Salman Khan has responded to accusations of bias toward Amaal Mallik on Bigg Boss 19, stating that he has actually "bashed" the contestant the most, but not all of it is aired. The controversy arose after viewers felt Khan was lenient towards Mallik during a recent "Weekend Ka Vaar" episode, particularly concerning a conflict between Mallik, Abhishek Bajaj, and Ashnoor Kaur.
The conflict began when Mallik made a controversial remark about Kaur, which led to a heated exchange with Bajaj that turned physical. Mallik allegedly moved close to Bajaj and pressed his forehead against Bajaj's, prompting Bajaj to push him away. Many viewers expected Khan to reprimand both Mallik for provoking Bajaj and Bajaj for his aggressive reaction. Instead, Khan declared that Bajaj was the first to get physical, effectively giving Mallik a pass. He also criticized Kaur for being "arrogant" after she asked Bigg Boss to show her the footage of the incident.
This response triggered widespread disappointment, with many accusing Khan of being "one-sided," especially since he and Mallik share a personal connection. Social media was flooded with criticism, with some users calling this season of Bigg Boss the "most biased ever" and demanding a change of host. Some fans pointed out that Khan seemingly ignored Mallik's "bhaukna" (barking) comment toward Kaur, while taking Bajaj to task for mocking Shehbaz Badesha.
In response to the backlash, Khan addressed the accusations during a recent episode. He asked the housemates who he had been most critical of, and they all named Amaal Mallik. Khan then stated, "Yes, I've bashed Amaal the most, but not everything goes on air". He clarified that some of his remarks to Mallik were personal and not intended for broadcast. "Some of the things I've said to him are personal — things that I wouldn't say to anyone else. This doesn't mean I'm partial towards him," Khan explained.
Khan also addressed accusations of being biased towards actress Kunickaa Sadanand. He stated that his intention is to guide and correct all contestants, treating everyone based on their actions inside the house, not their external relationships. Khan had previously called Sadanand "musibat ki jadd" (the root of the problem), accusing her of instigating the fight between Mallik and Bajaj. He defended Mallik, suggesting that those who have overcome pain and loss are the strongest.
Khan's remarks aimed to clarify that his criticism of Mallik comes from a place of mentorship rather than favoritism and that viewers only see a portion of what happens off-camera. He emphasized that he is not partial and intends to guide and correct all the contestants. He also pointed out that Abhishek Bajaj has received the most praise for his performance in the house.
Prior to this controversy, Khan had previously cautioned Mallik about his behavior on the show, advising him to make better use of the opportunity. He had also revealed that he had avoided speaking to Mallik for years.
