Three gunmen who opened fire on actor Tiger Shroff’s vehicle on October 18 initially scoped out superstar Salman Khan’s Mumbai residence before heavy police security prompted them to abandon the plan, according to investigative sources.

Surveillance Outside Galaxy Apartments

Upon arriving in Mumbai, the three suspects directly targeted Khan’s Bandra residence, Galaxy Apartments, carrying out reconnaissance to assess entry points and vulnerability. The operation abruptly stalled when the hit squad encountered an impenetrable security perimeter stationed permanently outside the actor’s residence. Derailed by the visible police presence and heightened perimeter measures, the operatives recalibrated their itinerary on the spot, turning their weapons toward Shroff instead.

The criminal syndicate commanded by imprisoned gangster Lawrence Bishnoi claimed immediate responsibility for the shooting that followed. The Bishnoi syndicate issued warnings indicating that Shroff was targeted purely for his professional association and joint film ventures with Salman Khan, illustrating the sprawling reach of an underworld feud that continues to envelop the Hindi film industry.

Execution of the October 18 Ambush

Following their failed surveillance attempt outside Galaxy Apartments, the assailants tracked Shroff’s vehicle on October 18, firing five consecutive rounds at the conveyance. While the targeted attack created widespread panic across Mumbai’s film production circles, it quickly became evident to investigators that the broader objective was to intimidate Khan through his professional associates.

True-crime analysts and global cinema followers have watched with growing alarm as the Bishnoi organization expands its intimidation campaigns across prominent figures in entertainment. The hostility originates from the decades-old 1998 blackbuck poaching controversy, which occurred during a film shoot in Rajasthan. Because the Bishnoi community regards the blackbuck as sacred, Lawrence Bishnoi has repeatedly issued public threats, insisting that Khan personally travel to their community temple to issue a formal apology.

“सलमान माफी मांग लें, जान बचाएं” (Salman should apologize and save his life)

Fortified Defenses and Chronic Underworld Pressure

The deterrent that spared Salman Khan outside Galaxy Apartments was the direct consequence of previous security breaches. On April 14, 2024, two motorcycle-borne operatives opened fire directly onto Khan’s residential balcony and exterior compound walls. That early-morning assault, orchestrated under instructions from Bishnoi and fugitive associate Goldy Brar, forced state authorities to upgrade Khan’s personal security detail and station round-the-clock armed personnel around the perimeter.

Prior surveillance operations had also targeted Khan’s expansive farmhouse in Panvel, confirming that Bishnoi-aligned cells had repeatedly mapped out the actor’s routines. The persistent surveillance operations underscore the severe reality confronting law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting high-profile cinema icons from persistent syndicate plots.

A Widening Circle of Gangland Intimidation

The shift from Khan to Shroff represents a continuing tactical pattern by the Bishnoi syndicate, which has progressively targeted colleagues, collaborators, and allies across the cultural sector. Prior incidents linked to the syndicate include shooting incidents and threats directed at music artist AP Dhillon, television host Kapil Sharma, and filmmaker Rohit Shetty.

The threat landscape turned lethal in October 2024 with the fatal shooting of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, an influential political figure and one of Salman Khan’s closest personal confidants. Siddique’s assassination demonstrated the syndicate’s lethal intent and directly triggered the heavy state protection now stationed outside Khan’s apartment complex.

The intelligence confirming that Khan was the original mark on October 18 illustrates how high-grade security deployment prevented a potentially catastrophic assault at Galaxy Apartments, even as the syndicate continues searching for softer targets connected to Bollywood’s most scrutinized superstar.