In a poignant turn of events, Bollywood icon Salman Khan has found himself navigating personal trials while fulfilling his professional responsibilities as the host of the widely-watched reality show, “Bigg Boss 18”. This week marked his first public comments since the tragic assassination of Baba Siddique, a close friend and notable NCP leader. Siddique, a former minister in Maharashtra known for his glamorous iftar parties with Bollywood elites, was shot dead on October 12 outside the Mumbai office of his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique.
The police are currently investigating a potential link between Siddique’s murder and the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is believed to have targeted Siddique due to his longstanding friendship with Khan. This connection has added an element of personal hazard to Khan’s already challenging life, a sentiment he alluded to during the latest “Weekend ka Vaar” episode of “Bigg Boss 18”.
On the show, Salman Khan expressed his reluctance to participate in the series amidst his ongoing personal struggles. “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,” the actor candidly revealed. Several clips from the episode, now viral on social media, show Khan navigating the tension with his characteristic composure yet hinting at the weight of his circumstances. “Mere par bhi bahut saare laanchan lagaye gaye hain (I have been accused of many things). I know what my parents go through,” he added, underscoring the emotional toll these events have taken on him and his family.
While it remains unclear whether Saturday’s episode was filmed prior to or following Siddique’s untimely demise, Khan’s emotional strain was palpable.
. Despite not publicly sharing condolences via social media, he paid a personal visit to Siddique’s Bandra home last Sunday, mere hours before the funeral services were conducted.
Further compounding his distress, Mumbai’s traffic police recently reported receiving a threatening message demanding Rs 5 crore from Khan. An official confirmed that the alarming text was sent to the city’s traffic control room’s WhatsApp helpline on Thursday afternoon, prompting the Crime Branch to launch an intensive investigation. A case of threat and extortion was subsequently registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Worli police station.
This incident is not isolated in Khan’s life; he has previously been at the receiving end of death threats from the Bishnoi gang. Earlier this year, gang members audaciously fired shots outside his Bandra residence, highlighting the constant danger that shadows the actor’s existence.
Salman Khan’s tribulations paint a broader picture of the life of an actor often caught in a web of public expectation and personal upheaval. His professional commitments, such as hosting “Bigg Boss 18,” require him to present a facade of normalcy, even as private realities threaten to consume his attention. The struggles faced by Khan in handling the in-house disputes of contestants, amidst his looming threats, lay bare the duality of celebrity lives. They must maintain their professional commitments even when confronted with life-altering personal challenges.
The incident has also raised questions about the security of public figures in Bollywood, as they grapple with threats not just to their careers but to their personal safety. Siddique’s murder, if linked to Khan, adds a chilling narrative to their association and the brutalities that sometimes accompany fame and influence.
As Salman Khan bravely steps forward into the limelight, despite the shadows that loom large over his personal life, he personifies resilience. Yet, his situation underscores the need for more robust security measures and support structures for those in the public eye, negotiating threats that often come unbidden with their stardom.
