Mumbai Film Industry Faces New Wave of Gangland Attacks

Actor Tiger Shroff is recovering from a shooting in Mumbai that injured his driver, an incident the apparent attackers claimed via audio message earlier this month. The perpetrators identified themselves as associates of Lawrence Bishnoi, a gang leader who has been incarcerated since 2014. Police have not yet officially confirmed the gang's involvement in the shooting.

The attack is the latest in a series of incidents targeting prominent figures in the Mumbai-based film industry since 2022. Gunmen have fired at the residences of actor Salman Khan and director Rohit Shetty in Mumbai, as well as the family home of actor Disha Patani in northern India. Actor Ranveer Singh reportedly received an extortion demand for nearly $1.1 million. The violence has also extended internationally, with a cafe owned by comedian Kapil Sharma in Surrey, Canada, suffering three separate attacks.

Investigators believe Bishnoi directs operations from a jail in Gujarat using concealed phones and messaging apps. He built a criminal syndicate spanning several northern Indian states, recruiting members online who are often drawn by the promise of money, protection, and weapons. In September 2025, Canada designated the Bishnoi gang a terrorist entity. Last month, the FBI added Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, to its Most Wanted list, offering a $1 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

Journalist Jupinderjit Singh, author of 'Gangs of Punjab,' notes that Bishnoi views the film industry as a source of legitimacy and revenue. He stated that criminals often seek a moral cause to justify their actions, and Bishnoi is using the 1998 killing of a blackbuck, for which Salman Khan was accused, to fuel the feud. Money remains a central factor, with former Mumbai Police Commissioner D. Sivanandhan describing the industry as an ATM for the gang, which uses the sector to extract cash.

Crime journalist S. Hussain Zaidi argues that the current situation differs from the 1990s, when multiple rival gangs fought for control of Mumbai. He notes that digital payments have made it harder to hide large cash transactions, reducing the ease with which producers could be squeezed. However, Sivanandhan disagrees, stating that the shootings are aimed at collecting extortion money and that the industry's wealth is sufficient to sustain the gang's operations.

The All India Cine Workers Association President Suresh Shyamlal Gupta wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah, warning that leading names may be forced to leave Mumbai if the fear of the underworld persists. He stated that the city would not return to the underworld days of the 1990s and that Bollywood would not work in the shadow of fear. Several stars have already increased their security measures in response to the ongoing campaign.