Salman Khan has finally addressed the buzz surrounding his recent clean-shaven appearance that left fans worried about his health and age. The actor, who is known for his fitness and signature style, revealed that his seemingly aged look was due to exhaustion from long shooting schedules for his upcoming film Sikandar.

At the trailer launch event in Mumbai, Salman clarified, “Kabhi 5-6 din se sote nahi toh log photo daal ke bol dete hain. But I wanted to show them ki abhi bhi hai.” He emphasized that his tired appearance was a result of not sleeping for several days and assured fans that he still has the energy and drive they admire him for.

Long hours and injuries on ‘Sikandar’ set

Khan also revealed that he suffered two broken ribs while filming Sikandar, yet director AR Murugadoss pushed him through 14-hour-long shifts. “Murugadoss kept pushing me even in action sequences. When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” he said, highlighting the physical toll the film has taken on him.

Responds to 31-year age gap with co-star Rashmika Mandanna

Another major talking point was the age gap between Salman, 58, and his Sikandar co-star Rashmika Mandanna, 27. Addressing this, the actor stated, “Heroine ke father ko problem nahi hain… pati ka permission toh mil hi jayega na?” His humorous yet confident response seemed to dismiss the criticism surrounding the casting.

‘Sikandar’ is slated for release on Eid, March 30, and marks a big-screen return for Salman, who continues to draw massive public interest — whether for his roles, appearance, or on-screen pairings.

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s power-packed batting display in their IPL 2025 opener has ignited bold predictions, with former South African legend pacer Dale Steyn confidently stating that SRH will become the first team to score 300 runs in an IPL match — and he even knows the date.

Taking to social media, former SRH bowling coach predicted April 17 as the historic day, when SRH face Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. “Small prediction. April 17 we’ll see the first 300 in IPL. Who knows, I might even be there to see it happen,” Steyn tweeted.

SRH nearly reached the landmark on Sunday, piling up a massive 286/6 against Rajasthan Royals, their second-highest total in IPL history. The Sunrisers already holds four of the five highest team scores in the tournament and seems closest to breaching the elusive 300-run barrier.

When a fan questioned what would happen if Mumbai Indians chose to bat first, Steyn responded with humour and readiness, saying, “Haha! Great point,” showing he had thought through a backup plan.

The confidence stems from SRH’s past dominance over MI, particularly in Mumbai. The last time these two teams clashed at Wankhede, Sunrisers posted 277/3, with Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen launching an assault with a combined 17 sixes.

Contrasting starts to IPL 2025 for SRH and MI

SRH began their campaign in style with a 44-run win over Rajasthan Royals. The highlight was Ishan Kishan’s century — the first of IPL 2025. Picked for Rs 11.25 crore at the IPL mega-auction, the former Mumbai Indians opener appears to have revived his career after missing out on BCCI’s central contracts and falling behind in India’s wicketkeeping race.

On the other hand, Mumbai Indians continued their long-standing struggle with season openers, suffering their 13th consecutive first-match defeat. Despite putting up a fight, they lost to Chennai Super Kings, with half-centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad guiding CSK to victory.

Amid rising political heat in Bihar, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor has called on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to resign, citing his alleged deteriorating mental health condition. The Jansuraj leader claimed that Kumar is no longer in a position to lead the state effectively and accused both JD(U) and BJP leadership of ignoring visible signs of his health issues.

At a press conference, Kishor said, “Nitish Kumar is physically tired and mentally unfit. If anyone has doubts, ask him to name the ministers in his council. He should resign.” He further alleged that the BJP, despite being aware, has continued to support Kumar’s leadership. “It’s hard to believe that the Prime Minister or Home Minister are unaware of his condition,” he said.

Kishor pointed out that concerns about the Chief Minister’s health were initially raised by his own ally, Sushil Kumar Modi. “During the recent BPSC protests, I realised his condition had worsened to a level where he is unaware of the situation in the state,” Kishor added.

In a parallel development, a poster targeting the Chief Minister was seen outside the residence of former CM Rabri Devi in Patna. The satirical message read: “The non-serious Chief Minister, Jan Jan Man Adhinayak Jay Hai, Nahi Kursi Kursi Kursi Jay Hai,” mocking Nitish Kumar’s grip on power.

Adding to the criticism, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav shared a video on social media platform X, alleging that Nitish Kumar disrespected the national anthem at a recent event by gesturing and talking during its play. “At least do not insult the national anthem,” Yadav posted. “You are not mentally and physically stable even for a few seconds, and your being in this position is a matter of serious concern,” he added in his tweet.