Bishnoi gang targets Bollywood stars through prison-based extortion

Lawrence Bishnoi, a gang leader imprisoned since 2014, is directing a campaign of violence against the Mumbai film industry from a jail in Gujarat. Presumed attackers sent an audio message to actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai earlier this month, claiming responsibility for a shooting that injured his driver. In the recording, the attackers warned that anyone working with Salman Khan or refusing to align with their group would be killed. Police have not yet confirmed the gang's involvement in that specific incident, but they link the broader pattern of attacks to Bishnoi's network.

The wave of violence has intensified since 2022, when gunmen fired at the homes of 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 attacks have also crossed international borders, with a cafe owned by comedian Kapil Sharma in Surrey, Canada, hit three times. In September 2025, Canada designated the Bishnoi gang a terrorist entity, and last month, the FBI added Satinderjeet Singh, known as Goldy Brar, to its Ten Most Wanted list with a reward of up to $1 million.

Bishnoi, 33, built his syndicate while incarcerated after entering violent student politics in Chandigarh. Journalist Jupinderjit Singh, author of "Gangs of Punjab," states that Bishnoi learned criminal trade in jail and now uses concealed phones and messaging apps to run operations. The gang recruits shooters online, often targeting young men drawn to Bishnoi's reputation and offered money, protection, and weapons. Singh notes that the group spans several northern Indian states and operates independently of the local Mumbai gangs that once dominated the city.

The feud between Bishnoi and Salman Khan dates back to 1998, when the actor was accused of killing a blackbuck, an antelope revered by Bishnoi's community. Bishnoi vowed revenge, leading to attacks on people close to the actor, including the 2024 killing of politician Baba Siddique. However, analysts suggest the motivation is primarily financial. Former Mumbai Police Commissioner D. Sivanandhan describes Bollywood as a "soft underbelly" and an "ATM" from which the gang extracts cash. With older gangsters like Dawood Ibrahim absent, Bishnoi is exploiting a power vacuum to fill a void in extortion markets.

Experts debate whether the current threat matches the intensity of the 1990s, when organized crime controlled the industry. Crime journalist S. Hussain Zaidi argues that the violence is less about territorial control and more about publicity to generate fear, which serves as the foundation for extortion. He notes that the shift to digital payments has made hiding large cash transactions harder for the industry. Sivanandhan disagrees, arguing that the shootings are explicitly aimed at forcing payments. He estimates that the cash-rich industry could provide enough funds to sustain a large criminal army.

The fear generated by these attacks is impacting the industry's workforce. Suresh Shyamlal Gupta, president of the All India Cine Workers Association, wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah, warning that leading names may leave Mumbai if the fear persists. Gupta stated that Mumbai will not return to the underworld days of the 1990s and that Bollywood cannot work in the shadow of fear. As security forces appear to be on the defensive, several stars have increased their personal security measures, while the gang continues to target high-profile figures to maintain pressure.

The Bishnoi gang's strategy relies on creating a climate of fear to facilitate extortion. A security professional who protects several Bollywood stars and requested anonymity described the core of extortion as creating fear. The gang uses social media to claim responsibility for attacks quickly, amplifying the sense of danger. This tactic contrasts with the 1990s, when rival gangs fought for physical control of the city. Today, the focus is on financial extraction and public intimidation, leveraging the industry's global reach and substantial revenue streams to fund operations from within the prison system.