Mumbai Police have asked Bollywood actors to stay away from crowded public places and avoid meeting fans in the open, in a fresh security advisory issued on Tuesday. The move comes weeks after shots were fired at actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai, and amid growing worry about the safety of film personalities in the city.
According to a senior police officer quoted by India Today TV, the advisory is precautionary. It asks prominent actors to skip large gatherings, avoid crowded areas and not mingle with fans in public spaces until the situation is reviewed. The police have not named any actor in the advisory, and have not said how long it will remain in force.
What the advisory asks stars to do
The message from the police is simple: keep a low profile in public. Actors have been advised to avoid crowded places, stay away from large gatherings and skip open fan interactions for now. The step is preventive rather than a response to a specific fresh threat, officers said.
Security around film personalities has already been visibly stepped up in recent weeks. The advisory formalises what many stars were already doing quietly, cutting back on unscheduled public appearances.
Mumbai Police have not commented officially beyond the advisory. The office of the Mumbai Police Commissioner did not respond to an email from Reuters seeking comment on the measure.
The Tiger Shroff attack that triggered the concern
The immediate trigger was the shooting on 18 October, when three men opened fire on Tiger Shroff’s car as he was leaving a football ground in Mumbai. The 36-year-old actor escaped largely unhurt, but his driver and a bystander were injured in the attack.
The three suspected shooters were arrested within days, and eight others allegedly linked to the conspiracy were detained later, according to local media reports. Police are investigating whether the attack was linked to a criminal gang that has been associated with other attacks targeting Bollywood personalities in the past.
Since the attack, it has also emerged that the homes of several well-known personalities had been recced, or surveyed, before the shooting. That detail has added to the unease in the industry, since it suggests the threat was planned rather than a one-off act.
A pattern of threats around Bollywood
The Shroff shooting is not the only incident worrying the industry. Last week, actor Ayushmann Khurrana received a threatening audio message from a man claiming to be an aide of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. According to Mumbai Police sources, the caller allegedly demanded crores of rupees.
Several Bollywood celebrities have received threats from people claiming links to the Bishnoi gang over the years. The pattern has forced many stars to review their security arrangements, hire additional guards and change how they travel to shoots and events.
The most visible sign of the tension came at Amitabh Bachchan’s home in Juhu. Last week, the veteran actor was seen greeting fans outside his bungalow Jalsa from behind bulletproof glass, a sight that drew wide attention because he has met fans outside his home for more than four decades. The extra cover came after an email to Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde threatening bomb blasts at his residence.
Bachchan removed the barrier just days later. On the evening of Sunday, 8 November, he went back to greeting fans the way he has for more than four decades, without the glass. The brief appearance of the glass, and its quick removal, has itself become a talking point.
Political reaction and what happens next
The advisory has already drawn a political reaction. The Congress questioned whether the threat to Bollywood personalities had really eased or whether the BJP-led Maharashtra government simply wished to avoid embarrassment. “Whether bulletproof glass is removed, as it shows the government in bad light, or the threat is over, this is something only Amitabh ji can answer,” a Congress leader said.
For now, the police focus is on prevention. The advisory is expected to stay in place while investigations into the Shroff attack continue and while the force assesses the wider threat to film personalities. Stars with outdoor shoots and public events lined up in the coming days are likely to lean on tighter security and smaller, controlled gatherings.
FAQs
What has Mumbai Police advised Bollywood actors?
Actors have been asked to avoid crowded public places, skip large gatherings and not mingle with fans in the open, as a precautionary measure.
Why was the advisory issued?
It follows the shooting attack on Tiger Shroff on 18 October, and comes amid growing concern over threats to film personalities in Mumbai.
Was Tiger Shroff injured in the attack?
The actor escaped largely unhurt, but his driver and a bystander were injured when shots were fired at his car.
Have the attackers been caught?
The three suspected shooters were arrested within days, and eight others allegedly linked to the conspiracy were detained later.
What happened with Amitabh Bachchan’s security?
He greeted fans from behind bulletproof glass last week after a bomb threat email about his home, but removed the glass and resumed his usual Sunday greetings on 8 November.
Mumbai Police have not said when the advisory will be reviewed. For now, Bollywood’s biggest names are keeping their public appearances short, guarded and far from the crowds.
