yrs se kaam kar rahe ho aur hum sabne aapko repeat kiya hai baar baar kyunki aap apna kaam jante ho aur ek value laate ho." He further noted that work would continue to come at the same "dollar rate" regardless of external comments. Khan’s note concluded by advising the actor to work from the heart and ignore the "up or down" of dollar rates, adding that remuneration for his work will always be given in India.

Host Saurabh Dwivedi's Remark at the Award Show

The public defense by Khan was triggered by a specific remark made by a host during a recent awards ceremony. Addressing Rajpal Yadav, the host referenced the actor's well-documented financial disputes, stating, "Dollar ka rate kitna bhi upar neeche ho jaaye apko paise utne hi vapas lautaane hain" (No matter how much the dollar rate fluctuates, you have to return the same amount of money). The comment was a direct allusion to Yadav's prior legal battles involving defaulted loans and repayment schedules that have been part of public record for several years.

Rajpal Yadav’s clarification

Rajpal Yadav, who is gearing up for the release of his film Bhooth Bangla, later clarified the incident on Instagram. In a video message, he said the remark by hosts Saurabh Dwivedi and Zakir Khan was part of a planned skit on global economy and wars.

He appealed to fans not to criticise the hosts, calling them his “younger brothers” and stating, “Saurabh and Zakir are like my heart. We are artistes and storytellers connected to each other.” Rajpal added that Saurabh made the entire auditorium stand up and applaud his work.


He requested fans: “Please do not criticize Saurabh. Please do not hurt Saurabh’s feelings. Hurting Saurabh’s feelings means hurting my feelings.”

Rajpal Yadav’s Financial Case

Rajpal Yadav was previously convicted in a cheque bounce case filed by Murli Projects Pvt Ltd over a default in loan repayment. In recent court proceedings, the actor admitted to taking the loan but argued that he had already made significant efforts to comply, including offering property papers worth ₹28 crore against a judge's 2016 order for ₹10.40 crore. Yadav stated that while the other party sought his imprisonment, he has already served his sentence and legally complied with the court's requirements. He further clarified that the film in question cost ₹22 crore to produce, contradicting the ₹5 crore claim made by the opposing party.

(With IANS inputs)