BORDER 2 continued its good run on its second Friday as the film remained in double digits with a collection of 10.25 crore nett. The second Friday was a mini test for the film because of the midweek drop and and a repeat would have been damaging. But here, it sailed through as it recorded a minor drop. The national chains were even better where there was hardly any drop and were practically similar to Thursday.

The film was unaffected by the new releases though there was a drop in screenings which happens in the second week with a big release. The film now just has to consolidate this hold with good growth on Saturday which will come. The growth may not be like some of the other big hit films as here, there is a huge ratio of business coming from multiplexes in smaller centres and single screens which grow less on Saturday. But if it can get a big jump, it will be a bonus.

BORDER 2 now has a collection of 229 crore nett in eight days and with this hold on the second Friday, it is sure to run well for the next few weeks. There have been some films which get these offers and free tickets to prop up the collections especially around this time. It would have been easy here for BORDER 2 makers to go this way as well especially after that drop on Wednesday. However, its good that none of that has been done. A film will do whatever it has to do eventually and when a film has appreciation and doing well, the offers and freebies just make it look otherwise though the thought is that it helps perception.

The collections of BORDER 2 till date are as follows.

Friday - 29,50,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 36,50,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 52,00,00,000 apprx

Monday - 56,50,00,000 apprx

Tuesday - 20,00,00,000 apprx

Wednesday - 13,00,00,000 apprx

Thursday - 11,00,00,000 apprx

Friday - 10,25,00,000 apprx

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BORDER 2 had an excellent second Saturday showing a jump of around 60% but this does not tell the whole story as the jump was mainly curtailed by the smaller centres where BORDER 2 still has a large ratio of business. The national chains and some of the other chains showed a jump of 80% plus. The smaller areas don't tend to grow much on Saturday which led to the the likes of Bihar and CI jumping in the 40-50% range but these places will do better on Sunday.

The film consolidated that Friday hold well on Saturday and this ensures the film is set for a long run and could be collecting well all through this month. The film had a minor hiccup on Wednesday but that was more to do with how the box office played up post the holiday period and certain circuits coming down to the more normal ratios which the film had started with. 

The film collected aroudn 16.25 crore nett on Saturday which now takes the takes the total to 26.50 crore nett for the second weekend and the film will do more than 45 crore nett for the weekend. The overall total stands at 249 crore nett after nine days and there will be another big collection on Sunday which looks comfortably over 20 crore nett at the moment but there will be an evening dip. 

The collections of BORDER 2 till date are as follows.

Friday - 29,50,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 36,50,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 52,00,00,000 apprx

Monday - 56,50,00,000 apprx

Tuesday - 20,00,00,000 apprx

Wednesday - 13,00,00,000 apprx

Thursday - 11,00,00,000 apprx

Friday - 10,25,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 16,25,00,000 apprx

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BORDER 2 has emerged only the second war film to emerge a big HIT in the history of Indian cinema. The first being the original film of the franchise in 1997. Its a genre which has not seen much success as war scenes become a bit tedious and repetitive for the bulk of the audience which is looking for entertainment. This will be the case for BORDER 2 as well.

The genre is seeing more films recently as nationalism is strong today, not just in India, but across the world. There will be four war films in just six months with 120 BAHADUR, IKKIS and BORDER 2 already out while BATTLE OF GALWAN is to follow next. Outside the two BORDER films there is only one other war film which has done well which was HAQEEQAT in 1964.

HAQEEQAT was a modest success when released at the fag end of 1964 but did well in repeats to notch up good numbers eventually. Now was this film a HIT due to the film or the fact that Dhramendra became a huge star a few years later is debatable. Generally, his starrers did very well in repeats is an unknown but if you had to place money on it you would say the latter as even worse films of the legend managed to score in repeats.

Below is the scorecard of war films in India. There will be many films with a war back drop when a lead is an army offiicer or pilot but those are not included. BORDER 2 is the second biggest ever as its a SUPER HIT on a worst case scenario and could well be better by the end of its run. BORDER 2 is not among the biggest HITS ever or anything but its the second best result for the genre which does have its limitations.

