The actor who refused to share screen space with Salman Khan for over two decades

In Bollywood, few rivalries have endured as quietly yet intensely as that between Salman Khan and veteran actor Danny Denzongpa. Born Tshering Phintso Denzongpa, the iconic villain refused to share screen space with Salman for nearly two decades, highlighting how professional disagreements can shape long-standing industry relationships.

Salman and Danny first worked together on the 1991 romantic drama ‘Sanam Bewafa’. According to DNA, while Danny was known for his punctuality, Salman reportedly arrived hours late on set. Deeply annoyed by the delay, Danny publicly scolded him, marking the start of a professional rift that would keep them from collaborating for 23 years.

Following the incident, Danny Denzongpa avoided working with Salman for over two decades. Industry reports suggest that the disagreement was rooted in professionalism rather than personal animosity. This long hiatus made their eventual reunion in ‘Jai Ho’ all the more noteworthy, as it marked a rare reconciliation after years of silent tension.

Danny returned to the big screen alongside Salman in the 2014 film ‘Jai Ho’, directed by Salman’s brother Sohail Khan. Their interactions on set were described as polite yet distant, indicating that while the professional gap had closed, the memories of past disagreements lingered subtly between the veteran actor and the superstar.

Though careful in his career choices over the last decade, Danny Denzongpa has remained selective with projects. His last notable appearance was in Sooraj Barjatya’s drama ‘Uunchai’ in 2022. A few years ago, a photo of Salman kissing Danny’s son Rinzing went viral, seen as a potential sign of warmth and reconciliation between the two families.