Highlights:
The name Lawrence Bishnoi has become a recurring source of concern in Bollywood, with several actors reportedly receiving threats from people claiming to represent the jailed gangster's network. From Salman Khan to the recent cases involving Tusshar Kapoor and Ayushmann Khurrana, the alleged connection between the gang and the film industry has raised questions about celebrity security, extortion and the growing reach of organized crime.
However, the latest developments also reveal a crucial complication: not everyone invoking Bishnoi's name is necessarily working for him.
On Wednesday (4), Mumbai Police arrested a 30-year-old Bengaluru-based IT engineer, identified as Vaibhav Mishra, for allegedly sending threatening messages to several actors, including Ayushmann Khurrana and Tusshar Kapoor. Investigators said the accused appeared to have exploited the fear surrounding the Bishnoi gang to try to make money. Police said they had not found evidence linking him to the gang so far.
Why is Lawrence Bishnoi's name appearing in Bollywood threats?
Lawrence Bishnoi is an incarcerated gangster whose alleged criminal network has been linked to extortion, shootings and targeted attacks. Despite being in prison, he is believed by investigators to have maintained influence through associates operating outside.
His name became particularly prominent in Bollywood after repeated threats against actor Salman Khan. Bishnoi's alleged hostility towards Khan has been linked to the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. The Bishnoi community regards the blackbuck as sacred, and the gangster has reportedly used the issue to justify his threats against the actor.
The conflict escalated over the years, with Khan receiving repeated threats and gunmen opening fire outside his Mumbai residence in April 2024. Police investigations linked the shooting to the Bishnoi network. The gang's alleged involvement in the October 2024 murder of politician Baba Siddique, who was known to be close to Khan, further intensified concerns about the network's reach.
The gang's activities have not been limited to Salman Khan. Its name has surfaced in threats involving other film personalities, including filmmaker Rohit Shetty, actor Ranveer Singh and comedian Kapil Sharma. These incidents have helped establish a climate of anxiety around the possibility of celebrities being targeted for money or intimidation.
From Salman Khan to Tiger Shroff: The latest incidents
The recent threats have brought the Bishnoi gang back into the spotlight.
On October 18, 2026, gunmen allegedly linked to the gang opened fire at actor Tiger Shroff's car in Mumbai's Juhu area. The gang reportedly claimed responsibility for the incident. Mumbai Police told a court that the attack was allegedly intended to generate financial gain, establish dominance and spread fear, tactics that could also facilitate extortion.
Days later, Tusshar Kapoor reportedly received an audio message from a person claiming to be Harry Boxer, also known as Hari Chand Jat, an alleged Bishnoi gang associate. The caller reportedly demanded ₹5 crore and threatened the actor.
However, police found that the voice in the recording did not match the available voice samples of Harry Boxer. Investigators suspected that someone might have been impersonating a gang member to extort money.
Ayushmann Khurrana subsequently received a threatening audio message from someone claiming links to the Bishnoi gang and allegedly demanding crores of rupees.
The investigation led police to Mishra in Bengaluru. According to officers quoted by Hindustan Times, he had allegedly sent messages to actors through Instagram and used the atmosphere of fear created by recent gang-linked incidents to try to make quick money. Police said they were yet to interrogate him fully and establish his motive and whether he had any connection with the gang.
Is the Bishnoi gang behind every threat?
The latest arrests highlight an important distinction between an actual gang operation and an extortion attempt carried out by someone using a notorious name.
In Tusshar Kapoor's case, the voice in the alleged threat recording did not match the police's available samples of Harry Boxer. In the case involving Mishra, investigators said there was no evidence so far that he was connected to the Bishnoi gang.
This does not establish that the gang had no role in other incidents. It does, however, mean that the claims made by callers must be independently verified rather than accepted at face value.
A criminal network's reputation can itself become a tool of intimidation. By invoking Bishnoi or an alleged associate, an extortionist may hope to make a demand sound more credible and the consequences of refusing to pay more frightening.
Why Bollywood remains a target
Celebrities can be attractive targets for extortion because their public profiles, professional networks and perceived wealth make them visible. A threat against a well-known actor can also generate considerable publicity, amplifying the intimidation.
In the case of the Bishnoi network, the combination of high-profile threats, alleged shootings and claims of responsibility has created a reputation that can be exploited even by people who may have no genuine association with it.
For the film industry, the challenge is therefore twofold: protecting actors from genuine criminal threats while ensuring that impersonators cannot use the gang's notoriety to extort money.
The latest arrests may help police investigate the immediate threats against Ayushmann Khurrana and Tusshar Kapoor. But the wider concern remains the influence that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang's reputation appears to hold over Bollywood, and the possibility that others are now trying to profit from the fear surrounding it.
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