The Enduring Influence of Organized Crime in Bollywood

Bollywood has maintained a long-standing and dangerous relationship with organized crime, with gangsters financing films, extorting stars, and laundering money through the film industry. This connection, dating back decades, became particularly prominent when formal financing options were limited. High-profile actors and directors, including Salman Khan, Ranvir Singh, Rohit Shetty, and Sanjay Dutt, have been targets of extortion, threats, and assassination attempts, often linked to notorious gangs such as the Bishnoi gang. Lawrence Bishnoi, a jailed gangster, continues to orchestrate criminal activities, including attacks on celebrities and the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, highlighting the transnational reach of these gangs. Historical figures like Karim Lala, Haji Mastan, Dawood Ibrahim, Abu Salem, and Chhota Rajan entrenched organized crime within the industry, though enforcement often only targeted lower-level operatives. The nexus remains potent, with recent extortion attempts indicating a resurgence of criminal influence in Bollywood. While gangsters have historically benefited from the glamour and financial gains of the film industry, the relationship has been deadly and one-sided, posing continuous threats to the safety of industry professionals.