Varun Dhawan Recalls Father David Dhawan Receiving Underworld Threats; Shares, “Staff Gave Out Our Full Address And…”

Varun Dhawan recently recalled an incident from the 1990s, a time when the Bollywood industry was reportedly grappling with threats from organised crime, including extortion calls and violent intimidation. The actor recently recalled how his father, filmmaker David Dhawan, once faced underworld threats during Bollywood’s turbulent 1990s phase. Scroll down to read more.

Varun Dhawan Recounts A Shocking Incident Involving His Father David Dhawan Receiving Underworld Threats

During a conversation with Yuvaa, Varun Dhawan shared that his family had also received such calls, although the situation initially seemed less serious. Recounting the episode, he said, “People were getting underworld calls at that time, and we were getting them too. We had been receiving them for quite some time, but we didn’t realise it because the staff were arguing with whoever was calling. The staff even gave out our full address and told the person where to meet, saying, ‘Come meet me in that garden, I’ll beat you there.’”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bollywood Bubble (@bollywoodbubble)

He further explained that the situation escalated when another actor alerted David Dhawan about a potential threat. The caller had reportedly claimed he would arrive armed and was aware of their address and office routine. When David sought clarification on who had engaged with the caller, the individual identified the staff member who had been responding to the calls. As a precaution, the family chose to stay elsewhere that day. Reflecting on the incident, Varun remarked, “It is funny, but it is not funny actually.”

Farah Khan Shares A Worrisome Anecdote On The Same Issue

Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan has also spoken about the tense atmosphere that prevailed in the industry during that period. In a conversation with Ranveer Allahbadia, she recalled being on a film set when news broke of Mukesh Duggal’s murder in 1997, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

She further revealed that Karan Johar faced similar threats around the release of his debut film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The filmmaker added, “I don’t know about Shah Rukh getting calls, but I do know that during the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai premiere, Karan Johar had received threats from the underworld. It was very scary. Everyone was discussing whether the premiere should be cancelled or not. Security was increased, but we eventually went ahead with it. Karan was extremely stressed, imagine it’s your first film, and instead of celebrating it, you’re worrying about something like this.”

Shah Rukh Khan Recalls Receiving Threat Calls

In journalist Anupama Chopra’s book King of Bollywood: Shah Rukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema, Shah Rukh Khan also recalled receiving threats from gangster Abu Salem. The Kuch Kuch Hota Hai actor added, “The phone rang. My mother picked it up, and it was a call from the underworld. A man’s voice said, ‘Your son’s wearing a red T-shirt, I can see him right now. And we’re going to shoot him if you release this film on Friday.’ For some reason, they didn’t want the film to be released that Friday; we didn’t know why. It was a call from Abu Salem, and my mother was shaking with terror. She put the phone down and ran towards the door.”

Recounting the moment further, he shared, “Shah Rukh said, ‘What nonsense!’ He went inside and dragged me out. He said, ‘I’m standing here in front of you. Let’s see who shoots you. I’m standing right here.’ I said, ‘No, no, no, my mother was…’ He told my mother, ‘Nothing’s gonna happen. I’m a Pathan. Nothing can happen to me, and nothing will happen to your son. He’s like my brother. Nothing’s gonna happen.’” Speaking about the psychological impact of such threats, Shah Rukh added, “He would tell me that he could see me. It was like living under a telescope. It was very depressing and very scary.”

For more news and updates from the entertainment world, stay tuned to Bollywood Bubble.

Also Read: Varun Dhawan Recalls Lower-Middle Class Upbringing And Childhood Struggles; Reveals, “Dad Ki Film Nahi Chali Toh…”