Bishnoi Gang Targets Mumbai Film Stars

Presumed members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for an audio threat against actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai earlier this month. The attackers stated that anyone working in the industry without aligning with the gang, or working with Salman Khan, would be killed. This warning followed a shooting that injured Shroff’s driver. Police have not yet confirmed the gang's direct involvement in the incident.

The assault on Shroff is the most recent in a series of attacks on Bollywood figures since 2022. Gunmen fired shots at the homes of Salman Khan and filmmaker Rohit Shetty in Mumbai, as well as actor Disha Patani’s family home in northern India. Actor Ranveer Singh reportedly received an extortion demand of nearly $1.1 million. The violence has also reached Canada, where a cafe owned by comedian Kapil Sharma in Surrey was hit three times.

Bishnoi, 33, is currently held in a jail in Gujarat. He comes from a landowning family in Punjab and built his criminal network from prison. Investigators say he directs operations using concealed phones and messaging apps. His syndicate has expanded beyond India’s borders. In September 2025, Canada designated the gang a terrorist entity. Last month, the FBI added Satinderjeet Singh, known as Goldy Brar, to its Ten Most Wanted list, offering up to $1 million for information leading to his arrest.

The conflict traces back to 1998, when Salman Khan was accused of killing a blackbuck, an animal revered by Bishnoi’s community. Bishnoi vowed revenge. Many attacks have targeted people close to the actor, including the 2024 killing of politician Baba Siddique, which police linked to the gang. Jupinderjit Singh, a journalist and author, described the feud as a bid for respectability. He noted that criminals often seek to act as moral guardians to redeem themselves.

Former Mumbai Police Commissioner D. Sivanandhan stated that the Bishnoi gang has no local roots in Mumbai unlike the 1990s mafia. He described Bollywood as a soft underbelly loaded with money. Sivanandhan said the gang is using the industry as an ATM to collect extortion money. He noted that while the old gangs controlled a basket of illegal businesses, the new group targets the film industry specifically for its cash flow.

S. Hussain Zaidi, a crime journalist, argued that the attacks are primarily a publicity stunt to grab headlines. He called the logic of targeting Shroff because of his association with Khan absurd. However, a security professional protecting several stars noted that fear is the base material of extortion. Zaidi added that the shift to digital payments has made it harder for the industry to pay large cash sums compared to the 1990s.

Suresh Shyamlal Gupta, president of the All Indian Cine Workers Association, wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah warning that leading names may be forced to leave Mumbai if the fear continues. He stated that Bollywood will not be allowed to work in the shadow of fear. Gupta emphasized that hundreds of thousands of people rely on the Mumbai film industry for their livelihoods.