The glamour and splendor of Hollywood, big stars, multimillion-dollar films, and behind-the-scenes stories have always attracted public attention. However, there was also a dark side to this shining industry—interference from the criminal world, ransom threats, and attacks on celebrities. At times, the presence of gangsters at film parties was discussed, and at other times, accusations of pressure on film financing and casting emerged. Time changed, faces changed, but reports that Bollywood was becoming a target have not completely disappeared.
The recent alleged shooting of actor Tiger Shroff's car in the Juhu area of Mumbai on October 18, 2026, once again raised the old question: how exactly were the relationships between Bollywood and the criminal underworld formed?
The discussion about the links between the Mumbai criminal world and the Hindi film industry spans decades. In the 1960s and 1970s, stories emerged about contacts between criminals such as Haji Mastan and figures in the film industry, including money investment in cinema. Later, names like Dawood Ibrahim and other criminal networks began appearing in disputes related to the film industry.
The situation became more serious in the 1990s. During that period, allegations surfaced that producers were being blackmailed, demanded ransoms, invested in film projects, and pressured actors. Nevertheless, it is incorrect to claim that every film star had ties to some gangster; in many cases, the stars and producers themselves became victims of threats and violence.
On August 12, 1997, Gulshan Kumar, the founder of T-Series, was shot near a temple in the Andheri area of Mumbai. This murder shocked the entire country. The killing of Gulshan Kumar, who became a major name in the music world, raised the question: can fame and success put an artist in the crosshairs of criminals?
In the same period, on March 7, 1997, producer Mukesh Duggal was shot in his office in Andheri. In July 1997, Rajiv Rai, director of the films 'Tridev' and 'Gupt', was also attacked. His bodyguard returned fire, and Rajiv Rai remained unharmed. The Abu Salem gang was involved in this attack.
These events indicate that in the 1990s, threats against some major figures in the film industry were not limited to mere phone calls.
On January 21, 2000, a shooting occurred outside the office of film personality Rakesh Roshan in the Santacruz area of Mumbai. During this attack, one bullet hit him after the success of the film 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai', and another passed by his chest. Rakesh Roshan escaped death.
Later, Rakesh Roshan stated in an interview that people connected to the criminal world wanted his son Ritik Roshan to work in a film made by his colleagues. According to him, the attack happened after a dispute over him not yielding to demands and not changing the shooting dates.
Around the same time, in December 1999, producer Manmohan Shetty was subjected to an assassination attempt. Actor Dinesh Anand was shot on February 14, 2001. In July 2002, there was also a shooting near the office of director Lawrence D'Souza. Police suspected that the goal was to sow fear in the film industry and exert pressure for extortion.
Years later, the issue of criminal threats in Bollywood attracted attention again. This time, Salman Khan was in the spotlight. On April 14, 2024, attackers on motorcycles opened fire near his home in Bandra, Mumbai. Salman sustained no injuries.
In this case, the Mumbai police accused the network of imprisoned gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and took action against several accused under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA). Salman Khan had long received threat messages from the Bishnoi gang. Although the black deer hunting case is also mentioned in this dispute, the police investigation and legal records should be relied upon to determine the purpose of the specific attack.
The question remains open: why do film stars continue to face threats from criminal networks decades later? Is the cause only old enmity, or is it an attempt at extortion, spreading terror, and demonstrating dominance?
In September 2025, reports emerged of a shooting near the home of actress Disha Patani's family in Bareli, Uttar Pradesh. This incident once again called into question the safety of film stars and their families.
Following this, on February 1, 2026, a shooting occurred at the home of film personality Rohit Shetty in Juhu. The Mumbai police filed a charge sheet against 17 accused in this case in April 2026. Investigative agencies stated that the attack was orchestrated by a network linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and the goal was to assert their influence. However, the exact reason why Rohit Shetty was chosen as the target was unclear.
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