Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff escaped unhurt on Sunday evening when three motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire outside a football ground in Mumbai’s Juhu area, injuring his driver and a bystander.

The brazen ambush sent shockwaves through the film industry and global entertainment circles, highlighting a chilling security breach targeting one of Hindi cinema’s most recognizable action stars. Eyewitness videos captured terrifying moments as the assailants fired five rounds near Shroff’s vehicle. A sixth shot, aimed inches away from the actor, failed to discharge when the assailant’s firearm jammed, averting what could have been a catastrophic tragedy.

While Shroff walked away without physical harm, the gunfire left two people wounded. The actor’s car driver sustained a gunshot injury during the barrage, and a person standing nearby was struck in the chest. Both victims were caught in the crossfire as the three unidentified gunmen fled the scene on a motorbike. Police authorities have since detained one individual in connection with the shooting, while further investigations remain underway.

Bishnoi Gang Claims Responsibility Over Salman Khan Ties

Shortly after the shooting, an audio recording surfaced across social media platforms, escalating the alarm surrounding the incident. In the clip, a man identifying himself as Anil Pandit claimed responsibility for the assassination bid on behalf of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, stating he orchestrated the strike alongside an associate named Harman Sandhu. Bishnoi is currently incarcerated in a Gujarat prison.

The speaker stated that Shroff had been placed on their hit list because the actor disregarded their directives and maintained active associations with fellow superstar Salman Khan. Pandits issued an explicit ultimatum to the Hindi film fraternity, warning that anyone collaborating with Khan or refusing to heed the syndicate’s demands faces fatal retaliation.

"In the entire film industry, whoever works without aligning with us, or works with Salman Khan, will be killed. This is the first and last warning."

The audio statement further renewed threats against Salman Khan, demanding an apology to Lawrence Bishnoi and the animal-loving Bishnoi community over Khan’s alleged involvement in the 1998 blackbuck hunting incident. The speaker warned that failure to issue an apology would result in severe harm directed at Khan’s household.

Escalating Threats and Industry Connections

Although Tiger Shroff and Salman Khan have not headlined a full-length feature film together, their professional and personal rapport within Bollywood is extensive. Khan previously played a formative role in Shroff’s career launch by recommending him to film producer Sajid Nadiadwala. Furthermore, Tiger Shroff’s father, veteran actor Jackie Shroff, has shared the screen with Khan in multiple high-profile cinematic releases. The two action stars have also regularly shared public stages and openly praised each other’s dedication to physical fitness and stunt performance.

The brazen nature of Sunday’s assault echoes escalating actions previously flagged by central law enforcement agencies. In 2023, the National Investigation Agency revealed that Salman Khan sat at the top of a 10-person target hit list drafted by Bishnoi’s network, driven by grievances tied to the decades-old blackbuck incident. The attack on Shroff also comes exactly two years after former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique was fatally shot on October 12, 2024, in Mumbai’s Bandra neighborhood—a targeted killing the Bishnoi syndicate also took credit for due to Siddique’s close personal friendship with Khan.

The near-miss in Juhu underscores an increasingly perilous environment for prominent personalities connected to Khan, leaving security personnel and fans worldwide stunned by how close the attackers came to executing their plot.