Salman Khan death threat to Shah Rukh Khan extortion demand: Is Bollywood a soft target? | – Times of India

Bollywood has long been intertwined with the allure of glamour and success, making it almost impossible to imagine its darker side, tainted by death threats, extortion attempts, and organised crime. The recent death threats to Bollywood superstars Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan have prompted a closer examination of this shadowy underbelly in the world of show business, where some of the most prominent names and faces find themselves in precarious positions, as vulnerable targets for those seeking notoriety, power, or mischief.
In recent years, high-profile figures have encountered situations that seem to blur the lines between reality and fiction. With lives and fortunes at stake, authorities are forced to take these growing threats, that mirror action movie plots, very seriously.
Soft Targets
In Bollywood, gang-related violence and underworld involvement are not a new phenomena. Such connections are often rooted in organised crime networks that have, in the past, infiltrated the core of the industry, exerting influence over filmmakers, producers and actors alike.
Celebrities, by their nature, command immense attention and influence, making them attractive targets. Since the 1960s, Mumbai’s underworld has maintained a complex relationship with the film industry, manipulating it through extortion, threats and at times, even murder.
The targeting of celebrities by gangsters and pranksters has raised serious concerns about this disturbing new trend that has caught the fancies of mischief makers. Examining this trend requires us to ask fundamental questions about the root causes, impacts, and effectiveness of current security measures.

Growing List Of Celebrity Targets
The rising wave of death threats and extortion calls directed at Bollywood celebrities has put stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Vikrant Massey, and Kangana Ranaut, among others at edge. Over the past months, these stars hit the headlines when they revealed that they had been receiving threats.
On November 5, the Bandra police station in Mumbai received a call threatening Shah Rukh Khan’s life and demanding Rs 50 lakh. Preliminary investigations quickly led Mumbai police to nab a lawyer, Faizan Khan, based in Raipur. The police obtained a court-granted remand for Faizan until November 15 as part of their ongoing investigation.
In a separate incident, actor Salman Khan faced a death threat believed to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. A message sent to the Mumbai traffic police’s WhatsApp helpline demanded Rs 5 crore and included ominous references to Salman Khan’s life. The threat message, which was the 5th consecutive threat to the actor’s life, turned out to also be a hox with investigations leading the cops to Sohail Pasha from Raichur in Karnataka. Speaking to PTI, the cops said that the musician wanted a song written by him to become famous and used this ploy for the threat.
The threats are not limited to superstars. Actor Vikrant Massey recently spoke up about receiving threats ahead of the release of his film ‘The Sabarmati Report’. During a conversation with reporters at the film’s trailer launch, Massey shared, “I have been receiving threats. Without drawing attention to it, it is something which I am dealing with and we, as a team, collectively are dealing with.”

Not too long ago, actor and MP, Kangana Ranaut also took to social media to share an open threat she received ahead of the launch of her film ‘Emergency’. A video post issued veiled references to the assassination of Indira Gandhi, with the individual warning the actress, “We will offer our head to Santji, and those who can offer head can also chop it off.” Tagging the police in the post, Kangana wrote, “Please look into this.”
Underworld Files
Alongside the glitz and glamour of the film industry, lies a murky history intertwined with the underworld. A source, on the condition of anonymity, told ETimes, “In the 1970s, the underworld began to infiltrate Bollywood, with figures like Haji Mastan and Karim Lala making regular appearances at high-profile parties. At the time, these relationships were primarily social, and the underworld’s involvement in film was more about prestige than control. For underworld figures, being seen alongside Bollywood icons added a sheen to their profile, boosting their influence without the overt threats of extortion.”
While these interactions were initially seen as mutually beneficial social arrangements, over time, this dynamic shifted. The source adds, “Intimidation and targeting of actors became a new way for the underworld to assert power, especially as stories of threats to high-profile stars gained media attention. Extorting film stars became a means to establish dominance.”

The violent killings of Gulshan Kumar in 1997 and Mukesh Duggal in 1998 marked a peak in the terror plot that the underworld imposed on Bollywood. The incarceration of actor Sanjay Dutt in connection with the 1993 Bombay bombings and the arrest of financier Bharat Shah, who was linked to underworld figure Chhota Shakeel, brought further scrutiny to these connections.
“However, as law enforcement intensified its efforts in the early 2000s, the underworld’s grip on the industry began to weaken,” the source adds.
Bollywood and the Underworld: A Timeline
The relationship between Bollywood and the underworld has a long and turbulent history, marked by incidents of extortion, intimidation, and even violent crime. Here’s a timeline covering some major events:

What to do when you receive a death threat?
As threats against celebrities dominate prime-time television and social media discussions, a growing number of ordinary citizens and local businesspeople have reported receiving threats from alleged gang members. Former DGP Praveen Dixit offers his advice for handling such situations. He tells us, “Firstly, they should immediately report everything to the police. Secondly, once a threat is received—whether genuine or not—it’s crucial to avoid a predictable routine and fixed routes. These individuals are likely surveilling you and have been observing your patterns for a while. Don’t give them the chance to plan.”
Bollywood And The Underworld
Amid recent incidents highlighting Bollywood’s long-standing entanglements with the underworld, sources close to the industry emphasize that “most Bollywood stars have no connection to criminal networks.” Many actors have even publicly distanced themselves from any affiliations with the underworld, but insiders note a “politics of silence that surrounds the topic”.
One source, speaking anonymously, revealed, “Top police officers recommend that if contacted by the underworld, the best course is to remain respectful, even to feign fear if needed, rather than provoke further aggression.”
While the underworld’s grip on Bollywood has weakened significantly over the past two decades, officials and industry insiders caution that there are subtle indications of a resurgence. “The fear that once loomed over Bollywood has faded, but signs of the underworld’s return are a growing concern,” the source added.

Battle For Safety
In light of recent events, Bollywood celebrities are increasingly prioritising personal security, taking proactive steps that include hiring personal guards, investing in bulletproof vehicles, and even securing gun licenses.
Some of Bollywood’s biggest names have recently acquired firearm licenses, joining a list of celebrities opting for more direct means of personal protection. Actor Salman Khan, for example, obtained a gun license in 2022 following multiple death threats. Similarly, actor Shah Rukh Khan reportedly upgraded his security setup with both additional personal guards and vehicles. Ajay Devgn is another star who has been known to take stringent security measures, including a bulletproof vehicle.
Former Maharashtra DGP Praveen Dixit weighed in on the trend of celebrities applying for firearm licenses, expressing some reservations. “I am personally against applying for and getting a weapon license,” Dixit stated. “If a threat is genuine, a license may be granted, but having a weapon is only one part of the equation. Regular practice is essential to effectively use a weapon in a moment of need. You may not be carrying it all the time, as is actually advisable.”