The threat arrives in the immediate wake of similar calls received by actor Tusshar Kapoor (who was targeted for ₹5 crore) and just weeks after the October 18 motorcycle-borne drive-by shooting targeting Tiger Shroff's vehicle in Juhu.
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch and Cyber Cell launched an urgent investigation to verify the caller's identity, with an arrest made in Bengaluru involving an individual posing as gang operatives to extract money from celebrities.
What the Audio Message Stated: Direct Reference to Tiger Shroff Attack
According to Mumbai Police sources, the sender sent a chilling voice message directly referencing the recent violence in Mumbai's suburbs and warning the actor against relying on security details:
Invoking Tiger Shroff Incident: The caller warned that Khurrana's perceived lack of response would invite physical consequences:
“If you want to show this kind of attitude, then something similar to what happened with Tiger Shroff could happen to you too.”
Surveillance Claims: The caller claimed to have tracked Khurrana’s movements, stating they possessed details of where he was staying as well as registration numbers of personal vehicles and bikes used by his team.
The 'Good Luck' Ultimatum: The sender addressed Khurrana’s police cover with a calculated line:
“Those who have provided you with security, how long will they be able to protect you? You need good luck every day to stay away from us, while we only need one day of good luck to harm you.”
The Defiance: The message concluded by daring the actor to approach law enforcement, stating they had no fear of police intervention and were giving him a final chance to return the call.
Law Enforcement Probe & The Bengaluru Arrest
Following the delivery of the audio message, the Mumbai Police initiated multi-agency forensic and technical tracing:
Voice Sample Comparison: Audio forensics compared the audio tone, cadence, and dialect against verified intercept archives of incarcerated gang members and absconding associates (including Anmol Bishnoi and Harry Boxer). Similar voice-matching in Tusshar Kapoor’s case had previously revealed a mismatch, suggesting imitators capitalizing on panic.
Bengaluru Apprehension: Acting on cyber-trail data and digital footprints, Mumbai Police zeroed in on a suspect operating out of Bengaluru, leading to his detention. The individual had reportedly been generating extortion audio dispatches to multiple film personalities by impersonating Bishnoi operatives to leverage fear across the industry.
Rising Anxiety in Bollywood: AICWA's Appeal to Centre
The threat to Ayushmann Khurrana underscores an escalating security crisis in the Hindi entertainment ecosystem:
String of Targets: In recent weeks, security protocols have been enhanced around Amitabh Bachchan (who now greets crowds at Jalsa behind a reinforced bulletproof canopy), Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Tiger Shroff.
AICWA Writes to PM Modi: Spurred by the recurrent threats, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA), led by President Suresh Shyamlal Gupta, submitted a formal petition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The association has demanded:
Comprehensive, multi-tiered security cover for top-tier actors, technicians, and their families.
Central intervention via the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to dismantle interstate extortion syndicates operating across state lines and overseas nodes.
Fast-track court trials and preventive policing against extortion callers targeting film trade professionals.
Industry Take:
While the rapid apprehension of the Bengaluru caller offers operational relief, the incident reveals how ongoing gang-related headlines are being weaponized by copycat extorters. With Khurrana actively gearing up for the promotional release of Sooraj Barjatya’s Yeh Prem Mol Liya on November 27, Mumbai Police have reviewed the actor's security detail and travel itinerary to ensure stringent protection across his public appearances.
