Salman Khan’s Playful Dig at Shahid Kapoor Steals IIFA 2027 Presser

An unscripted exchange at the IIFA 2027 press conference in Mumbai has become the event’s most talked-about clip, after Salman Khan turned Shahid Kapoor’s respectful stage gesture into a playful roast.

What happened on stage

On Thursday, October 22, Shahid Kapoor stepped onto the stage and briefly touched it, a familiar mark of respect in performance and public settings. Salman Khan, who was sharing the stage with the actors, noticed the gesture immediately.

“Inhone mere pair nahi choohe, stage ko chooa inhone,” Salman said, which translates as, “He didn’t touch my feet; he touched the stage instead.” The line drew laughter from the audience and the media in the room, with Kareena Kapoor Khan visibly enjoying the moment.

Why the moment is travelling

This is exactly the kind of spontaneous, lightly competitive warmth that keeps fans glued to award-season events. A respectful gesture became family-style banter, and Kareena’s reaction gave the clip an extra layer of charm.

The exchange stands out because press conferences are usually tightly managed. When a real reaction breaks through, it reminds viewers that these stars are comfortable enough with one another to joke on camera, and that ease is what social media latches onto.

Clips from the event began circulating quickly. The moment had a neat structure: Shahid’s respectful stage touch was the setup, Salman’s one-liner was the payoff, and Kareena’s uncontrolled laughter was the reaction. That kind of clear, self-contained sequence is built for sharing.

What to remember from the exchange

• The moment unfolded at the IIFA 2027 press conference in Mumbai on October 22.
• Salman’s quip was aimed at Shahid’s stage-touching gesture, not at him personally.
• Kareena Kapoor Khan’s laughter became a key part of the viral clip.
• Salman Khan’s next film, Monster, is set for an Eid 2027 release.

What this says about award season

Press conferences have become early indicators of which stars will shape the season’s conversation. A few seconds of easy repartee can do more for a star’s visibility than a carefully prepared statement, because fans are drawn to the person behind the performance.

That is why the IIFA stage matters long before the winners are announced. For Hindi film fans, these throwaway exchanges are part of the event’s real reward: a glimpse of the off-screen equations that make the industry feel like family.

The bigger picture

As IIFA season builds, expect more candid exchanges between stars. The moment also nudges attention toward Salman Khan’s upcoming pan-India project Monster, directed by Vamshi Paidipally, produced by Dil Raju, and co-starring Nayanthara.

For now, the clip is a reminder that Bollywood’s best press-conference moments are usually the ones nobody planned.

Source: The Times of India