A slap, gunshots, and Dilip Kumar’s intervention: Zayed Khan shares what really happened between Shatrughan Sinha and his father

The 1970s and 80s Bollywood era is remembered not only for its timeless movies but also for some intense rivalries between stars. One of the most famous and dramatic was between actors Shatrughan Sinha and Sanjay Khan. What began as a small incident escalated into a violent confrontation involving gunshots and even police intervention. Let's take a look at what actually happened.

The story, which has lived on in film industry gossip, recently resurfaced when Zayed Khan, Sanjay Khan’s son, was asked about it in an interview with Vickey Lalwani. Laughing at the mention of the dramatic altercation, Zayed confirmed that he had heard the full version of events from his father but preferred not to reveal all the details. He added that his father and Shatrughan Sinha are now on good terms and maintain a close bond with each other, calling it a misunderstanding that happened in a different era.

What exactly happened between these two stars?

According to actor Ranjeet, who recounted the events in the same interview, the conflict started at a party hosted by a well-known socialite. Many industry names were present, including Zeenat Aman, Sanjay Khan, and Shatrughan Sinha. At the time, Sanjay Khan was facing business difficulties, and his professional and personal relationship with Zeenat Aman was just beginning, she was working with him on a film and helping manage his finances.


Ranjeet, who did not attend the party, later heard from a friend that "Shatrughan had pinched Sanjay Khan’s cheek. However, Sanjay, who was both older and more experienced in the industry, didn’t take it well." What followed was a slap that escalated the situation.

The tension didn’t end there. To avoid causing more chaos at the party, the group left for Ranjeet’s home, where things took a wild turn. Ranjeet recalled that he was home with his girlfriend and didn’t want anyone to know, so he locked himself in. Moments later, he heard gunshots outside. It turns out Shatrughan’s friends had fired shots in the air, and later did the same at Sanjay Khan’s residence.

Ranjeet arranged a meeting between the two actors the next morning. However, instead of reconciliation, the police showed up, along with Zeenat Aman and Sanjay’s lawyer. Sanjay had reported the incident, alleging a plan to assault him. Later that day, filmmaker Prakash Mehra and Shatrughan Sinha were taken to the Santa Cruz police station.

The situation became so serious that veteran actor Dilip Kumar had to step in and help calm matters. The headlines the next day were dramatic: “Murder Was Planned at Ranjeet’s Residence.” But eventually, peace was restored, and the actors moved past the episode.

Today, the rivalry is nothing more than a story from the past. Sanjay Khan and Shatrughan Sinha have moved beyond the fights and are known to share a warm friendship.