Extortion is passe, Lawrence Bishnoi gangsters target Bollywood to show who's boss
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang is shifting its strategy in Mumbai, moving away from traditional extortion toward high-profile violence against Bollywood celebrities and public figures. This shift aims to project power and establish criminal supremacy rather than purely financial gain.
Why it matters
The resurgence of organized crime targeting the film industry highlights a potential breakdown in the security measures that had previously stabilized the sector after the 1990s.
MUMBAI: In the past, the underworld targeted Bollywood stars largely for extortion. The alleged strategy now appears to be broader: high-profile shootings and threats aimed at projecting the Lawrence Bishnoi gang's reach, spreading fear and establishing its supremacy - with Bollywood celebrities, politicians and other influential people among those targeted.In the early 1990s, gangsters wielded considerable influence over the film industry, using threats, extortion and targeted killings to pressure producers, actors, financiers and distributors.Among those targeted were producers Mukesh Duggal and Javed Siddiqui, filmmaker Rajiv Rai, director Rakesh Roshan, Manmohan Shetty and music producer Gulshan Kumar. Rival networks associated with Abu Salem, Chhota Shakeel and Chhota Rajan competed for influence.Also, the city's underworld once had its own roster of gunmen. Men such as Maya Dolas and Firoz Konkani grew out of the city's criminal networks, their names becoming synonymous with gang rivalries and targeted killings.
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