Tiger Shroff attack brings Indian actor and Bollywood’s gangster past back into focus

Shooting in Juhu

Shroff, known for action roles, was leaving a football ground in Juhu on Sunday evening when shots were fired at his BMW. His driver and a vlogger who had come to film him were wounded.

Four days later, the case remained prominent in Indian headlines, with new disclosures prompting competing theories and alleged conspiracies. Police reportedly increased security outside the homes of Salman Khan and filmmaker Rohit Shetty.

Claims invoke Bishnoi

Bishnoi, who has been in jail for years, has become a notorious figure whose name appears in threats and claims shared online. Some allegations about his network are supported by police investigations, while others remain untested; claims made in the gang’s name can blur that distinction.

Bollywood’s earlier crime ties

The attack has revived fears about organised crime reaching into the film industry and memories of a darker period in Mumbai. In 1997, music mogul Gulshan Kumar was shot dead outside a temple; three years later, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan survived an assassination attempt.

Fear amplified online

The article also describes a change in who shapes gangsters’ public image. Devasundaram said the fear and fascination of that era were “seared into the collective consciousness.” The All Indian Cine Workers Association called for greater protection, asking, “Today it is Tiger Shroff. Who is next?” The shooting attempt, amplified across phone screens, can spread fear well beyond its intended target, even without gangsters controlling the industry.