Haqeeqat (1964) - HIT

Lalkar (1972) - AVERAGE

Hindustan Ki Kasam (1974) - AVERAGE

Aakraman (1975) - FLOP

Vijeta (1982) - FLOP

Border (1997) - HISTORIC BLOCKBUSTER

LOC Kargill (2003) - FLOP

Lakshya (2004) - FLOP

1971 (2007) - DISASTER

The Ghazi Attack (2017) - AVERAGE

120 Bahadur (2025) - DISASTER

Ikkis (2026) - DISASTER

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BORDER 2 had a very good second weekend as it scored excellent collections on Saturday and Sunday with both days showing strong trends. The film has found an audience with the families which should ensure the film keeps these strong weekend trends going forward. The second weekend was around 47.50 crore nett which is a drop of 60% from the first weekend which is good.

The week will see a bigger drop as there was a huge Republic Day holiday on Monday in week one but overall it will still be a good second week. The collections of the film till date are around 266 crore nett and it should reach the 300 crore nett mark in its third weekend.

The film will have comparisons with GADAR 2 but it is pretty much the same as to what BORDER was to GADAR. BORDER (1997) did 55% of GADAR (2001) business and here BORDER 2 will do 65-70% of GADAR 2 lifetime. The difference is that BORDER released before GADAR while BORDER 2 released after GADAR 2.

The excellent collections of BORDER 2 in the B and C centres are better than some of the bigger grossers as well but they are well below GADAR 2. The best circuits will come out to be Rajasthan and Bihar and the film could finish among the top five highest collecting films in both these circuits. PUSHPA 2 - THE RULE leads in both followed by GADAR 2. 

The collections of BORDER 2 till date are as follows.

Friday - 29,50,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 36,50,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 52,00,00,000 apprx

Monday - 56,50,00,000 apprx

Tuesday - 20,00,00,000 apprx

Wednesday - 13,00,00,000 apprx

Thursday - 11,00,00,000 apprx

Friday - 10,25,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 16,25,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 21,00,00,000 apprx

MARDAANI 3 had reasonable first day collections in the 3.75-4 crore nett range which is pretty much similar to the previous film, MARDAANI 2, which released in 2019. These type of films probably had a better market pre pandemic as far as theatrical goes as today the metro audience is generally in a wait and watch mode and its about word of mouth.

Also this type of thriller content is all over television though this television has a more fancy word called streaming today. Calling it television maybe downmarket but you can call it whatever you want; eventually, the fact remains its on television. The film is a franchise but what worth these sort of franchises have is negligible. The opening is better than METRO...IN DINO, which you can also call a franchise but of a different genre. It is less than MAA, which is not a franchise, but that had some appeal in the circuits due to the horror genre.

Its a double edged sword for these films as the opening is fine taking into account where business is today but considering its tougher for this genre to sustain as well as for film in the METRO...IN DINO genre, you maybe needed a higher opening day.  These films are about what happens from Monday and then the second weekend. MARDAANI 3 should remain in the race over the first weekend with the tests coming over the weekdays. The film basically has to follow a similar trajectory to a film like METRO...IN DINO.

The bulk of the collections for the film will be from Mumbai circuit with good support from West Bengal and Mysore while the rest will be weaker. Its totally the opposite of BORDER 2 as these are the weaker circuits for that film.

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MARDAANI 3 had a decent second day showing a jump of around 50% from the first day. The collections are also decent in the 5.75-6 crore nett range which gives the film a total of 9.75 crore nett apprx over the first two days. The growth of the film is decent but maybe it could have had a better jump.

The comparison for the film is METRO...IN DINO which had lower collections on the first day but Saturday both films are in the same range which means the growth is less than the musical drama. The genre factor will also be in play here as the thriller genre will have limitations in terms of growth on Saturday as to a genre like drama.

The circuit ratios of MARDAANI 3 are also very similar to METRO...IN DINO with Mumbai, Mysore and West Bengal doing the best business. The latter could have actually done a little better considering the run of the earlier two films in the franchise. The business on Saturday keeps the film in the race but Sunday could well be harder as it has limited business in the core Hindi circuits which jump best on Sunday and these will be dominated by BORDER 2 on Sunday.

The collections of MARDAANI 3 till date are as follows.

Friday - 3,85,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 5,85,00,000 apprx

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MARDAANI 3 collected 16.50 crore nett its first weekend which is fair collection and the trend is also decent but these films need a trend which is better than decent. The film managed to jump around 50% on Saturday but probably needed a bigger jump. The growth on Sunday was fine as these films have limited potential on Sunday.

