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Bollywood’s decades-long struggle with threats and shootings continues (Img: Dynamite News)
Mumbai: Bollywood has faced its share of violence over the decades, with shootings, extortion demands and threats repeatedly putting actors, producers and directors at risk. The latest incident involving Tiger Shroff has revived memories of a period when criminal gangs allegedly sought to exert influence over the business of making and distributing films.
Shroff escaped unhurt after unidentified assailants opened fire near Pushpa Narsee Park in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday evening. His driver and another person were injured. Police launched an investigation, examining CCTV footage and other evidence to identify those responsible. Initial reports did not establish the attackers’ identities or any possible links to organised crime.
The connection between Mumbai’s underworld and the Hindi film industry grew over several decades. Gangsters initially cultivated relationships with film personalities and became involved in financing. By the late 1980s and 1990s, however, criminal networks were increasingly associated with threats, extortion and attempts to influence business decisions, including casting and distribution rights.
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A series of attacks during the 1990s exposed the risks faced by people working in the industry. Some were killed, while others survived shootings that investigators suspected were connected to gang rivalries or financial disputes.
Film producer Javed Riyaz Siddiqui was shot dead in June 1994. Three years later, producer Mukesh Duggal was killed in his Andheri office on March 7, 1997. His murder came amid rivalries between criminal groups that had developed connections within the film business. Investigators examined possible links between the killing and disputes involving members of rival gangs.
Filmmaker Rajiv Rai, known for films such as Tridev and Gupt, survived an attack outside his Tardeo office on July 31, 1997. His bodyguard returned fire, helping Rai escape. Contemporary reports said Rai had received threats before the shooting and had been provided police protection.
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Less than two weeks later, on August 12, 1997, T-Series founder Gulshan Kumar was shot dead outside a temple in Mumbai. His killing became one of the most notorious cases associated with the underworld’s alleged efforts to extort money from prominent figures in the entertainment industry.
The violence continued into the next decade. On January 21, 2000, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan was shot outside his office in Santacruz West, shortly after the release of Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, which introduced his son Hrithik Roshan as a leading actor.
Two unidentified assailants opened fire as Roshan was leaving the premises. He was hit in the arm, while another bullet grazed his chest. He was taken to hospital and underwent surgery. Contemporary reports examined the possibility of an underworld connection, including earlier extortion threats, although the circumstances surrounding the attack were still being investigated at the time.
Film producer Manmohan Shetty also survived an attempted attack in December 1999, according to accounts of the period. The incidents contributed to an atmosphere of anxiety among film industry figures, some of whom sought additional security.
Actor and producer Dinesh Anand was shot dead on February 14, 2001. In July 2002, filmmaker Lawrence D’Souza survived a shooting outside his Oshiwara office. Police suspected the latter attack was intended to intimidate him over alleged extortion demands. The incident was another reminder that threats were not confined to the biggest stars or the most prominent production houses.
The pattern of attacks has resurfaced in more recent years. On April 14, 2024, two motorcycle-borne assailants fired outside actor Salman Khan’s residence in Mumbai’s Bandra area. Khan was not injured. Police subsequently investigated alleged links between the accused and the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
In September 2025, gunmen opened fire outside the Bareilly residence of actor Disha Patani’s family. A social media post purportedly claiming responsibility surfaced after the incident. Police investigated the shooting and examined the claims made in the post.
Another high-profile case came on February 1, 2026, when assailants fired five rounds outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Juhu. No one was injured. In May, Mumbai Police filed a chargesheet against 17 accused, alleging that the attack was intended to establish the supremacy of a group linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Police said they had not found sufficient evidence to establish a specific motive.
The firing near Tiger Shroff on October 18 has brought these past incidents back into public discussion. Investigators are examining CCTV footage and tracing the suspected assailants’ movements after the shooting. Reports also referred to a purported social media claim of responsibility, but its authenticity had not been established in the initial coverage.
While the circumstances of each case differ, the incidents illustrate the security challenges faced by people in the film industry. The latest investigation will need to establish who carried out the firing, why the actor was targeted, and whether the incident was connected to organised crime.
