Sunday, 22 December 2024
Sunday, 22 December 2024
Bombay in the 1980s and 90s was different from what it is today. The underworld, three different gangs, run by Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan and Arun Gawli, held a firm grip over the city. Bollywood, a cash cow, was an obvious target for extortion and intimidation.
High-profile actors, directors, and producers regularly faced threats, often having to comply with the demands of these mob bosses. Some like Gulshan Kumar even lost their lives to the violence.
With the coercive actions of the cops, some of whom killed at will, and Dawood and Rajan’s flight from the city, led to a long lull in this atmosphere of fear pervading over Bollywood.
But these threats to filmstars seem to have returned. The latest is Shah Rukh Khan, who received a death threat on Tuesday, which has led to Mumbai police launching a thorough investigation on Thursday.
This comes amidst repeated threats to Salman Khan by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, following the assassination of his friend and politician, Baba Siddique. Siddique was a friend of Shah Rukh Khan too.
Here is a look at Bollywood celebrities who have received threats from gangsters over the years.
Gulshan Kumar
Gulshan Kumar's rise from running a juice stall at Delhi’s Paharganj area to becoming the person who revolutionised India’s music industry with T-series, is nothing short of a dream. In 1997, Kumar received a call from Abu Salem, one of Dawood Ibrahim’s close associates, demanding a sum of ₹10 crore. Kumar refused to pay heed to the pressures of the underworld. On August 12, 1997, he was shot dead outside a temple in Andheri, Mumbai—a moment that shocked Bollywood. Music director Nadeem reportedly played a role in the murder. It exposed the harsh reality of underworld influence on the industry.
Rakesh Roshan
After the phenomenal success of Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, which launched his son Hrithik Roshan to stardom, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan found himself in the crosshairs of Mumbai’s underworld. In January 2000, as he stepped out of his office in Santacruz, Mumbai, two gunmen ambushed him, opening fire and injuring him. Thanks to his driver’s swift response in rushing him to the hospital, Roshan survived.
The attack was reportedly driven by his refusal to share overseas profits from the blockbuster. The assailants, later identified as Sunil Vithal Gaikwad and Sachin Kamble, were linked to Bahrain-based gangster Ali Budesh.
Budesh had gained notoriety for challenging Dawood Ibrahim’s influence and aligning with UP don Subhash Singh Thakur, solidifying his control over parts of Mumbai’s underworld. Four years later, Roshan continued to receive threats, highlighting the enduring influence of organised crime over Bollywood’s elite.
Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt’s association with underworld figures has been the subject of much scrutiny and controversy. Over the years, he has reportedly received multiple threats, some from notorious gangsters like Abu Salem during the late 1990s. Dutt’s turbulent history highlights how actors in Bollywood can become targets because of their past connections.
The period from 2000 to 2010 was a lull. Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan’s grip over the city had loosened and Arun Gawli, was into politics, and later behind bars.
But from the 2010s to 2020, another gangster, Ravi Pujari gained infamy.
Sajid Nadiadwala
In April 2010, members of the Ejaz Lakdawala gang stormed into producer Sajid Nadiadwala’s office, issuing threats and demanding money. Following this incident, Nadiadwala was given police protection, a stark reminder that even Bollywood’s powerhouses were not immune from intimidation by criminal elements.
Vivek Oberoi
In 2011, Vivek Oberoi and his family faced threat calls from the underworld. Oberoi’s father, veteran actor Suresh Oberoi, went to the authorities, highlighting the persistent fears that stalk even lesser-connected celebrities.
Sohail Khan and Ritesh Sidhwani
Actors and producers Sohail Khan and Ritesh Sidhwani both were victims of threats from gangster Ravi Pujari in September 2011. Each filed separate complaints with the police, an indication that the reach of underworld threats continued to pervade even those beyond the frontline stars, casting a shadow over the broader Bollywood fraternity.
Karan Johar
The celebrated director-producer Karan Johar received extortion demands from an unknown source via text in September 2013. The Mumbai police assigned armed guards to protect him.
Ram Gopal Verma
Famed for his realistic portrayals of Mumbai’s underworld, Ram Gopal Verma became a target of people who he directed on screen in July 2013. He received a call demanding that he alter parts of his movie Satya 2, a movie based on the Mumbai underworld.
Amitabh Bachchan
The legendary Amitabh Bachchan received a bomb threat in August 2022 that left Mumbai police scrambling. A caller claimed to have planted a bomb near Bachchan’s residence, causing a flurry of security activity until the threat was proven false.
Akshay Kumar
Actor Akshay Kumar, one of Bollywood’s highest-paid stars, was reportedly threatened by gangster Ravi Pujar in 2013i. The incident highlighted how even Bollywood’s most established names face the prospect of threats, despite their influence and stature in the industry.
These tales from Bollywood reveal a dark side to stardom, where fame and glamour come intertwined with danger. Bollywood’s stars, adored by millions, walk a fine line between reverence and risk.
