The firing attack on Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai’s Juhu area may have been the culmination of a wider surveillance operation targeting some of the Hindi film industry’s biggest stars. According to reports citing police sources, the accused told investigators that they had surveyed the residences of Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar before the October 18 shooting.
During preliminary questioning, the arrested accused reportedly disclosed that Salman Khan was the gang’s original target. They allegedly conducted reconnaissance around his residence, Galaxy Apartments, but abandoned the plan after finding the security arrangements too stringent.
Investigators suspect that the attackers subsequently explored other targets, including Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar, before settling on Tiger Shroff, whom they allegedly considered more accessible.
Aamir Khan’s residence surveyed on multiple occasions
According to an investigation by Mumbai Police, operatives allegedly linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang spent around a month monitoring the area around Aamir Khan’s Bandra residence. Reports citing sources indicate that reconnaissance was conducted on three separate occasions before the firing attack on Tiger Shroff.
Investigators are examining whether the actor’s routine influenced the alleged attackers’ decisions. According to sources, Aamir Khan was often away for film shoots or remained indoors for extended periods, making it difficult for the alleged plotters to approach him.
These circumstances may have made it harder for the accused to execute their plan against the actor, prompting them to consider another target.
The police are also investigating an audio clip and a social media post attributed to individuals identified as Arzoo Bishnoi and Tyson Bishnoi. The material allegedly criticised Aamir Khan’s third marriage to Gauri Spratt, portraying it as contrary to ‘Sanatan’ culture and invoking the term ‘love jihad’, while threatening to teach the actor a lesson.
The term ‘love jihad’ has no definition under any central Indian law. In 2020, the Union Home Ministry informed the Lok Sabha that no such term was defined under existing laws. The viral audio clip and related claims are now part of the broader investigation into the alleged targeting of Bollywood personalities.
Why was Tiger Shroff targeted?
Tiger Shroff was attacked on the evening of October 18 while leaving the Pushpa Narsee Ground in Juhu after playing football. Two men allegedly opened fire at his car before fleeing on a motorcycle.
The actor, 36, escaped relatively unhurt, while his driver and a bystander sustained injuries. Mumbai Police said that five to six rounds were fired at the vehicle.
According to sources, the alleged shooters learnt about Shroff’s routine through his social media presence, including Instagram posts and reels. They reportedly discovered that he visited the ground to play football on Sundays.
The attackers allegedly viewed the actor as a comparatively accessible target because he did not have the level of security surrounding Salman Khan. They are suspected of having altered their original plan after finding it difficult to reach their intended target.
Police are investigating whether the shooting was intended not only to target a prominent actor but also to spread fear across the Hindi film industry.
Eleven arrested, Anil Pandit remains wanted
Mumbai Police have arrested 11 people in connection with the firing case, with accused persons reportedly traced to Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana.
Gangster Anil Pandit, who allegedly claimed responsibility for the attack in a social media post, has been named as a wanted accused. Investigators suspect that he is associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and may be operating from the United States.
The police are working to establish the alleged chain of command, the planning behind the attack and the roles played by those arrested. The reported surveillance of multiple celebrity residences has also widened the scope of the probe.
