Sooraj Pancholi denies ever meeting Disha Salian or Aditya Thackeray, cites death threats
Synopsis
Sooraj Pancholi has broken his silence — denying he ever met Disha Salian or Aaditya Thackeray, revealing he has received death threats, and demanding a thorough CBI probe. The statement lands as a fresh FIR formally lists his name alongside other high-profile figures in a case that sits at the intersection of Bollywood, politics and Maharashtra's most contested unsolved death.
Key Takeaways
Sooraj Pancholi stated on Instagram that he has received online abuse and death threats.
He denied ever meeting late Disha Salian or Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray — directly or indirectly.
The CBI recently registered a fresh FIR into Salian's 2020 death following a Bombay High Court order; Pancholi's name is among those to be investigated.
Other names in the FIR include Aaditya Thackeray , Rohan Roy , and Rhea Chakraborty .
Pancholi declared he has 'no political alliances' and urged agencies to conduct a thorough and prompt investigation.
He said he intends to speak openly on a platform with a credible journalist willing to ask direct, uncomfortable questions.
Actor Sooraj Pancholi has publicly stated that he has received online abuse and death threats, and emphatically denied having ever met the late Disha Salian or Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray — not once, directly or indirectly. The statement, posted on Instagram on 24 September 2026, comes in the wake of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registering a fresh FIR into Salian's 2020 death following a Bombay High Court order, with Pancholi's name figuring among those whose roles are to be investigated.
What Pancholi Said
In a detailed Instagram post, Pancholi wrote that his name had been 'repeatedly dragged into matters' he claimed to have had nothing to do with, and that he had 'already lost years' of his life as a consequence. He said he was no longer willing to stay silent as he attempts to rebuild his career. 'I have spent years watching my name being dragged into things I had absolutely nothing to do with,' he wrote. 'I have already lost years of my life, years I can never get back.'
The actor stated he is 'not scared' despite the threats, adding: 'If I was scared, I would have stayed quiet like many others. But I am doing the exact opposite! Because I have clearly nothing to hide or run away from.'
The CBI FIR and Key Names
Disha Salian, who had briefly served as the manager of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died in 2020. The CBI recently registered a fresh FIR into her death pursuant to a Bombay High Court directive. The FIR lists several names — including Sooraj Pancholi, Aaditya Thackeray, Rohan Roy, and Rhea Chakraborty — whose roles are to be examined in the course of the investigation.
Pancholi noted that he observed much of the hostility directed at him appeared to stem from grievances others held against members of his family, and urged that he not be held responsible for those disputes. 'Whatever those issues may be, please do not make me pay for them,' he wrote.
Call for a Proper Investigation
Pancholi insisted he holds 'no political alliances' and has no interest in protecting or attacking anyone. He directed a public appeal to investigating agencies, requesting that the matter be probed 'thoroughly, completely and without any further delay.' This comes amid broader public attention on the Disha Salian case, which has resurfaced as a politically sensitive issue in Maharashtra.
Pancholi's Demand for a Fair Media Platform
Separately, the actor expressed his intent to speak at length when given the right platform, specifying he wants a 'proper, educated journalist or interviewer' willing to ask 'difficult questions, uncomfortable questions — all of them.' He criticised what he described as sensationalist media conduct, objecting to journalists 'hiding behind a camera, shouting questions, looking for a reaction or trying to turn someone's life into a spectacle.' He added that there are 'things I have stayed quiet about for years' and promised to answer every question 'directly, honestly, without fear.'
The fresh CBI investigation is expected to be closely watched, with multiple high-profile names now formally listed in the FIR.
Point of View
He creates a public trail ahead of what could be a high-stakes CBI process. The fact that a Bombay High Court had to order the FIR in the first place signals that earlier probes were viewed as incomplete. With Aaditya Thackeray's name in the same FIR, the case has an unmistakably political dimension in Maharashtra, where Shiv Sena factions remain locked in rivalry. The mainstream coverage has largely treated this as celebrity drama; the harder question — why it took years and a court order to reopen the probe — is the one that deserves scrutiny.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Sooraj Pancholi's name in the Disha Salian CBI FIR?
The CBI registered a fresh FIR into the 2020 death of Disha Salian following a Bombay High Court order, listing several names — including Sooraj Pancholi, Aaditya Thackeray, Rohan Roy, and Rhea Chakraborty — whose roles are to be examined. Being named in the FIR means his role will be investigated; it does not amount to a charge or conviction.
What did Sooraj Pancholi say about Disha Salian and Aaditya Thackeray?
Pancholi stated categorically that he has 'never met late Disha Salian or Aditya Thackeray' in his life — 'not once, not directly, not indirectly.' He made the claim in a detailed Instagram post on 24 September 2026, where he also revealed he had received death threats.
Who was Disha Salian?
Disha Salian was a talent manager who had briefly worked with the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. She died in 2020 under circumstances that have remained the subject of public debate and legal scrutiny, with the CBI now mandated by the Bombay High Court to conduct a fresh probe.
What is Sooraj Pancholi asking investigating agencies to do?
Pancholi has publicly appealed to investigating agencies to probe the Disha Salian matter 'thoroughly, completely and without any further delay.' He stated he has no political agenda and simply wants a full and fair investigation.
Why does Pancholi say he will not stay silent anymore?
The actor said he has 'already lost years' of his life due to allegations and assumptions he claims are untrue, and that as he attempts to rebuild his career he refuses to remain quiet. He also said he intends to give a full interview to a credible journalist willing to ask him every difficult question directly.
