Most celebrity press junkets run on strict autopilot. Stars repeat polished PR lines, dodge tricky questions, and smile through endless sponsor photo-ops.
Put Salman Khan on that same stage, and all formal decorum immediately flies out the window.
At the star-studded IIFA press meet—featuring big names like Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Rashmika Mandanna—Varun Dhawan introduced Bhaijaan to the floor. What was supposed to be a standard promotional event quickly turned into twenty minutes of pure, unhinged Bollywood banter.
Here are the standout moments and inside stories that had everyone in the press pit laughing.
1. Defusing The Stage Confusion With Rashmika Mandanna
Things got interesting right at the beginning when Rashmika Mandanna stepped up to the podium. True to South Indian tradition, she bent down to touch the stage floor as a mark of respect for the performance art space.
From the front row, media cameras were caught at an awkward angle, making it look as though she was touching Salman’s feet. Before gossip portals could churn out bizarre headlines, Salman grabbed the mic and shut it down immediately:
“Unhone mere pair nahi chuye… stage ko chhua hai unhone!”
The quick clarification broke the ice, drawing loud cheers across the room.
2. Digging Up The 2018 “Welcome to New York” Debacle
When the host threw a hypothetical question to the panel—asking what they would title a movie made exclusively during the IIFA weekend—Shahid slyly diverted the mic to Rashmika, who quickly passed it to Salman.
Instead of playing along with a diplomatic title, Salman cracked open a real memory: the infamous 2018 comedy Welcome to New York, which was actually filmed during the IIFA weekend in the United States and tanked terribly at the box office.
“They tried to make a film in IIFA in New York. It was a disaster! Room se zabardasti le jaake shoot karwaya at gunpoint… ki agla IIFA nahi denge tumko. Maine bola tha nahi chalegi, par maane nahi!”
To twist the knife playfully, Salman turned straight toward Varun to remind the younger crowd who the “hero” of that ill-fated experiment was:
“Karan… Karan Johar was the hero of that film!”
The delivery sent Shahid Kapoor and Kareena into visible fits of laughter, reminding everyone that Salman remains one of the few stars willing to roast industry heavyweights on live television.
3. Practical “Bigg Boss” Wisdom: The Golden Hosting Advice for Varun
With Varun Dhawan prepping for hosting duties, the conversation inevitably shifted to stagecraft. After all, Salman has been the undisputed face of television hosting in India through consecutive seasons of Bigg Boss.
Varun probably expected a motivational pep talk. Instead, Salman gave him the most unfiltered, practical advice possible:
“Host mat kar! Chhe ghante hosting mein nikal jaate hain. Best hai aao, do second ka hook step karo, aur nikal jao. Jiska kaam hai usko karne do—Manish Paul aur Karan ko karne do!”
To demonstrate his point, Salman didn’t just give advice—he casually threw in a 2-second shoulder bounce from his classic ‘Tan Tana Tan’ hook step right then and there. It was classic Salman: why stand under hot studio lights reading teleprompters for six hours when you can make a two-minute grand entry, drop a signature move, and walk away?
4. Taking Aim at Endless Speeches & Brand Promos
Salman saved his sharpest lines for the formal wrap-up. Addressing why their segment ran shorter than expected, he took direct aim at the lengthy corporate speeches that usually bog down award ceremonies:
“Humara bit itna short isliye tha kyunki humare sponsors ne humse nahi seekha to keep it short! Agli baar seekh jayenge. Baki main toh hoon na Bigg Boss mein promote karne ke liye har hafte!”
Rather than following a script, he playfully linked the event back to his own television commitments while giving the audience a reality check on event pacing.
Daily Manoranjan Takeaway
While the younger generation brings plenty of rehearsed energy to these events, Salman Khan’s spontaneous, sharp-witted stage presence remains unmatched. He doesn’t follow an outline; he commands the room simply by being authentic, keeping press meets far more entertaining than scripted film promos.
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