Gulshan Grover delayed a flight — here's the hilarious reason why
Synopsis
Gulshan Grover’s villain persona is so convincing it once grounded a real flight. On The Kapil Sharma Show, the actor revealed that an air hostess threatened to quit her job rather than sit beside him on a small Manali-Kullu aircraft — delaying take-off entirely. With 400-plus films to his name, the Bad Man of Bollywood has apparently never been more method.
Key Takeaways
Gulshan Grover revealed the incident on The Kapil Sharma Show while responding to host Kapil Sharma’s question about women being scared of him.
The flight from Manali to Kullu was delayed because an air hostess refused to sit next to Grover, saying she would quit her job first.
Grover had secured his seat at the last minute after ‘flaunting his acting charm’ to obtain a ticket.
The actor has appeared in more than 400 films since the 1980s and holds the Bollywood title of ‘Bad Man’ .
His career spans iconic villain roles in Ram Lakhan , Mohra , and Hera Pheri , as well as international productions and the positive-role film I Am Kalam .
Bollywood’s original Bad Man, actor Gulshan Grover, once recounted a laugh-out-loud incident in which his on-screen villain persona caused a real-life flight delay — because an air hostess flatly refused to sit next to him.
The Incident, In His Own Words
Grover shared the story during an appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show, responding to host Kapil Sharma’s question about whether a woman had ever been genuinely scared of him. The actor recalled that he had been shooting in Manali and needed to fly to Kullu, but could not secure a ticket through normal channels.
“I had to flaunt all my acting charm, narrate dialogues, and all to get a seat. So, at the last minute, they gave me a seat. I ran towards the flight. My seat was towards the end. It was like a bench in a small plane towards the end. The air hostess was supposed to come and sit there,” he said.
Why the Flight Would Not Take Off
Despite boarding being complete, the aircraft remained grounded. Grover said he asked the air hostess what the hold-up was, and her reply left him stunned: “The reason is you.” When he pressed further, she said she would rather quit her job than sit beside him. The flight, reportedly a small aircraft with a bench-style rear seat where the crew member was required to be stationed, could not depart until the seating situation was resolved.
The Man Behind the Menace
The anecdote underscores just how deeply Gulshan Grover’s villain image has permeated public consciousness. Since the 1980s, Grover has appeared in more than 400 films, earning the industry title of ‘Bad Man’ of Bollywood. His career began with Hum Paanch (1980) and Rocky (1981), before a string of iconic negative roles cemented his reputation: Ram Lakhan (1989), Shola Aur Shabnam (1992), Sir (1993), Mohra (1994), and Hera Pheri (2000).
Beyond Bollywood Villainy
Grover’s reach has extended well beyond Hindi cinema. He featured in international productions including The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo (1997) and Desperate Endeavours (2011). Notably, he has also demonstrated considerable range in positive roles — most memorably in the critically appreciated I Am Kalam — proving that the Bad Man label, while iconic, tells only part of the story.
The flight incident remains one of the more unusual testaments to an actor’s screen presence: when your villain work is convincing enough to ground an aircraft, you have arguably done your job too well.
Point of View
A trained professional, reacted to him as though he were a genuine threat says something about the cultural saturation of Bollywood villainy. What mainstream coverage of such anecdotes tends to miss is the craft underneath: Grover’s longevity across 400-plus films in a genre that discards character actors quickly is a story about discipline, not just menace. The flight incident is funny, but it is also an accidental measure of how completely he inhabited a role for an entire generation of viewers.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Gulshan Grover delay a flight?
A flight from Manali to Kullu was delayed because an air hostess refused to sit next to Gulshan Grover, saying she would rather quit her job than be seated beside him. Grover recounted the incident on The Kapil Sharma Show.
Where did Gulshan Grover share this flight story?
He shared the anecdote on The Kapil Sharma Show, in response to host Kapil Sharma asking whether a woman had ever been genuinely scared of him.
Why is Gulshan Grover called the Bad Man of Bollywood?
Gulshan Grover earned the title through his portrayal of menacing villain roles in more than 400 films since the 1980s. Iconic negative roles in films like Ram Lakhan, Mohra, and Hera Pheri cemented his reputation as Bollywood’s definitive screen villain.
Has Gulshan Grover acted in international films?
Yes. Grover has appeared in international productions including The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo (1997) and Desperate Endeavours (2011), extending his career well beyond Hindi cinema.
Has Gulshan Grover played positive roles?
Yes. Despite his villain image, Grover has delivered notable performances in positive roles, most memorably in the critically appreciated film I Am Kalam.
