Salman Khan on why he won't contest elections: 'I won't get 3 votes'
Synopsis
Salman Khan once admitted on The Kapil Sharma Show that he'd lose an election for the secretary of his own building — he reckons he wouldn't get even three votes from his own family. It's a rare moment of celebrity self-deprecation that has kept resurfacing, and it comes as the star gears up for Maatrubhumi, his most ambitious project in years.
Key Takeaways
Salman Khan said on The Kapil Sharma Show that he would lose even a building-secretary election, claiming he wouldn't get three votes from his own family.
He owns eight flats in his building, of which three belong to his family.
The remark came in response to host Kapil Sharma asking why no party has recruited him as a candidate.
Salman's next film, Maatrubhumi (formerly Battle of Galwan ), directed by Apoorva Lakhia , depicts the 15 June 2020 Galwan Valley clash.
He plays Colonel Santosh Babu of the 16 Bihar Regiment ; Chitrangada Singh is the female lead.
An untitled drama produced by Dil Raju and directed by Vamshi is also in development.
Bollywood star Salman Khan once offered a candid and self-deprecating explanation for why he has never entered electoral politics — and it had nothing to do with ideology or ambition. In a memorable appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show, the actor admitted he would likely lose even the most modest election he could imagine.
What Salman Said on the Show
Host Kapil Sharma posed the question that many fans have wondered about: given that political parties routinely recruit popular film stars as candidates, why has someone as widely recognised as Salman never taken the plunge? The actor's response was characteristically disarming.
'I do feel like contesting elections a lot. But then I look at my building. Okay. I have eight flats in my building. Out of which three flats are ours. And if I, in my building... Forget about the Prime Minister, Minister, MLA, MP, etc. If I fight elections for the Secretary of my building, I will lose. I won't get three votes from my house,' Salman said, drawing laughter from the audience.
The remark was vintage Salman — self-aware, laced with humour, and pointedly honest. It also neatly sidestepped any direct political commentary, keeping the tone light while making a surprisingly relatable point about public figures and private credibility.
Why the Moment Resonated
The exchange has resurfaced periodically on social media, partly because it captures something rare: a superstar willingly puncturing his own image. In an era when celebrity political endorsements are common and film stars are frequently courted by parties across the spectrum, Salman's refusal — framed not as principle but as pragmatic self-awareness — stands out. Notably, several of his contemporaries have made the transition to active politics with mixed results.
Salman's Upcoming Projects
On the work front, Salman Khan is set to lead Maatrubhumi — earlier titled Battle of Galwan — a war drama directed by Apoorva Lakhia. The film dramatises the events of 15 June 2020, when Indian soldiers clashed with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley. Salman plays Colonel Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment, tasked with enforcing a disengagement agreement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Chitrangada Singh stars opposite him as the leading lady.
He also has an untitled drama produced by Dil Raju and directed by Vamshi in the pipeline, though details on that project remain limited.
Point of View
Quietly, a commentary on the gap between mass public approval and intimate personal credibility, a distinction that Indian politics often exploits rather than acknowledges. That a star of his scale would frame electoral ambition through the lens of a building-secretary race is either genuine self-awareness or very well-calibrated humility. Either way, it has proven more durable than most earnest political statements from his peers.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Salman Khan say he won't contest elections?
Salman Khan said he would not contest elections because he believes he would lose even the secretary election of his own building, claiming he wouldn't secure three votes from his own family members. He made the remark during an appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show.
What did Salman Khan say on The Kapil Sharma Show about politics?
When host Kapil Sharma asked why political parties had not recruited him as a candidate, Salman admitted he does feel the urge to contest but is convinced he would lose a building-secretary election. He joked that he owns three flats in his building yet would still not get three family votes.
What is Salman Khan's upcoming film Maatrubhumi about?
Maatrubhumi, formerly titled Battle of Galwan, is a war drama directed by Apoorva Lakhia. It depicts the events of 15 June 2020, when Indian soldiers clashed with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley. Salman plays Colonel Santosh Babu of the 16 Bihar Regiment.
Who stars alongside Salman Khan in Maatrubhumi?
Chitrangada Singh plays the leading lady opposite Salman Khan in Maatrubhumi. The film is directed by Apoorva Lakhia.
What other projects does Salman Khan have in the pipeline?
Besides Maatrubhumi, Salman Khan has an untitled drama produced by Dil Raju and directed by Vamshi currently in development, though further details have not yet been announced.
