The shooting attempt on actor Tiger Shroff has revived an uncomfortable question about Mumbai: can a city that symbolises India’s commercial and cultural ambitions prevent organised crime from reclaiming its influence over public life? The actor’s survival was fortuitous, but the incident exposes a vulnerability that cannot be dismissed as an isolated attack.

Mumbai’s film industry has confronted criminal intimidation before. During the 1990s, underworld figures sought to influence film financing, intimidate producers and extract money from actors. The industry’s subsequent expansion and professionalisation helped alter that environment, but did not eliminate the underlying criminal networks. The reported attack on Shroff, following the shooting outside Salman Khan’s residence in 2024 and the murder of politician Baba Siddique that year, raises concerns about whether those networks are again attempting to establish their presence through spectacular violence. The alleged involvement of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang must be treated cautiously.

Police have not confirmed responsibility for the latest shooting, and the authenticity of an audio recording reportedly claiming the attack remains unverified. In an environment where notoriety can itself confer power, accepting unsubstantiated........

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