Mumbai: Extortion threats target Bollywood film industry

A series of shootings and extortion threats have targeted prominent figures in the Bollywood film industry. In mid-October, an audio message allegedly sent by attackers claimed that anyone working without their agreement or collaborating with actor Salman Khan would be killed. The message followed a shooting targeting actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai, which resulted in an injury to his driver.

The perpetrators claimed links to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who has been imprisoned since 2014, though police have not yet confirmed his group's involvement. This incident follows a pattern of violence against industry figures, including attacks on the residence of Salman Khan, director Rohit Shetty, and the family home of actress Disha Patani. Actor Ranveer Singh has reportedly been demanded to pay nearly 980,000 euros.

The targeting of industry professionals has also extended to Canada, where a cafe owned by comedian Kapil Sharma in Surrey was attacked three times. Experts note that while organized crime has historically been intertwined with the Mumbai film industry, the current nature of these threats differs from the mafia influence seen in the 1990s.