May 11, 2025: In India, silence can speak louder than words — and Salman Khan just learned that the hard way. As the nation’s pulse raced with patriotic pride after Operation Sindoor, Bollywood’s Bhai stumbled into controversy not for what he said — but for what he didn’t.
On a tense Saturday night, just as India and Pakistan officials announced a ceasefire following a series of heated cross-border exchanges, Khan posted a brief message on X (formerly Twitter):
“Thank God for the ceasefire…”
It should have been an innocuous comment on peace. Instead, it detonated like a social media minefield.
Netizens, already riding high on the Indian Army’s Operation Sindoor—a daring assault on terror strongholds across Pakistan and PoK—were quick to notice what was missing. Where was Bhai’s praise for India’s military triumph? The comment sections exploded.
“No mention of Operation Sindoor? Why this silence on India’s surgical strikes?” grilled one user.
Another jabbed, “Bollywood celebs stay quiet when it comes to lauding our armed forces but are quick to welcome ceasefires?”
Patriotism vs. Peace: Salman’s Tweet Triggers Nationalist Anger
Within minutes, under mounting pressure, Salman Khan deleted the tweet — but by then, the digital wildfire had already spread. Some fans leapt to his defence, arguing that the ceasefire was short-lived, with Pakistan violating it mere hours after the announcement, which could have prompted Khan’s deletion.
The incident has reignited a long-simmering debate: Do Bollywood celebrities have a duty to openly back India’s military actions? Or does every word they say risk being weaponised in India’s polarised public square?
Salman is no stranger to voicing concern on national issues. After the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22 that killed 26 innocents, he had tweeted with rare poignancy about Kashmir:
“Kashmir, heaven on earth, turning into hell. Innocent people being targeted… Killing one innocent is like killing the entire universe.”
Yet, this time, his attempt at neutrality—or simply an untimely message—lit a fuse few expected.
As the dust settles, Bhai has made no further statement. But his fleeting tweet and its swift deletion have carved a new chapter in the evolving saga of how Bollywood, politics, and patriotism intersect in today’s India.