New Delhi: In what appears to be his first public reflection on a tragic personal event, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has addressed the immense challenges he faces in his personal life, compounded by a recent tragedy. Khan’s close friend and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, Baba Siddique, was brutally murdered on October 12 in front of his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Mumbai, a shocking event that sent ripples across both the political and entertainment spheres of India.
Known for hosting star-studded iftar parties, Baba Siddique was not just a political figure but also a personal friend to many in Bollywood, including Salman Khan. The police have suggested that Siddique’s murder could be linked to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, notorious for his alleged vendetta against Khan. Bishnoi’s gang has been implicated in various threats directed at the actor, including reportedly opening fire outside Khan’s home in Bandra last April. This connection, investigators speculate, may have made Siddique a target due to his proximity to Khan.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, Khan took to the set of “Bigg Boss 18,” a popular reality show he hosts, for its Weekend ka Vaar episode. Despite his noted discomfort, he appeared for a widely circulated episode where he expressed the difficulty of maintaining his professional commitments during such trying times. “Yaar, qasam khuda ki what all I am going through in my life and I have to come and handle this (arguments between housemates)… I feel that I shouldn’t have come here today. But you have to do what you have to do,” Khan said in a moment of raw candor, highlighting his internal turmoil.
.
Adding to his woes, Khan revealed, “Mere par bhi bahut saare laanchan lagaye gaye hain (I have been accused of many things). I know what my parents go through,” reflecting both his personal anguish and the collective distress experienced by his family amidst the threats and accusations.
It remains unclear whether Khan’s comments were made before or after the killing of Siddique. However, what is known is Khan’s presence at Siddique’s Bandra residence last Sunday, a quiet visit before the politician’s burial, indicating a profound sense of personal loss and respect in the absence of a public condolence post on social media.
In a more immediate blow to Khan’s peace of mind, Mumbai’s traffic police received an alarming threat message, demanding Rs 5 crore from the actor. The Crime Branch has initiated a probe into the threats, which arrived via a message to the city’s traffic control room WhatsApp helpline on Thursday afternoon, leading to a case being filed at Worli police under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for threat and extortion.
This isn’t the first time Khan has found himself under threat from the Bishnoi gang, whose men brazenly fired shots outside his Mumbai residence earlier this year, again bringing the specter of violence too close to home for the actor. The ongoing investigation serves as a reminder of the persistent dangers Khan faces in the shadow of gang violence and public life.
Siddique’s demise has undoubtedly cast a long shadow, not just over Khan’s life but also over his extended network in Bollywood, where Siddique’s influential presence was well acknowledged.
The replication of these threats and the upheaval they bring highlight the precarious balance Khan must maintain between his public persona and the very real threats to his inner world. As each episode of “Bigg Boss 18” airs, viewers catch glimpses of a man who, while accustomed to the limelight, bears the private weight of deep personal loss and life-threatening challenges.
Amidst the flashing cameras and scripted drama of reality television, Khan’s candid remarks provide a raw, unscripted look into the life of a superstar enduring storms both external and internal. Yet for Khan, as he navigates this tumultuous phase, the show indeed must go on, standing as a testament to the resilience required in balancing fame and safety, personal grief, and professional obligations.
