Comedian and actor Sunil Pal has reportedly criticised Salman Khan while discussing the recent box-office performance of Hanuman Ansh. In comments circulating online, Pal compared the film’s reported earnings with the recent performance of big-star Bollywood releases and questioned whether established stars still have the same box-office pull.
According to reports, Pal referred to the success of Hanuman Ansh while making remarks about Salman Khan and other established Bollywood actors. He reportedly said that Hanuman Ansh had made around ₹500 crore, while taking a swipe at films associated with major stars that, according to his comments, struggle to reach the ₹50-crore mark.
Sunil Pal’s Comments on Salman Khan
Pal’s remarks have attracted attention because of the contrast he drew between a relatively modestly budgeted spiritual film and movies featuring established Bollywood stars.
The comedian reportedly questioned Salman Khan over the box-office performance of recent films and said the superstar should be “ashamed” when compared with the business being generated by Hanuman Ansh. These statements are Sunil Pal’s reported comments, rather than an independently established assessment of Salman Khan’s career or films.
The comments have also sparked discussion online about changing audience preferences and whether star power alone is enough to guarantee strong theatrical collections.
Hanuman Ansh Box Office Success
Hanuman Ansh, directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, is based on the life and spiritual journey associated with Neem Karoli Baba. The film reportedly opened to a relatively small audience but experienced a substantial turnaround during its theatrical run.
Earlier reports placed the film’s production budget at around ₹2 crore, while box-office figures subsequently climbed significantly. By early September, reports were already recording the film crossing the ₹50-crore mark in India.
Other later reports have put the film’s worldwide earnings much higher, including reports claiming it crossed ₹300 crore and subsequently moved beyond ₹350 crore worldwide. However, box-office figures can vary depending on the source, methodology and whether India net, India gross or worldwide gross is being discussed.
Why Hanuman Ansh Is Making Headlines
The film’s performance has been notable because it did not initially arrive with the conventional scale associated with major Bollywood releases. Its early theatrical performance was reportedly modest, before word-of-mouth, social-media interest and its devotional subject helped increase audience interest.
The film’s music has also contributed to its visibility. The devotional song “Maine Tere Hi Bharose Hanuman”, sung by Suneel Lodhi, gained attention online and became associated with the film’s growing popularity.
Debate Over Star Power and Content
Pal’s comments have added another layer to an ongoing conversation in Bollywood about star power, content-driven cinema and audience behaviour. While established actors continue to command significant attention, the performance of films with smaller budgets can demonstrate how word-of-mouth and audience interest can influence theatrical business.
