Film body urges PM Modi to ensure security after Tiger Shroff attack, Big B threat

AICWA has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protect Bollywood personalities and their families. The appeal follows shootings, attacks, extortion threats and growing use of bulletproof security.

In Short

• Bachchan continued his four-decade Sunday tradition with Abhishek beside him
• Association cited incidents involving Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan and others
• It linked celebrity attacks to extortion, visibility and global publicity

For over four decades, Amitabh Bachchan has stepped out every Sunday to greet fans gathered outside his Mumbai home. But his latest appearance was unlike the ones fans have come to expect. The 84-year-old actor stood behind a protective glass, with son Abhishek Bachchan by his side. The sight has now prompted the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) to seek Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention over the safety of Bollywood stars and their families.

In a letter dated November 3, AICWA president Suresh Shyam Lal Gupta raised concerns over a string of shootings, attacks and alleged extortion threats involving film personalities. The association has called for immediate security measures for actors, filmmakers and their families, along with a probe by central agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), into the alleged gang networks behind these incidents.

AICWA specifically referred to Amitabh's Sunday appearance at Jalsa on November 1, saying the image had left the industry shaken. The association pointed out that fans travel from across India and abroad to catch a glimpse of the actor, who has kept up the weekly ritual for decades.

"For more than four decades he has met his fans there every Sunday, and people from across India and abroad come just to see him. At the age of 84, he never imagined he would have to protect himself like this in his own city. His son Abhishek Bachchan, who rarely comes out, stood beside him to protect his father," the letter read as shared on X.

The association also described the sight of Bachchan behind bulletproof glass as a troubling moment for the film industry. "People have heard of bulletproof cars. Never before had they seen a superstar step out of his home behind bulletproof glass just to meet the people who love him. This image will be remembered in the history of Indian cinema, and the whole industry was shaken by it," it added.

But the concern, according to AICWA, goes well beyond one actor's security arrangements. The letter listed several incidents involving Bollywood personalities, including the murder of politician Baba Siddique in Bandra, the firing outside Salman Khan's residence and the knife attack on Saif Ali Khan at his home. It also mentioned the firing outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty's Juhu residence.

The association further cited repeated firing incidents targeting comedian Kapil Sharma's cafe in Canada, as well as a recent shooting involving Tiger Shroff in Juhu. It claimed that the incident involving Shroff took place in a crowded area, with several people present.

"Tiger Shroff was fired upon in Juhu, one of Mumbai’s most prominent VIP areas, in the presence of a large crowd. Two persons were hit by bullets. Tiger Shroff has no known controversy and no known enmity with anyone. He was targeted in broad daylight for one reason: to spread terror," the letter stated.

AICWA believes these incidents point to a wider pattern of threats and alleged extortion targeting the film industry. It argued that Bollywood's visibility, both in India and overseas, makes its biggest names attractive targets for gangs looking to make money and gain attention. The letter also referred to reports of an alleged Rs 5 crore extortion demand involving Tusshar Kapoor.

"All these attacks appear to be aimed at extortion. Gangsters know that Bollywood is the softest target and that it is known all over the world. By attacking famous film personalities, they want to make a name for themselves and to extort money on a large scale," the association said.

The letter also raised questions about the wider law-and-order situation in Mumbai. AICWA argued that if prominent film stars could face such threats in parts of the city considered high-security areas, ordinary residents would also have reason to worry.

"Today, law and order has broken down in Mumbai. If a celebrity like Tiger Shroff is not safe in the heart of the city, an ordinary Mumbaikar cannot feel safe either. In 2026, the terror of the underworld, which was believed to have been brought under control, has returned to the streets of Mumbai. Words alone are not enough; Bollywood needs real and visible protection," it said.

The association also pointed to the security measures some actors have reportedly taken in recent months. Salman Khan has installed bulletproof glass at his residence, while Akshay Kumar and other film personalities have reportedly made similar arrangements. Bulletproof cars, too, have become part of the security precautions adopted by some stars.

"When the biggest names of the industry have to turn their homes and vehicles into fortresses, it shows how deep the terror has gone," the letter stated.

AICWA has asked the Prime Minister to take up the matter personally, ensure immediate protection for members of the film industry and their families, and direct central agencies to investigate the alleged gang networks, including their handlers, financiers and possible links across states and beyond India's borders.

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