Actor Manoj Bajpayee has expressed concern over the heightened security arrangements adopted by Bollywood celebrities following the recent firing incident involving Tiger Shroff, saying the nature of criminal activity targeting film personalities has changed significantly since the underworld era of the 1990s.
The attack on Shroff last month brought renewed attention to threats against Bollywood stars, prompting several celebrities to strengthen their security. Amitabh Bachchan, for instance, recently greeted fans during his customary Sunday appearance from behind bulletproof glass. Bajpayee described the sight as “concerning”.
The actor, who was recently seen in Last Man In Tower, has worked in the film industry during a period when underworld threats and extortion were a major concern. However, he believes the present situation is different from that era.
‘The target may not even be the real target’
Asked whether Bollywood was witnessing a return to the days when the underworld held sway over the film fraternity, Bajpayee said he did not expect the situation to return to what it was then.
“It will never go back to the same old time. That time, the industry was the target, right now, it’s not this time. The pace and definition of the crime has changed completely. Now, somebody is sitting somewhere else and sending their shooters to attack a target, and that target may even not be the real target,” he said.
His remarks come amid an investigation into the firing incident involving Shroff. According to statements attributed to the accused, their intended target was actor Salman Khan. They had also allegedly conducted reconnaissance of the residences of actors Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan.
Bajpayee said the incident had brought to light how a person could become an unintended target.
“From Tiger’s incident, what has come to the fore is that he was not the target, but suddenly became one. The whole conversation was about these other stars who were the real target and now they have to surround themselves with utmost safety,” he said.
Hope that government measures improve security
Despite his concerns, Bajpayee expressed confidence that the state government was taking the situation seriously and monitoring the security threat.
“Yes, it is a matter of concern but one thing I know is that the state government is looking into it with a lot of concern. They are monitoring the situation and taking all the precautions. I just hope that things get better, comfortable and safer for all of us,” he said.
The October 18 firing incident in Mumbai's Juhu area saw gunmen open fire at Shroff's vehicle. The actor escaped unharmed, while his driver and a bystander were injured. The attack also triggered wider concerns about the safety of film personalities, particularly amid reports of threats against Salman Khan and filmmaker Rohit Shetty.
Earlier, Bajpayee had described the film industry as a “soft target” and expressed relief that Shroff was safe. He also acknowledged the psychological impact of such threats, saying that the atmosphere of fear affected everyone in the fraternity and could leave people feeling helpless.
The actor's latest comments underline the changing nature of threats against celebrities and the need for stronger security measures as investigations into the attacks continue.