The firing outside Tiger Shroff's Mumbai residence has brought Bollywood's security concerns back into focus. But actor Manoj Bajpayee believes the current situation is markedly different from the years when the underworld exerted considerable influence over the Hindi film industry. According to him, the nature of the threats has changed, with an attack on one person potentially connected to someone else altogether.

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Speaking to Hindustan Times, Manoj reflected on the difference between the underworld-related threats Bollywood faced in the past and the incidents being reported now. Having witnessed the industry's earlier troubled period, the actor said it would be inaccurate to assume that history is repeating itself in exactly the same way.

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He pointed out that Bollywood was once directly at the centre of such threats, whereas the present pattern appears to involve individuals being targeted through shooters allegedly operating on instructions from elsewhere.

"It will never go back to the same old time. That time, the industry was the target, right now, it’s not. The pace and definition of the crime has changed completely. Now, somebody is sitting somewhere else and sending their shooters to attack a target, and that may even not be the real target," Manoj said.

Why Tiger Shroff's firing incident has raised wider concerns

The firing outside Tiger's residence has drawn attention beyond the actor himself because of what investigators reportedly learnt during the probe. According to reports, the accused allegedly told investigators that Salman Khan was the intended target. There were also reports of reconnaissance being conducted at the residences of other prominent actors, including Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan.

Reacting to these details, Manoj suggested that Tiger may have been caught up in an attack that was allegedly intended for someone else.

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"From Tiger’s incident, what has come to the fore is that he was not the target but suddenly became one. The whole conversation was about these other stars who were the real target and now they have to surround themselves with utmost safety," he said.

The actor's comments bring attention to a concern that extends beyond individual celebrities: how public figures can assess threats when the person attacked may not necessarily be the person allegedly being pursued.

Manoj Bajpayee hopes for safer conditions for the film industry

While Manoj acknowledged that the situation was worrying, he also expressed faith in the authorities' response. He said the state government was monitoring developments and taking precautions, adding that he hoped the situation would improve.

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"Yes, it is a matter of concern but one thing I know is that the state government is looking into it with a lot of concern. They are monitoring the situation and taking all the precautions. I just hope that things get better, comfortable and safer for all of us," he said.

What is Manoj Bajpayee working on?

On the professional front, Manoj was recently seen in ‘Last Man of Tower’, directed by Ben Rekhi. The film revolves around a retired teacher who refuses to leave his Mumbai apartment despite pressure from neighbours who want to accept a redevelopment offer.

He is also known for playing Srikant Tiwari in ‘The Family Man’, apart from performances in films such as ‘Satya’, ‘Shool’, ‘Pinjar’, ‘Bhonsle’ and ‘Joram’.