METRO...IN DINO crore nett in its first weekend for an opening day of 3.20 crore nett while here its 16.50 crore nett from an opening of day of 3.85 crore nett. So, the trend is weaker than that film especially on Saturday. METRO...IN DINO went on to do 50 crore nett. So, there is always a chance but the Monday hold has to be strong.

The film is also doing better in the same places as METRO...IN DINO which is Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata. Now it is about the Monday drop, if the film is to do anything much after the first week. Ideally, you would like to get as close to day one but that is very hard. Hence, the film has to stay in that 30-40% drop range on Monday.

The collections of MARDAANI 3 till date are as follows.

Friday - 3,85,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 5,85,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 6,85,00,000 apprx

Going big appears to be the motto of the makers of Ramayana: Part One, be it in terms of shaping the biggest spectacle in Indian cinema or organising a grand first-look event. The buzz in the industry is that filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra have started sending out invites for a Ram Navami event that they will host on March 27 at Gateway Of India in Mumbai. The event will mark the reveal of the principal characters in the Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi-starrer.

Sources indicate that several senior leaders from the state and central government are on the guest list. It also includes stars from the world of entertainment and sports.

An insider told mid-day, “Major Bollywood names are expected to attend. Ranbir, who plays Lord Ram, has personally invited family and close associates to the ceremony. This will be the first time that the epic’s character universe will be presented.”

While Yash and Pallavi portray Ravana and Sita respectively, Sunny Deol essays the part of Hanuman and Ravi Dubey, of Lakshman.

mid-day reached out to Malhotra, who didn’t respond till press time.

The firing incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Juhu home on Sunday was a result of four months of meticulous planning that involved gangster Shubham Lonkar recruiting hired guns from Pune, arranging a getaway two-wheeler and transferring money to facilitate the operation.

These are some of the details that have emerged from the investigation after the swift arrest of five men accused of carrying out the firing.

However, it has now emerged that the Mumbai Crime Branch had picked up Lonkar for questioning after the firing outside actor Salman Khan’s Bandra residence in 2024, but was let off later due to a lack of conclusive evidence, sources said. Lonkar is suspected to operate from abroad now.

Police sources said on Monday that Lonkar, whose name appeared in a threatening social media post claiming responsibility for Sunday’s firing incident, contacted two of the arrested suspects several months before the incident.

Lonkar reportedly instructed the gang to arrange a motorcycle for the operation and transferred money to them on three occasions to prepare for the preparation. Based on these findings, he has been named an accused in the case.

Sources said investigators have also established that the Facebook post claiming responsibility for the firing was uploaded by Lonkar himself. The post surfaced within minutes of the incident, spread rapidly across social media platforms, and was deleted shortly thereafter – a sequence police said closely matched the Bishnoi gang’s known modus operandi and was used also in the Baba Siddique murder and the Salman Khan firing cases.

The four accused who have been arrested – Swapnil Sakat, Samarth Pomaji, Siddharth Yenpure, and Aditya Gayaki – are residents of Karvenagar in Pune. Sources said Lonkar had earlier used youths from the same locality in the Baba Siddique murder as well, indicating a recurring recruitment pattern and a familiar support network.

Two months before the firing, Sakat and another arrested accused allegedly travelled to Mumbai on the motorcycle they had bought for the crime. Sources said the vehicle was later handed over to the shooter, strengthening suspicions that the Pune-based suspects were involved in providing logistical assistance.

Investigators have questioned Aman Marote, who had sold the motorcycle to the gang. However, he was released after it emerged that he had no prior knowledge about the bike being used in a criminal operation.

Crime Branch sources are further probing Lonkar’s suspected role in managing the Bishnoi gang’s operations along with Aarzu Bishnoi, Goldy Bishnoi, and Harry Boxer, following the reported split of Rohit Godara and Goldy Brar from the Lawrence Bishnoi group.

Investigators believe that after his release in the firing incident outside Salman’s home in 2024, he remained active and played a key role in major crimes, including the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique.

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Mumbai: The city crime branch is considering questioning gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is lodged in Sabarmati jail, as part of its probe into the firing at filmmaker Rohit Shetty's Juhu bungalow to ascertain the motive, even as it is still tracking down the shooter.

