Bollywood, India’s thriving film industry, has been under renewed threat from organized crime as a series of violent attacks on high-profile figures surface. This resurgence of underworld interference has drawn attention to a gang led by Lawrence Bishnoi, a gangster allegedly orchestrating violence from prison.
Reported attacks in 2024 include a shooting aimed at actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai and previous incidents involving prominent figures like Salman Khan and filmmaker Rohit Shetty. These attacks have reignited concerns about underworld influence in Bollywood, a connection historically rooted in the 1990s.
Experts indicate that while the current threat appears unlike the gang battles of the past, the motivations of money and intimidation remain central, with Bishnoi’s network seeking to exploit Bollywood’s wealth and soft security.
The 1990s Legacy of Mumbai’s Underworld and Bollywood
During the 1990s, Mumbai’s crime syndicates, including notorious gangsters like Dawood Ibrahim and Abu Salem, were heavily involved in Bollywood. They invested in the industry for profit laundering and control, with refusal to cooperate sometimes resulting in deadly consequences. Notable victims included music mogul Gulshan Kumar and filmmaker Rakesh Roshan.
The year 1998 marked a peak in gang-related killings in Mumbai, prompting stringent law enforcement measures, including a new organized crime law in 1999. These actions significantly weakened underworld hold on Bollywood by the early 2000s.
Lawrence Bishnoi’s Network and Its Cross-Border Reach
Lawrence Bishnoi, originally a student-politician from Punjab, has become the central figure linked to recent threats against Bollywood. Despite being incarcerated since 2014, Bishnoi allegedly commands a criminal syndicate extending across multiple northern Indian states and internationally, with his group officially labeled a terrorist entity in Canada.
His operations reportedly rely on young, economically disadvantaged recruits enticed by promises of money and protection. The FBI has listed an associate, Goldy Brar, as a most-wanted criminal in connection with Bishnoi’s activities in North America.
Motivations Behind Targeting Bollywood Stars
The focus on Bollywood celebrities appears partly personal and partly financial. Bishnoi’s vendetta reportedly stems from a decades-old conflict linked to Salman Khan and the revered blackbuck antelope. The gang targets relatives and associates of Khan to assert influence and respectability.
Simultaneously, Bollywood’s substantial cash flow offers an attractive target for extortion, with the current gangs exploiting a security soft spot. Unlike the earlier era dominated by local Mumbai gangs involved in diverse illegal businesses, Bishnoi’s faction operates with a focus on extracting money from the film industry.
The Current State of Bollywood’s Security and Industry Response
Although some experts do not consider the present violence to represent a full resurgence of 1990s underworld control, incidents of shootings and public claims of responsibility signal ongoing extortion attempts. The transition to digital payments has limited large cash transactions, reducing some risk, but the threat and fear persist among industry professionals.
Leading figures and industry organizations emphasize the importance of maintaining Bollywood’s security to preserve Mumbai’s film industry as a safe livelihood source. Some stars have increased personal security measures amid concerns that prolonged insecurity could drive talent away.
Authorities continue to monitor and respond to these developments as the gang-related violence unfolds, understanding its implications both locally and internationally.
