Veteran bhajan singer Anup Jalota has called on actor Salman Khan to formally apologise to the Bishnoi community, saying it is the only way to end the cycle of threats and violence targeting people associated with the Bollywood star. His remarks came after unidentified assailants fired at actor Tiger Shroff's car in Mumbai's Juhu area on Sunday evening, 19 October 2026, in an incident that left Tiger unhurt but injured his driver and a bystander.

What Anup Jalota Said

Jalota expressed deep distress over the firing, stating that a public apology from Salman to the aggrieved community was the only sustainable resolution. “I am very saddened by this. There is only one way to stop all this. Salman Khan should apologize to the Bishnoi community,” he said.

The singer stressed that the sentiment of hurt within the community had to be acknowledged directly. “I have said this before. It is very important that the Bishnoi community, which has been hurt, should be apologized to — otherwise, the Bishnoi community will continue to be hurt. Those who work with Salman Khan will be hurt, their families will also be hurt,” Jalota added.

He urged Salman Khan to take a decisive step. “So, why not make a firm decision to apologize to the Bishnoi community to end this all? This is what I want,” he said.

The Juhu Firing Incident

According to reports, the attack occurred on Sunday evening when Tiger Shroff was leaving after a football match in Juhu, Mumbai. Unidentified assailants arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire at his car. Tiger escaped unhurt; his driver and a bystander sustained bullet injuries. Both were hospitalised and were reported to be out of danger.

Following the attack, a social media post and an audio message attributed to individuals claiming links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang surfaced online, reportedly claiming responsibility for the firing. The messages also allegedly demanded an apology from Salman Khan to the Bishnoi community and issued threats to people associated with the actor.

The Blackbuck Poaching Controversy

The roots of the hostility stretch back to the 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Rajasthan. The Bishnoi community regards blackbucks as sacred animals, and Salman Khan’s conviction in the case — which went through prolonged legal proceedings — has remained a deep source of communal resentment. The actor has faced repeated threats over the years linked to this grievance.

Notably, a firing incident was also reported outside Salman Khan's Bandra residence in April 2024, underscoring the persistence of the threat. The latest attack on Tiger Shroff marks a significant escalation, as it targeted someone associated with Salman rather than the actor himself.

Broader Implications

The incident has reignited a broader public debate about celebrity security in Mumbai and the unresolved tensions between Salman Khan and the Bishnoi community. Critics argue that the targeting of third parties — including colleagues and associates — represents a dangerous widening of the conflict. Jalota’s call for an apology reflects a view held by some that a direct gesture of contrition could defuse the situation, though legal and political dimensions of such a move remain complex.

Mumbai Police have initiated an investigation into the Juhu firing; no arrests had been officially confirmed at the time of reporting. Whether Salman Khan will respond to the growing calls for a public apology remains to be seen.