Actor Salman Khan was seen at Mumbai’s private airport on Tuesday morning with an increased security detail, days after actor Tiger Shroff was targeted in a shooting incident in the city. Armed personnel accompanied the Bollywood star as he made his way into the airport, with the latest security measures drawing attention amid fresh threats directed at him and others in the film industry.

According to a reports, officers from the Special Protection Unit, carrying firearms, were present during Salman’s appearance on October 20. The development comes after a purported audio message and social media post attributed to gangster Anil Pandit surfaced following the shooting involving Tiger Shroff. 

What happened in the Tiger Shroff shooting incident?

On Sunday, October 18, unidentified assailants allegedly opened fire at a vehicle carrying Tiger Shroff in Mumbai’s Juhu area, near Pushpa Narsee Park. The incident prompted a police investigation and renewed concerns about the safety of people associated with the Hindi film industry.

In a message that circulated online after the shooting, a man identifying himself as Anil Pandit claimed responsibility for the attack alongside Harman Sandhu. The message alleged that Tiger had been warned earlier and threatened further action against people in the Mumbai film industry who continued to work with Salman Khan.

A separate purported audio clip reportedly carried a demand for Salman to apologise to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and the Bishnoi community. Authorities have been investigating the shooting and examining the claims made in the circulating messages.

Salman Khan’s security concerns go back years

The latest development comes against the backdrop of previous threats and a shooting outside Salman’s residence, Galaxy Apartments, in Mumbai’s Bandra area.

On April 14, 2024, two men on a motorcycle allegedly fired five rounds outside the actor’s home before fleeing. Mumbai Police subsequently filed a chargesheet in the case, naming several accused, including jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and other alleged members of his network. Salman told investigators that he believed the attack was intended to kill him and members of his family. 

The actor had also received threats in the years preceding the shooting. His security arrangements were strengthened following the incident, and the case became one of the most prominent recent examples of threats against a Bollywood star allegedly linked to organised crime.

In October 2024, former Maharashtra minister and politician Baba Siddique, who was known to be close to Salman, was shot dead in Mumbai. His killing further intensified concerns about the threats faced by people in the actor’s circle.