The murder of Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, has once again drawn attention to the lives of prominent Mumbai personalities, who are under constant threat from criminal gangs.
On October 12, Siddique was shot and killed, allegedly by gang members of the Lawrence Bishnoi group. Just fifteen days earlier, the NCP leader had reportedly received threats. Months after gunfire outside actor Salman Khan’s home, Baba Siddique was killed. Salman was one of the Bollywood celebrities that Baba Siddique was close friends with.
Two men on bikes opened fire outside Salman Khan’s house in Bandra, Mumbai in April this year. According to Mumbai Police, the gunmen were members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Here are some famous people in Mumbai who have been threatened recently.
Celebrities who have been threatened by the underworld over the years
Salman Khan: The actor’s security cover was upgraded to Y+ after Lawrence Bishnoi publicly threatened him. Due to his 1998 hunt for a black buck, which the gangster said was considered sacred by the Bishnois, Salman was placed on the gangster’s hit list. Bishnoi had threatened to kill Salman to take revenge on the actor.
Shah Rukh Khan: Ever since he rose to fame as an actor, Shah Rukh Khan has also been on the underworld hit list. Although the underworld had threatened him several times in his early career, Khan wrote to the Maharashtra government in October complaining that he had received death threats after the box office success of his films ‘Pathan’ and ‘Jawan’. In response to these risks, the actor was assigned Y+ protection.
Kangana Ranaut: Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut was recently threatened over her film Emergency. In a recently released video, a man was heard threatening Kangana and claiming, “If you release this film, Sardars will hit you with slippers.”
Ashoke Pandit: Police officers were deployed to director Ashoke Pandit’s residence and workplace in 2023 after he allegedly received threats related to his film 72 Hoorain. Pandit alleged that while promoting his film, he received calls threatening his life.
Sandeep Singh: A Facebook user threatened to kill film producer Sandeep Singh in 2022, claiming that he would be killed in the same manner as Punjabi musician Sidhu Moosewala. Sarabjit, Bhoomi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are among the films Singh has produced.
Sanjay Dutt: His friendships with members of the underworld have a long history. Over the years, he has apparently received numerous threats, including from known terrorists such as Dawood Ibrahim.
Akshay Kumar: Following a gunshot incident involving singer Sidhu Moosewala, the Maharashtra government has upgraded Akshay Kumar’s security status to Category X protection.
Vivek Agnihotri: Due to the controversial nature of his film, which focused on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the early 1990s, director Vivek Agnihotri faced threats against his life after the release of ‘The Kashmir Files’.
Deepika Padukone: Despite threats, violence and controversies, the actress has remained steadfast amid the ‘Padmaavat’ and ‘Chhapaak’ scandals. Padukone has maintained her dedication to her art and her efforts despite criticism and threats to her safety.
Due to their high profile status, celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Aamir Khan, Karan Johar and many more have faced their fair share of security issues. These celebrities have navigated the challenges of their superstar status while putting their safety and well-being first, despite threats from extremist groups and concerns about their personal safety.
First publication: October 14, 2024 | 5:51 PM IST