Filmmakers Yash Chopra and Ram Gopal Verma have been provided armed bodyguards following threats to them from the underworld, police said Saturday.

Mumbai police chief A.N. Roy confirmed that the two face threats, though it was unclear whether the underworld elements who called them wanted money or distribution rights of their films.

Reports here say the Pakistan based Dawood Ibrahim gang was keen to secure the overseas rights for Chopra's "Veer-Zaara" and Verma's "Naach" that were released last month.

While "Veer-Zaara" is a hit, "Naach" has not clicked at the box office. However, sources here say the mob usually makes money from overseas rights as Bollywood films are popular among the Indian diaspora.