From Sidhu Moosewala to Salman Khan: The tryst between stars and the Bishnoi gang

Earlier this week, the gang and its members made news again. Two unidentified people fired more than four shots outside Galaxy Apartments, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s home in Bandra, Mumbai, and the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the attack once again.

While investigations are underway, Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother, Anmol Bishnoi took responsibility for the attack. He called it a “teaser” and said that there was more to come. Khan had claimed the criminals had been sending him threats by email, letters, and social media. The gang is known for crimes like murder and extortion. They have also threatened celebrities like Karan Johar, Honey Singh, and more recently, Jasmine Sandlas. Famous singers and rappers like A P Dhillon, Karan Aujla and Diljit Dosanjh have also opened up about how they have received multiple death threats from gangs, though Lawrence Bishnoi’s name did not find mention.

So, are celebrities easy targets for gangs?

For a long time, when Mumbai was ruled by the underworld, this was true. Bollywood has many off-screen stories featuring threats and blackmail. The lack of privacy, the presence of the paparazzi, constant judgement and criticism, and the pressure to always be in the public eye make celebrities more vulnerable.

Industry insiders say singers in Punjab often get threats from gangsters but extortion calls are seldom reported. Many Punjab gangs are reportedly engaged in a turf war with associates of Lawrence Bishnoi.

Why is Lawrence Bishnoi after Salman Khan?

In 1998, Salman Khan and a few other stars shooting in Jodhpur were accused of hunting blackbucks. The Bishnoi community which considers blackbucks holy was offended. In a 2018 court appearance, Lawrence Bishnoi threatened to kill Khan, who, according to him, had humiliated his community. The threats continued in the form of emails and letters to those close to Khan. Khan was provided extra security by the Maharashtra government after these incidents.

Salman Khan: From bad boy to a philanthropist

In the ’90s, Khan was the quintessential good guy, son, and lover in movies. His multiple Prems, in films like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, and Hum Dil de Chuke Sanam were household staples. Soft-spoken, well-mannered, good looking and ever willing to sacrifice for family and love — that used to be Khan’s on-screen image. In real life, though, he had a bad-boy reputation, making news for drunken brawls and accidents, alleged misbehaviour with girlfriends and more.

While in reel life, Khan’s image changed to an action superstar after his film Wanted, in real life, there was an impactful transition too. The Being Human Foundation, founded in 2007, provides medical and financial aid to the underprivileged and was one of the earliest steps in Khan’s image makeover. His transformation was complete when he was acquitted of all the charges of the hit-and-run case against him in 2015.

Khan set the box office on fire with films like Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Dabangg, and the Tiger franchise and became the most bankable star — a mass hero. He also made the right political noises by supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2014 elections.

But the blackbuck case continues to haunt him both with the impending verdict and the threats he is facing. Initially thought to be publicity stunts by the Bishnoi gang, the recent attack makes the threat too real to ignore.

The writer works at Pixstory