Why does Salman Khan of Sikandar fame keep getting death threats — and why now?

Dubai: Salman Khan is back in the spotlight again — not for a blockbuster, but because of yet another death threat.

This time, the message came via WhatsApp on April 13th, sent to Mumbai’s Transport Department, and it wasn’t subtle. It warned of a plan to blow up his car and storm his residence. Police have launched an investigation and registered a case at the Worli Police Station.

But why does this keep happening? Why is one of Bollywood’s biggest stars constantly under threat? And more importantly — why now?

The timing is suspicious, to say the least. It’s been exactly one year since gunshots were fired outside his Bandra residence in April 2024 — a dramatic moment that shook Bollywood. Now, a new threat surfaces just as his latest Eid release, Sikandar, struggles to leave a mark at the box office. That’s not just a bad business outcome — it’s rare for Salman, who has long owned the Eid weekend.

Could the increased threats be timed to his moments of vulnerability or waning star power?

Just earlier this month, when he flew to Dubai to promote his Eid release Sikandar, the star’s team was reportedly advised against appearing before large crowds. The usual fanfare was swapped for a muted red carpet and private meet-and-greets with select media. It was a far cry from the high-energy, public-facing launches that typically mark a Salman Khan film release.

Was it caution — or fear — driving these decisions?

In an interview with Gulf News during that Dubai visit, Salman offered a revealing line:

“Do what makes you happy in life — without breaking the law.”

There was something almost fatalistic in his tone. As if he wasn’t just promoting a film — but accepting a more limited reality.

But how did it come to this? Why Salman, and why such persistent danger?

The answer goes back to 1998, when Salman Khan was accused of killing two endangered blackbucks while filming in Rajasthan. The blackbuck holds deep religious significance for the Bishnoi community, and for them, this case was never just about wildlife — it was about cultural identity.

This led to a long-standing vendetta by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who has called Salman an enemy of his community and even said it's his life's mission to take revenge. And ever since that declaration, the threats haven’t stopped.

Over the past three years, there’s been a chilling escalation. In 2022, a threat letter was found near his home. In 2023, a threatening email allegedly came from gangster Goldy Brar, believed to be working with Bishnoi.

By 2024, Salman was receiving direct demands: Apologise at a temple or pay Rs50 million. Months later, a second message demanded Rs 20 million. Two men even tried to enter his Panvel farmhouse with fake IDs. And then came the gunshots in April 2024 — a terrifying moment that made it clear the threats weren’t just empty words.

Salman Khan now lives under Y+ category security, with armed commandos protecting him 24/7. He doesn’t attend public events freely anymore. His life has shrunk into a controlled loop — home, set, home again. His media events are also tightly controlled. During his Dubai stop this Eid, his bodyguard Shera was seemingly on high alert.

And yet, when asked about it, he’s stoic.

“I’ll die when I have to die,” he said at a recent press event in Mumbai.

As Mumbai Police investigate this latest threat, the broader question lingers: Can one of India’s biggest stars ever feel safe again? The attacks may come from different people, but the message remains constant — he’s not off the radar yet.

And with Sikandar failing to land, and his public appearances now shaped by tight security, Salman Khan isn’t just focusing on his films — he’s also constantly watching his back.