Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has inadvertently triggered a widespread online debate following his recent remarks at the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While attending the event alongside fellow actors Shah Rukh Khan and Amir Khan, Khan touched upon the significant global appeal of Indian cinema.
During his speech, Khan highlighted the success of Hindi films in Saudi Arabia and elaborated on the diverse audience for Indian movies, noting the presence of people from various regions. He stated, “Right now, if you make a Hindi film and release it here (in Saudi Arabia), it will be a superhit. If you make a Tamil, Telugu, or Malayali film, it will do hundreds of crores in business because so many people from other countries have come here. There are people from Balochistan, there are people from Afghanistan, there are people from Pakistan… everyone is working here,” referring to the South Asian diaspora in the Middle East.
While it remains unclear whether Khan’s mention of Balochistan separately from Pakistan was intentional or an unintentional slip of the tongue, the comment quickly garnered attention on social media. Users on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) expressed a range of opinions. Some interpreted his statement as an acknowledgment of Balochistan as a distinct entity, with one user writing, “Salman Khan Mentions “Balochistan” Seprates from Pakistan because he knows Balochistan is a Different country.” Others echoed similar sentiments, suggesting Khan was aware of Balochistan’s unique identity.
The discussion also brought to the forefront the ongoing conflict and human rights issues in Balochistan, a mineral-rich province in southwestern Pakistan. The region has a history of separatist movements, with sentiments of autonomy and liberation dating back to the partition of India and the subsequent formation of Bangladesh. Allegations of human rights violations, resource exploitation, and political marginalization continue to be central to the conflict, with reports indicating a significant number of disappearances.