Has Underworld Returned To Bollywood?

The news of underworld don Ravi Pujari’s shooters entering film producer Ali Morani's house in Juhu, Mumbai’s western suburbs and firing five rounds has sent shock waves among Bollywood celebs and raised a debate - Has ‘Underworld returned to Bollywood’?

According to reports Ravi Pujari, a hoodlum and close of aid of the infamous don Chhota Rajan, had been calling Ali Moorani for extortion money but Morani paid no heed. Hence in fury Pujari sent his shooters to Morani's house and fired shots to make the producer realize that the calls were not bogus. Fortunately Morani was unhurt. 

Morani brothers (Ali and Karim) have produced successful films like `RAJA HINDUSTANI`, `DAMINI`, `DUSHMANI`, `HUMKO TUMSE PYAAR HAI` among many others.

The attack on Morani has brought the back the memories of Bollywood and underworld nexus to fore. 

Famous producer Boney Kapoor, who had received death threats from Ravi Pujari’s gang earlier in an interview, condemned the security agencies for such attacks. He had said, “I feel that the security forces are incompetent as a result these gangsters become strong and feel they are fully capable of nipping anything right in the bud.”

Eminent film producer Rakesh Roshan, who was shot at in January 2000 when he was leaving his office, believes, “I think there is some nexus between underworld and few contemptible producers, who make films using the black money of the underworld and when they are unable to return profits, the underworld hits back at them and in their clash, even clean film producers like me became targets.” 

Pritish Nandy of Pritish Nandy Communications Ltd warns, “If these threats spread like an epidemic then it will become a big problem to film industry hence the whole industry should come together and take a strong stand.” 

It may be remembered filmmaker Rajiv Rai, who has made several blockbuster hits like TRIDEV, MOHRA and GUPT, had left India after an attempt was made on his life by the underworld in 1997. 

However, this is not the first time that a high-profile celebrity has got threats by the Underworld. Several B-Town biggies like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Govinda and Karan Johar too have got threats from the dons.