A week after unexpectedly removing his shirt on television while confronting online criticism, Salman Khan has explained what he actually intended to show viewers. The actor said his viral shirtless appearance on Bigg Boss 20 was not an attempt to display six-pack abs or prove that he had completed a dramatic physical transformation. Instead, he wanted viewers to see that he was still working towards getting back into his preferred shape. 

The moment originated during an earlier episode when Salman became frustrated while discussing online trolls who comment on celebrities’ age, weight and appearance. He removed his hat, jacket and eventually his shirt while challenging people who judge others physically to first look at themselves. Hindustan Times

His follow-up explanation now adds a different layer to that viral moment: he was deliberately showing himself before reaching what he considers his ideal fitness level.

Bigg Boss 20: Salman Khan Says His Physique Is Still a ‘Work in Progress’

During the latest Weekend Ka Vaar, the host revisited the incident after his shirtless appearance had generated widespread discussion online. Salman Khan said he had removed his shirt precisely because he did not currently have the six-pack physique audiences traditionally associate with him. He explained that some viewers unexpectedly liked the way he looked, but he still believes he needs another one or two months to reach the physical condition he is aiming for.

His point was straightforward: he had not waited until he felt completely fit before appearing shirtless. In his own words, he showed his body while he considered himself “unfit”. That distinction matters because the earlier moment could easily have been interpreted as a celebrity responding to criticism by displaying a highly trained physique. Salman’s explanation suggests the message was instead about refusing to hide because his body did not currently match his own previous standards.

Why Did Salman Remove His Shirt in the First Place?

The original sequence took place while Salman was addressing contestant Scout and discussing social-media behaviour more broadly. The conversation expanded into the culture of attacking people online for their appearance. Salman referred to comments he has received about gaining weight, ageing and changes to his looks. He then removed his hat and jacket before taking off his shirt and inviting critics to continue judging him. 

He told those making such comments to examine their own health and the health of people around them before publicly judging someone else. The segment quickly went viral because Salman has long been associated with fitness and shirtless scenes in Hindi cinema. But his latest remarks make clear that the moment was intended as an answer to appearance-based criticism rather than a conventional fitness reveal.

Body Shaming Became a Bigger Topic During the Episode

The discussion was not limited to comments directed at Salman. During the earlier episode, he also spoke about people targeting women over changes in their appearance, including after pregnancy. Without initially centring the discussion on a particular celebrity, he criticised the tendency to mock someone for weight gain after becoming a mother. The Times of India

The remarks were widely interpreted as support for Katrina Kaif, who had recently faced negative comments about her post-pregnancy appearance. Salman argued that when an actor decides to return to professional work, they can prepare themselves according to the requirements of that work. His broader point was that body shaming someone during a personal phase of life serves no useful purpose. That part of the episode subsequently drew support from several entertainment-industry figures, while former contestant Sofia Hayat publicly criticised Salman and alleged that he had made appearance-related comments about her during an earlier season. 

Salman Says Fitness Transformation Is Not Finished

The latest remarks also provide a more realistic description of his present fitness goals. Rather than claiming he has already completed a transformation, Salman said he is still working on it. According to Hindustan Times, he expects to spend another one or two months preparing his physique for an upcoming film. Hindustan Times No precise target weight or training programme was disclosed in the report.

That means the focus should remain on what he actually said rather than attempting to assess his health or fitness visually from television footage. His use of the word “unfit” was his own description of his current physique, not a medical assessment.

Trolls Have Become a Recurring Topic This Season

Online behaviour has increasingly entered discussions inside the reality show itself. The host has spoken about anonymous criticism, edited clips, invasive photographs and, more recently, AI-generated fake content. In another recent episode, Salman criticised people who deliberately create misleading AI videos and argued for stronger consequences where manipulated material harms others. 

His comments about trolls therefore form part of a broader discussion about how celebrities are treated online rather than a one-off response to his own appearance. Reality television makes that conversation particularly visible because contestants and hosts are watched, clipped and discussed across multiple social platforms almost immediately after an episode airs.

Weekend Ka Vaar Turns Into a Conversation About Appearance

The latest Weekend Ka Vaar episode was expected to focus primarily on developments inside the house, but Salman’s clarification brought his own viral moment back into the conversation. He appeared amused that viewers had praised his body after he deliberately tried to demonstrate that he had not yet reached his desired shape.

That reaction also challenged the assumption that celebrities only appear publicly once they believe they look perfect. For someone whose screen image has been closely connected with bodybuilding for decades, appearing before completing his fitness preparation carried its own message. It allowed him to argue against the expectation that every public appearance must match an idealised version of a celebrity’s past physique.

Bigg Boss 20 Continues to Generate Off-Screen Debate

Bigg Boss 20 premiered on September 6, with Salman returning as host. Hindustan Times reported that Isha Rikhi was the latest contestant to be eliminated at the time of its September 29 report. The season has already generated debates extending well beyond nominations and eliminations.

Contestant behaviour, online abuse, AI-generated videos and celebrity culture have all featured in conversations surrounding the programme. The shirtless moment fits into that pattern. What began as a confrontation over online criticism became a wider discussion about ageing, appearance and the pressure celebrities face to maintain a particular image.

Salman’s Message Was Not About Showing a Six-Pack

The distinction in Salman’s latest clarification is ultimately simple. He was not saying: look how fit I am. He was saying that he was willing to appear publicly even before he believed he was fully fit. That is why reducing the moment to a conventional “shirtless Salman” headline misses some of its context. His appearance followed a conversation about body shaming, and his subsequent explanation emphasised that physical transformation takes time.

For Salman Khan, the physique audiences saw was unfinished by his own standards. And for Bigg Boss 20, what began as another dramatic television moment has developed into a broader conversation about how quickly people judge bodies, age and appearance online.