Salman Khan Defends Rajpal Yadav After Joke On Cheque Bounce At Awards Show: 'Issi Dollar Rate Pe Kaam Milega'

Actor Salman Khan has reacted strongly after a joke targeting Rajpal Yadav at a recent awards show sparked backlash online. The comment, made during the awards, has been slammed for mockingng the actor’s ongoing cheque bounce case.
Salman defended Rajpal and mentioned his decades-long contribution to cinema and calling out the attempt to reduce his career to a financial controversy.

What Salman Khan said about Rajpal Yadav

Taking to Instagram, Salman Khan backed Rajpal Yadav and noted his long-standing work in the industry. He also wrote that Rajpal has been working for over 30 years and earned his place through his performances and value as an actor. He also addressed the financial angle, saying that fluctuations in the dollar or currency have no bearing on repayment obligations in India.

Salman wrote, “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 , kaam toh aapko bohot milega aur issi dollar rate pe milega aur milte rahega. Hakikat yeh hai. Aur yeh yaad rakhna ke kabhi kabhi flow mai kuch nikal aata hai, dena hi hai toh dimag mai rakho dil se kaam karo , dollar upar ho ya neeche kya farak padta hai dena toh India mai hi hai (sic).”

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 , kaam toh aapko bohot milega aur issi dollar rate pe milega aur milte rahega . Hakikat yeh hai .
Aur yeh yaad rakhna ke kabhi kabhi flow… pic.twitter.com/CzE86CCYXH

— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) April 7, 2026

What happened at the awards show

The controversy began at an awards show held in Mumbai on April 5. During a segment on stage, senior journalist Saurabh Dwivedi, who was hosting alongside Zakir Khan, made a remark referencing Rajpal Yadav’s financial case.
Rajpal had been speaking about global issues and currency fluctuations when Dwivedi reacted, “Rajpal bhai, dollar-rupya kitna bhi upar neeche ho, aapko utne hi paise lautane padenge jitne udhaar hain.”

Context pic.twitter.com/awfPwjkdQE

— R. (@RxSuryv) April 7, 2026

The remark drew laughter at the venue, including from some attendees, while Rajpal himself also laughed and reacted lightly. However, the clip later went viral online, where many viewers criticised the comment as ‘grossly insensitive’.

Read More: Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, Varun Dhawan Extend Support To Rajpal Yadav Amid Rs 9 Cr Cheque Bounce Case

Rajpal Yadav cheque bounce case

The reaction is linked to Rajpal Yadav’s ongoing legal troubles. The actor was recently in the news for a cheque bounce case tied to a loan taken in 2010 for his film Ata Pata Laapata. The unpaid amount reportedly escalated to nearly ₹9 crore due to interest and penalties, and he was sent to Tihar Jail in February 2026 after failing to repay the dues on time. Given the seriousness of the case and the actor’s public financial difficulties, many social media users felt that referencing it in a humorous context at a public event crossed a line.
Earlier, Rajpal Yadav’s manager, Goldie, revealed to SCREEN that several prominent names have come forward to help me during his time at Tihar jail. He had said, “A lot of people have reached out to help Rajpal Yadav. Actors like Sonu Sood, Salman Khan, and Ajay Devgn have extended their support. I was just on a call with David Dhawan—he too reached out. Ratan Nain, Varun Dhawan…many people are coming forward to help him this time, which Rajpal has deeply appreciated.”