Bollywood is no stranger to star-studded feuds, but few have lasted as long as the silent standoff between Salman Khan and Danny Denzongpa. What began as a clash over punctuality on the sets of Sanam Bewafa in 1991 snowballed into a 23-year-long cold war—one that only thawed when the two finally reunited for Jai Ho in 2014.
The incident that sparked it all
According to a report published in Bollywoodshaadis.com, Danny, known for his discipline, arrived on time for Sanam Bewafa’s shoot, only to be kept waiting for hours by Salman. When the superstar finally showed up, the veteran actor lost his cool and scolded him in front of the crew. Disappointed by Salman’s lack of punctuality, Danny refused to work with him for the next 23 years, turning down any film that featured him. The two finally ended their cold war and reunited on screen in Sohail Khan’s Jai Ho (2014).
From villain to versatile icon
Danny Denzongpa, a Padma Shri awardee (2003), is an acclaimed Indian actor who has also worked in Tamil, Nepali, and Bengali films, and dabbled in playback singing and directing. He debuted with Zaroorat (1972), gained recognition with Gulzar’s Mere Apne, and first played a villain in BR Chopra’s Dhund. His 1970s hits include Chor Machaye Shor, Kaala Sona, 36 Ghante, Devata, Kalicharan, and Fakira.After Devata, Denzongpa began landing bigger roles, often as a villain, in notable films like Paapi, The Burning Train, Chunoti, Bandish, and Aashiq Hoon Baharon Ka. To date, he has acted in 190 films.
The superstar of blockbusters
Salman Khan is an Indian actor, producer, and TV personality who has worked in Hindi films for over three decades, winning two National Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards. He debuted in 1988 with Biwi Ho Toh Aisi and rose to fame with Maine Pyar Kiya (1989). In the 1990s, he delivered major hits like Karan Arjun, Biwi No.1, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, and Hum Saath Saath Hain. He has appeared in over 100 films to date.
