Bulletproof glass and bodyguards: How extortion threats are reviving Bollywood’s 1990s underworld fears
A wave of shootings and extortion threats linked to a jailed gangster's network has rattled Bollywood, forcing Mumbai's biggest stars to ramp up personal security and reviving grim memories of the underworld's 1990s grip on the film industry.
Bollywood's cinematic world is once again experiencing the turmoil of its 1990s underworld fears, as a series of shootings and extortion threats have left actors and industry insiders scrambling for security. The recent incidents have echoed the criminal gang influence that once dominated the multibillion-dollar film business, decades after police crackdowns weakened these gangs.
The primary suspect in the current violence is Lawrence Bishnoi, a convicted Indian gangster currently imprisoned in the US for directing a global criminal network.
Stars are now closely surrounded by a wall of bodyguards, with demand for protection expanding to include family members and children. While the major gangsters of the 1990s are either dead, imprisoned, or inactive, the fear of a resurgence in criminal activity has re-emerged, causing unease among the industry. Police have linked the recent violence to the Bishnoi gang, and arrested 13 people in connection with the October shooting targeting actor Tiger Shroff.
The motive remains unclear, with some reports suggesting the act was intended to extort money or establish gang dominance. Regardless, the industry remains on edge as the potential for further violence looms large.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
