Chunky Panday charged $20,000 to take Salman Khan to a shop in South Africa
Synopsis
Chunky Panday turned Salman Khan's superstardom into a $20,000 side hustle — without telling Salman. The story, revealed by Akshay Kumar on The Kapil Sharma Show, is a masterclass in leveraging a friend's fame: Salman shopped, smiled for photos, and left happy, while Chunky quietly cashed a cheque the star knew nothing about.
Key Takeaways
Chunky Panday charged a South African shop owner $20,000 to bring Salman Khan to his store.
Salman Khan was unaware of the arrangement and only found out a couple of days later.
The story was narrated by Akshay Kumar on The Kapil Sharma Show .
Akshay Kumar and Chunky Panday have shared the screen in four films, most recently Housefull 5 (2025) .
Akshay's latest release, Welcome to the Jungle , hit cinemas on 26 June with a cast of over 30 actors .
Chunky Panday once quietly pocketed $20,000 from a South African shop owner in exchange for bringing Salman Khan to his store — and Salman had no idea until days later. The story, as hilarious as it is audacious, was revealed by actor Akshay Kumar on The Kapil Sharma Show.
How It Unfolded
According to Akshay, Salman and Chunky were in South Africa for a live entertainment show that reportedly went extremely well. Playing the generous host, Chunky offered to take Salman out for a shopping trip after the event. Once inside the store, Chunky casually told Salman to pick 3–4 jeans and 2–3 shirts — the picture of a friend treating a friend.
The shop owner then approached Salman, asking for photographs. Salman obliged warmly, posing with the owner and his family before leaving the store in high spirits, clothes in hand.
The $20,000 Secret
What Salman did not know — and only discovered a couple of days later — was that Chunky Panday had charged the shop owner $20,000 for the privilege of having Salman Khan walk through his door. The shopping trip, it turned out, was an elaborate paid brand appearance that Salman never consented to. The anecdote drew considerable laughter on the show, with Akshay narrating it with evident relish.
Akshay and Chunky: A Long On-Screen Partnership
Akshay Kumar and Chunky Panday share a long collaborative history. The two have appeared together in Aankhen (1993), Housefull (2010), Housefull 3 (2016), and most recently Housefull 5 (2025). Their easy on-screen chemistry has clearly extended off-screen, given the comfort with which Akshay recounted the story at Chunky's expense.
What Akshay Is Up To Next
Akshay Kumar was recently seen headlining Welcome to the Jungle, the latest entry in the Welcome franchise, which arrived in cinemas on 26 June. Directed by Ahmed Khan, the film features a sprawling ensemble cast of over 30 actors, including Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal, Lara Dutta, Urvashi Rautela, and many others. Looking further ahead, Akshay is also set to feature in Rohit Shetty's Golmaal 5.
Point of View
Even when the star himself is kept in the dark. Chunky Panday essentially monetised Salman Khan's goodwill without consent, which raises a mildly uncomfortable question beneath the laughter: where does friendly favour end and unauthorised commercial exploitation begin? That no one seems particularly outraged says something about how normalised this kind of arrangement is in the industry.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Chunky Panday do with Salman Khan in South Africa?
Chunky Panday charged a South African shop owner $20,000 to bring Salman Khan to his store during a trip after a live show. Salman shopped and posed for photos, unaware that Chunky had been paid for the visit.
How did the story about Chunky Panday and Salman Khan come out?
Actor Akshay Kumar revealed the incident on The Kapil Sharma Show, narrating it as a humorous anecdote. Akshay has worked closely with Chunky across multiple Housefull films.
When did Salman Khan find out about Chunky Panday's $20,000 deal?
Salman Khan reportedly came to know about the arrangement only a couple of days after the shopping trip, according to the account shared by Akshay Kumar.
Which films have Akshay Kumar and Chunky Panday done together?
The two have appeared together in Aankhen (1993), Housefull (2010), Housefull 3 (2016), and Housefull 5 (2025).
What is Akshay Kumar's latest film?
Akshay Kumar's latest release is Welcome to the Jungle, directed by Ahmed Khan, which released in cinemas on 26 June. The film features an ensemble cast of over 30 actors.
