Salman Khan reacts after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat calls him an inspiration for college students: 'What he wears, they do the same'

Salman Khan reacted with a smile after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat referred to him as an inspiration for college students at a Mumbai event. The moment was captured on camera as Salman, seated in the audience, was seen listening attentively to Bhagwat’s remarks.Several videos and pictures from the 100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons event have since surfaced on social media.In one of the clips from the event, Mohan Bhagwat explained how Salman Khan’s choices often influence young people, particularly college students. “Salman Khan ji kya pehen te hai, college vidyarthi waese pehente hai. Kyun pehen rahe hai? ‘Unhone pehna hai isliye.’ Unhone kyun pehna hai? ‘Maloon nahi,’” Bhagwat said. (What Salman Khan wears, college students do the same. Why do they do it? Because he is wearing it. Why is he wearing it? I don’t know.)He went on to add, “Sabhi baaton mein aesa, acchi baat buri baat, fashion se hi chalta hai. Fashion utpanna karne waale log hote hai woh samaajh k vishwas paatra, shrestha, keerteemaan, aese log hote hai...” (It's the same in every matter, good or bad, everything is driven by fashion. Those who create fashion in society are considered trustworthy, excellent and accomplished.)Soon after the video began circulating online, several social media users echoed Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks, noting Salman Khan’s long-standing influence on popular culture. Many pointed out that the actor has been a trendsetter since the 1990s, with his fitness-driven image and bodybuilding inspiring an entire generation of young fans.Others recalled some of Salman’s most iconic style moments over the years—from his towel dance and ripped denims to the signature look of tying a shirt around his waist—styles that were widely emulated by college-going youth at the time. Several users also mentioned how even his accessories, particularly the firoza bracelet, went on to become a fashion statement among his admirers.The RSS celebrated its historic centenary with a two-day lecture series titled 100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons. The event was held at the Nehru Centre Auditorium in Mumbai and concluded on Sunday.Apart from Salman Khan, the celebrations were attended by Akshay Kumar, Pritam, Raveena Tandon, Ananya Panday, Karan Johar, among others. Salman attended the event on Saturday. Meanwhile, Vicky Kaushal, Ananya Panday, Shilpa Shetty, Karan Johar, singer Adnan Sami, and Ramesh Taurani were present on the next day of the event. On the work front, Salman Khan will next be seen in Apoorva Lakhia’s Battle of Galwan, based on the 2020 Galwan Valley clash between India and China, in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives. Chitrangada Singh has been paired opposite Salman in the film. The movie was slated to hit theaters on April 17, 2026. However, according to the latest report, the release date has been postponed. Now, the war drama is set to arrive in cinemas on August 14, 2026. The superstar was last seen in Sikandar (2025), an action drama written and directed by AR Murugadoss. The film also starred Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sharman Joshi and Sathyaraj. While his fans had pinned their hopes on this movie, it failed to impress them. As a result, the movie didn't work at the box office. In India, the movie earned Rs 110 crore, while the worldwide collection was Rs 184.6 crore, as per the Sacnilk report. The film was released in theaters in March 2025.