Salman Khan's Instagram account deactivated briefly, restored within hours
Synopsis
Salman Khan’s Instagram account — followed by over 72 million users — went dark briefly on 25 May, with no explanation from his team. The outage arrived days after the actor publicly confronted paparazzi over hospital coverage, adding an unresolved layer to an already charged week for the star.
Key Takeaways
Salman Khan 's Instagram account was temporarily deactivated on Monday, 25 May , showing an unavailability error to visitors.
The account was restored within a short time; the cause — technical glitch, voluntary deactivation, or hacking attempt — remains unconfirmed.
Salman has over 72 million followers on Instagram, making the outage widely noticed.
The incident followed a late-night post in which Salman publicly rebuked paparazzi for photographing him at a hospital.
Photographers later apologised to Salman at a public event, which he accepted.
Bollywood actor Salman Khan's official Instagram account was temporarily deactivated on Monday, 25 May, leaving millions of followers puzzled when the profile link displayed the message: “Sorry, this page isn’t available.” The account was restored within a short period, though no official explanation has been offered.
What Happened
Users attempting to access Salman’s profile were greeted with a standard unavailability message, sparking widespread speculation online. It remains unclear whether the outage was caused by a technical glitch, a voluntary temporary deactivation, or an attempted account compromise. Neither Salman nor his team has issued any official statement or clarification as of the time of reporting.
The Scale of His Digital Presence
The disruption drew significant attention given Salman’s 72 million-plus Instagram following — one of the largest for any Indian film personality on the platform. The actor regularly uses Instagram to share updates on his films, personal milestones, and candid moments with family and friends, making the account a key touchpoint with his fanbase.
The Paparazzi Confrontation That Preceded It
The account disruption came days after Salman made headlines for a pointed outburst directed at the media. In a late-night social media post, the ‘Dabangg’ actor expressed sharp displeasure at photographers who had followed him to a hospital, writing: “If I see any press at a hospital enjoying my pain. The press that I have stood for interacted with, took care to make sure that they also earn their bread and butter. But if they wanna make money from my losses, keep quiet, don’t enjoy.”
In a follow-up post, Salman added: “Aise main sau jala doonga. Bhai k ek bhai k dukh par agli baar try kar lena mere sath. Buss try kar lena …. Jab bhi tumhara koi hospital mai hoga kya mai aisa react karoonga?”
He concluded with a warning: “Saath saal ka ho gaya hoon lekin ladna nahiiin bhoola yeh yaad rakh lena, jail mein dalo ge haaa haaa.”
Apology and Resolution
The episode with the paparazzi was subsequently resolved when photographers tendered a public apology to Salman at an event, and the actor acknowledged it graciously. Whether the Instagram outage is in any way connected to that episode remains purely speculative at this stage.
With no statement from Salman’s team forthcoming, the cause of the brief deactivation is likely to remain unconfirmed unless the actor or a representative addresses it publicly.
Point of View
The outage feeds a narrative of a star visibly stressed and less in control of his public image than usual. Whether the deactivation was accidental or deliberate, the absence of any communication from his team is a PR misstep for someone whose digital presence is a core brand asset. Bollywood’s biggest names have increasingly weaponised social media; going silent — even briefly — invites exactly the speculation his team would want to avoid.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Salman Khan's Instagram account deactivated?
The reason has not been officially confirmed. The account displayed an unavailability message on 25 May before being restored shortly after. Possible causes include a technical glitch, a temporary voluntary deactivation, or an attempted hack, but Salman and his team have not issued any statement.
How long was Salman Khan's Instagram account down?
The account was restored within a short time after going down on Monday, 25 May. The exact duration has not been specified publicly.
How many followers does Salman Khan have on Instagram?
Salman Khan has more than 72 million followers on Instagram, making him one of the most-followed Indian film personalities on the platform.
What did Salman Khan post about the paparazzi?
A few days before the Instagram outage, Salman posted a strongly worded message criticising photographers who followed him to a hospital, saying he felt they were profiting from his distress. He later accepted an apology from the paparazzi at a public event.
Has Salman Khan commented on the Instagram deactivation?
No. Neither Salman Khan nor any member of his team has issued an official statement or clarification about the account going down as of the time of reporting.
