Indian choreographer and filmmaker Farah Khan has opened up about the influence of organized crime in Bollywood during the 1990s.
Speaking on a podcast with Ranveer Allahbadia, she recalled how the underworld once pressured leading actors including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan.
During the podcast, Farah Khan discussed several lesser-known challenges faced by the Hindi film industry in the late 20th century.
She described the 1980s as one of the weakest periods for Hindi cinema, saying many young viewers at the time preferred Hollywood films over local productions.
According to her, some of her college friends believed Hollywood offered better entertainment, reflecting the declining popularity of mainstream Hindi movies during that era.
1990s brought rise of underworld influence
Farah said the situation changed in the 1990s, when the industry began dealing with the growing influence of organized crime.
One of the earliest incidents she remembered was the killing of film producer Mukesh Duggal.
She recalled being on a film set around 1993 or 1994 when news of the shooting spread, highlighting how dangerous the atmosphere around Bollywood had become at the time.
During the conversation, Ranveer Allahbadia asked whether the underworld had also pressured the three biggest actors of that era — Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan.
Farah confirmed that such pressure did exist.
When asked if the actors had been repeatedly intimidated by criminal elements, she responded, “Yes.”
Farah also shared a tense moment related to the premiere of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, directed by Karan Johar.
She said she was unsure whether Shah Rukh Khan personally received a call from the underworld, but she remembered that Karan Johar had received a threat ahead of the film’s premiere.
The situation created panic among the team, with many discussing whether the event should be cancelled or continue despite the threat.
