
When Salman Khan walked the red carpet at The Great Indian Kapil Show’s new season premiere, fans were anticipating his signature wit and bravado. What they got instead was the 58-year-old star delivering an emotional bombshell informing that he’s quietly fighting multiple life-threatening health conditions while still working. In a stark, unguarded moment, Salman Khan bared his battles with brain aneurysm, AV malformation, and trigeminal neuralgia testifying to why he is Bollywood’s ultimate fighter.
This candid admission isn’t just gossip-column fodder. It’s a powerful glimpse into the real human behind the “bhaijaan” persona. As he joked about marriage woes and aging, Salman Khan’s voice turned serious “Aneurysm hai brain mein. AV malformation hai. phir bhi kaam kar raha hoon.” (I have a brain aneurysm. AV malformation. yet I’m still working). Let’s unpack what this means for India’s beloved superstar.
Inside Salman Khan's Health Crisis: Trigeminal Neuralgia, Aneurysm & AV Malformation Explained
What Exactly Are Salman's Health Conditions?
Salman’s discovery addresses three involved medical problems albeit all painful, potentially debilitating, and in need of close scrutiny. To begin with, trigeminal neuralgia, also known as “the suicide disease” due to its agonizing face pain along the facial nerve. Picture lightning passing through your cheek when you talk or chew. Salman’s fought that since 2007, tolerating surgeries and numerous shoots of flare-ups.
Then there’s the brain aneurysm a time bomb waiting to happen. This vulnerable area of a brain artery might burst without any warning, leading to strokes or lethal bleeding. Most patients rest strictly; Salman does high-octane stunts. Last but not least, AV malformation (arteriovenous malformation) signifies twisted blood vessels in his brain or spine, interfering with the flow of blood and threatening hemorrhages. Collectively, these afflictions call for a delicate balance between wellness and zest.
When did Salman's health issues start?

During Partner(2007), the initial signs were seen. Salman Khan would grip his face in the middle of a scene, concealing piercing nerve pain. In 2011, it became so bad he flew to America for emergency surgery. Post-surgery, he came back on set within weeks for Ek Tha Tiger, bandages concealed beneath makeup. His recent rib fractures (of action scenes) are just adding to this decades-long fight. But, as he explained to Kapil Sharma: “Hum ye haddiyan tudva rahe hain. phir bhi chal rahe hain.” (We break bones every day. yet keep moving).
The Iron Man of Bollywood: How Salman Refuses to Give Up Despite Pain to Entertain Millions
Working Through "Suicide Disease" & Brain Risks
Though physicians caution, Salman’s work ethic is almost divine. While shooting for Dabangg 3 (2019), trigeminal neuralgia leaves him bedridden between scenes. Crew members remember him having liquid meals down straws and then knocking out punches. For Tiger 3 (2023), he did the rooftop jumps with an active aneurysm—a risk that would keep other actors grounded. His motto?”Show must go on” is no cliché; it’s his lifeline.
Why Marriage Falls Behind Health Fights
Salman’s health surprises emerged amidst a debate on marriage. Kapil Sharma taunted him with being an eternal bachelor, to which he issued a deep reply: “Shaadi ke baad divorce ho gaya. toh aadha paisa chala jata hai.” (If marriage results in divorce. half your money goes away). He correlated it with his bodily struggles recreating wealth at 58, with increasing medical bills, is unimaginable. “Younger age mein hota toh phir se kama lete,” he sighed. (If this happened young, I’d earn it back).
Trigeminal Neuralgia: The Invisible Agony
This nerve disease attacks the face as electric jolts. Minor movements wind, smiling cause pain. The treatment includes brain surgery or sleeping pills as medicine. Salman’s decision to perform despite it (even dancing in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo) shows unreal discipline. Neurologists describe it as “invisible pain”; fans notice only his swagger.
Brain Aneurysm & AV Malformation: Silent Threats in Plain Sight
A brain aneurysm is a blood vessel “blister” that bursts in response to stress (such as action sequences). AV malformation is when arteries and veins tangle together, leading to seizures or paralysis. Both need MRI surveillance and lifestyle restrictions things Salman openly disregards. As he put it “Action, yaha se kudna, vaha se girna. sab chal raha hai.” (Action, jumping here, falling there. it’s all happening).
Salman Khan's Health Update: What's in Store for the Superstar?
Current Projects & Physical Risks
Salman’s new film, Sikandar (available on Netflix), has gritty fight scenes filmed while coping with flare-ups. This one’s followed by Tiger vs Pathaan, with stunt sequences that keep his doctors fretting. Sources say he’s reduced back-street biking and weight training but not stunt doubles. “He’ll tape broken ribs and shoot,” admits a crew member. “Only ice packs and silence give him away.”
Long-Term Prognosis: Can He Sustain This Pace?
Neurologists stress that aneurysms and AV malformations need lifelong care. Without surgery (unconfirmed for Salman), rupture risks climb yearly. Yet Salman prioritizes work, trusting alternative therapies and willpower. His recent quote says it all: “I’m still carrying on.” For millions, he’s a symbol of resilience; for doctors, a medical marvel walking a tightrope.
The Emotional Burden: Salman's Isolated Fight Off the Camera
Why He Conceals Pain Behind the "Bhaijaan" Image
Salman’s confession is not new it’s a fleeting crack in his armor. For years, he joked away pain as “just migraines,” dreading pity or career harm. Filmfare wrote that he’d be the one to leave parties early, disguising agony as exhaustion. This stoicism is rooted in old-fashioned values: “Dard dikhane se log kamzor samajhte hain,” (People find you weak if you show pain) he told a friend a while back.
Family's Fear and Unwavering Support
Behind closed doors, Salman’s siblings Arbaaz, Sohail, and Alvira keep a constant vigil over his health. Sources indicate they’ve implored him to take it easy since his 2011 surgery. Still, they honor his decisions, scheduling low-key doctor visits between shoots. As Alvira shared with the media “He’s our Hercules. We pray, but we don’t question.”
Salman Khan's Message to Fans: Strength Over Sympathy
“No Victimhood, Only Victory” Salman positions his war on health as empowerment, not suffering. When fans cry over his ordeal, he teasingly says: “Main abhi bhi 8-pack bana sakta hoon!” (I can still create an 8-pack!). That attitude powers his philanthropy through Being Human, he finances medical assistance for poor patients with conditions such as his, converting agony into purpose.
What We Can Learn from His Journey
In a filter-obsessed, facade-filled world, Salman’s frankness regarding brain aneurysms and chronic pain is revolutionary. He shows us that vulnerability isn’t weakness it’s the essence of courage. As he said to Kapil “Zindagi mein sab kuch saath nahi deta. par himmat honi chahiye.” (Not everything accompanies you in life. but you need to have courage).
Final Thoughts: The Unbreakable Legacy of Salman Khan
Salman Khan’s health news is not just a headline read it and learn a masterclass in grit. When brain aneurysms and AV malformation conspire to make others take early retirement, he dances, punches, and jokes his way through the minefield. His path yells out a truth we all require: Life doesn’t stop for pain, and neither should dreams.
As Sikandar goes live around the world, keep in mind each swagger, each smirk, each “bhaijaan” swagger has attendant struggles. And that makes Salman Khan not only a star, but a survivor.