Actor Salman Khan came out in support of Rajpal Yadav on Tuesday after a remark at a recent awards show—perceived by many as mocking Yadav’s ongoing cheque bounce case—sparked a wave of online reactions. The incident took place at the Screen Awards 2026 in Mumbai on Sunday. In a clip that went viral, one of the hosts joked about Yadav’s cheque bounce case, for which the 55-year-old actor had been briefly jailed in February. The host said, “Rajpal bhai, dollar kitna bhi upar-neeche ho jaye, aapko utne hi paise lautane padenge, jitne udhar hai,” prompting laughter from the audience and Yadav himself.

Caught off guard, Rajpal Yadav paused before responding, “Masla toh sun lo ek baar. Main toh masla hi sunana chahta hoon,” asking to explain the matter. Videos of the exchange circulated widely, with some calling the comment insensitive while others debated the tone of the interaction. Amid the discussion, Salman Khan expressed his support for Rajpal Yadav. He wrote, “Rajpal bhai, aap 30 saal se kaam kar rahe ho aur hum sabne aapko baar-baar repeat kiya hai kyunki aap apna kaam jaante ho aur ek value laate ho,” praising his dedication and craft.

Salman further reassured Yadav that work would continue to come his way regardless of circumstances: “Kaam toh aapko bohot milega dollar upar ho ya neeche kya farak padta hai, dena toh India mein hi hai,” encouraging him to stay focused and keep working from the heart. Fans appreciated Salman’s supportive post. Shortly after, Rajpal Yadav shared a video on social media, tagging the show hosts and clarifying that the joke was all in good spirits, calling the hosts like his younger brothers.