What Happened: Bollywood megastar Salman Khan made a startling revelation about his health, disclosing that he has been silently battling a brain aneurysm and an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) – both serious vascular conditions – even as he continues to film and perform at age 59. Salman spoke candidly about his health on the inaugural episode of the new season of The Great Indian Kapil Show (a popular celebrity talk/variety show) where he appeared as the first guest. In a casual yet shocking admission, he told host Kapil Sharma that in addition to his well-known struggles with trigeminal neuralgia (a chronic facial nerve pain disorder), he also has an aneurysm in his brain and an AV malformation, saying he’s working “iske bawajood” (despite these). The studio audience gasped as Salman nonchalantly listed his ailments in Hindi: “Pasliyan toot gayi (ribs have fractured), trigeminal neuralgia ke sath kaam kar rahe hain (working despite trigeminal neuralgia), aneurysm hai brain mein (there’s an aneurysm in the brain), uske bawajood kaam kar rahe hain. AV malformation hai, uske bawajood chal rahe hain.”. Translated, he meant: “I’m out here breaking bones daily – ribs are fractured. I’m working despite having trigeminal neuralgia. There’s an aneurysm in my brain, yet I’m still working. There’s also an AV malformation, and still, I’m carrying on.”.
Context: Salman Khan is one of Indian cinema’s biggest draws, known for his action-packed roles and macho image. For him to confess to such serious health issues shocked fans and industry colleagues alike. A brain aneurysm is a bulge in a brain blood vessel that can be life-threatening if it ruptures. An AV malformation is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, often in the brain, which can also cause serious problems like bleeding or seizures. Salman did not specify when he was diagnosed with these conditions or whether he has undergone or will undergo medical procedures for them. However, by mentioning them in the past tense (“hai… chal rahe hain”), it seems he is currently living with these conditions being managed. It’s known that Salman has faced health challenges before – notably, he suffered from trigeminal neuralgia, a very painful nerve condition sometimes called the “suicide disease” because of its severe pain. He revealed that publicly back in 2011 and underwent treatment for it. He even had a nerve surgery in the US around that time. But the aneurysm and AVM are new revelations.
On the show, this topic came up when Kapil playfully asked Salman about avoiding marriage (a perennial topic around Salman, who is famously unmarried). Salman jokingly explained how, given the hardships he’s enduring physically and the wealth he’s accumulated, he’s wary of the idea of a wife who could take half his assets if things went sour. “I am working at 59 years old despite many health issues… I don’t have it in me to start from scratch again if the ‘wife’ takes half my money,” he quipped, blending humor with a hint of vulnerability. The studio audience laughed at the joke, but the underlying health admissions were deadly serious.
Public and Industry Reaction: News of Salman’s conditions spread like wildfire on social media and made headlines across Indian media. Fans poured in support and wishes for his health under hashtags like #GetWellSoonSalman and #StayStrongBhai (Bhai meaning brother, a nickname for Salman). Many expressed admiration that despite such ailments, Salman continues to maintain a grueling work schedule – he’s known to shoot films, host the reality show Bigg Boss, and perform in live tours. Bollywood colleagues were also taken aback. Actor Riteish Deshmukh tweeted, “Salman bhai’s dedication and strength is unbelievable. Prayers for your good health always.” Filmmaker Karan Johar wrote, “You never know what someone is going through… More power to @BeingSalmanKhan for sharing and for fighting on.”
Some fans said Salman’s revelations explain why he sometimes appeared fatigued or less energetic in recent appearances – there had been speculation in tabloids about him looking “different” or “tired.” This candid admission effectively addressed those rumors with the truth. On the Kapil show, Salman looked in good shape physically (he even humorously flexed his biceps during a skit), but he acknowledged “Hum ye jo daily ki haddiyan tudwa rahe hain…” (I’m breaking my bones every day [doing action scenes]). It appears Salman has been quietly taking on action stunts despite cracked ribs and these vascular issues.
Medical experts weighed in on TV discussions: a neurosurgeon explained that many brain aneurysms can be treated or “clipped” via surgery to prevent rupture, and AV malformations sometimes are treated with radiation or surgery if risk of bleeding is high. It’s unclear if Salman has undergone any such procedures. Some speculated he might in the near future step back for treatment – however, Salman did not mention any upcoming surgery. His tone suggested he’s managing with medication and careful monitoring.
Salman’s Work and Future: Salman’s fans know him as a tireless entertainer who releases a big movie almost every Eid (a tradition of his). This year, he already had a film “Sitaare Zameen Par” release recently, where he had a cameo, and he’s been filming “Tiger 4,” the next installment of his famous spy-action franchise, slated for late 2025. Industry insiders say Salman insisted on doing many of his own stunts in Tiger 4, which might explain the rib injuries he mentioned. It will be interesting to see if he scales back stuntwork going forward. Salman also turned 59 in December and will hit 60 later this year. He joked on the show about still having to work so hard at this age, quipping about the pitfalls of marriage in his trademark tongue-in-cheek style: “Ye younger age mein hota toh theek tha, phir se kama lete. Ab wapis se… (Had these issues come when I was younger, it was fine – I could earn it all back again. But now, starting over…)”, trailing off humorously.
Beyond movies, Salman is hosting Bigg Boss Season 16 later this year – a commitment that requires weekly shoot days. Fans hope he takes care of his health and doesn’t overexert. Salman’s lifestyle (he’s known to exercise daily and maintain a strict fitness regimen) likely helps him cope, but stress of film sets can be intense. Some entertainment columnists wonder if he will slowly transition to more character roles or reduce volume of projects, though knowing Salman’s persona, he might well defy expectations and keep up his pace.
About His Conditions: The show briefly touched on what trigeminal neuralgia is – Salman had earlier described it as “suicide disease” because of the intense pain it caused him. He underwent treatment and got relief but has said it was the “worst pain ever” and that he even had moments of despair during it. So Salman battling that and now an aneurysm and AVM portrays a picture of a man enduring a lot in private. An AVM and aneurysm both carry a risk of bleeding in the brain (stroke). It’s likely Salman’s are being monitored routinely by doctors. Many fans didn’t know about these conditions, so Google searches for “aneurysm” and “AV malformation” spiked in India after the episode aired, as people sought to understand these terms.
In an era where film stars often hide their vulnerabilities to maintain an image, Salman’s candidness was refreshing. It humanized a superstar who often appears larger-than-life on screen. As one fan wrote, “Even our heroes have their battles. Respect to Salman for speaking about it. Praying for his health.”
Overall, Salman’s revelation has prompted conversations about health, age, and the grueling nature of showbiz. It’s also a reminder that behind the glitz, celebrities may be carrying burdens unknown to the public. Salman Khan’s choice to share his condition in a casual context – almost as an aside in a joke – fits his personality of not wanting to appear weak or invite pity. Yet it succeeded in raising awareness and garnering support. Now, the hope among everyone is that these conditions remain under control and that Salman continues to entertain safely. As Kapil Sharma summed up on the show with a mix of humor and concern: “Salman sir, aap reality mein ek superstar ho. Itne saare issues ko jeb mein daalke aap humein entertain kar rahe ho!” (Salman sir, you are a superstar in real life. You’ve pocketed so many issues and still you’re entertaining us!). Salman responded with a smile, assuring that he’s doing fine and that work keeps him going.