Shetty told police he had got no prior threat from Bishnoi's gang or his alleged gang member, Shubham Lonkar. Police are looking into whether Lonkar, who is absconding, acted without Bishnoi's knowledge. "Lonkar, who is from Pune, recruited only locals for the attack. It appears he is trying to assert his presence in Bollywood in the absence of senior gangsters, possibly to revive or expand an extortion network," said a senior police official.

Police said the four accomplices who were arrested within 12 hours of the firing—Swapnil Sakat (23), Siddharth Yenpure (20), Aditya Gaiki (19) and Samarth Pomaji (18)—provided logistical support and acted on Lonkar's directions. One of them is a collegian, while the others are unemployed. A fifth accused, Aman Marote (27) from Pune, has been served a notice. Police are looking for a sixth suspect who has been identified. Those in custody claimed they were unaware of the others' identities, including the shooter.

Marote told police he sold a scooter to Gaiki for Rs 30,000 about a month ago. Gaiki and Pomaji allegedly rode it to Mumbai and left it at a predetermined spot in Juhu, from where the shooter picked it up, fired five rounds at Shetty's residence, abandoned it 2km away, and fled. The probe shows the suspects came in contact with Lonkar on social media and he remotely coordinated the operation, including giving orders on procuring the scooter and its drop locations.

"Our focus is now on tracing the shooter, whose arrest could clarify who assigned the contract and the precise motive," an official said.

A team is tracing the IP address that Lonkar used to log into a Facebook account and claim responsibility for the firing. The post was deleted in a day. Police said there are similarities between the post and those issued after the Salman Khan firing and minister Baba Siddique's murder in 2024.

Another team is also looking into the financial trail based on the payments made to the suspects for the scooter's purchase and related expenses.

(With inputs from V Narayan)

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The Mumbai Anti-Extortion Cell has arrested four persons from Pune in connection with the firing incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Juhu. Police have also seized the two-wheeler used in the crime.

Investigators have established that the arrested accused were in contact with Shubham Lonkar, a resident of Akola and an alleged member of the Bishnoi gang, who police say masterminded the firing. Lonkar later claimed responsibility for the attack through social media posts.

He is also one of the accused in the Baba Siddique murder case. Police said one of the arrested accused, Swapnil Bandu Sakat, was in direct contact with Lonkar and actively involved in planning the incident.

- Swapnil Bandu Sakat, 23, unemployed, resident of Vadgaon, Pune. Police say he was in regular contact with Lonkar and helped plan the firing.

- Samarth Shivsharan Pomaji, 19, a college student and resident of Gulmohar Society, Dhayari, Pune. He allegedly helped arrange money to purchase weapons and the two-wheeler.

- Siddharth Deepak Yenpure, 19, a delivery executive and resident of Amrapali Society, Dhayari Phata, Pune. He allegedly helped collect funds and arrange the two-wheeler.

- Aditya Dnyaneshwar Gayaki, 19, a salesman and resident of Karve Nagar, Pune. Police say he purchased the two-wheeler for '30,000 and handed it over to the shooter.

A fifth accused, the shooter, is still absconding. Police teams are conducting searches to trace him.

According to police, Rohit Shetty returned to his residence at Shetty Tower, Juhu, around 10 pm on Saturday. At around 12.45 am, he was on the seventh floor having dinner with his family. Two bodyguards and two police personnel were present as part of his security detail.

CCTV footage showed a man standing outside the building. Security personnel initially mistook the sound of gunshots for firecrackers. However, footage later revealed the man carrying a pistol. Juhu police were alerted immediately, but the shooter fled on a two-wheeler.

Police said the accused reached the Tulip Star Hotel junction, where a police nakabandi was in place. He took a U-turn, rode towards Juhu Church, abandoned the vehicle there, and escaped in an autorickshaw.

During the investigation, police recovered the abandoned two-wheeler near Juhu Church. Details of the vehicle were shared with the Pune Crime Branch, which traced the original owner. The owner told police he had sold the vehicle for Rs 30,000 to Aditya Gayaki.

Police said bank transaction records show that all four accused contributed money for purchasing the vehicle and arranging arms for the shooter.

A police officer said the modus operandi was similar to the earlier firing incident outside actor Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments, in which the Bishnoi gang had also claimed responsibility. “Shubham Lonkar is the main conspirator in this case,” the officer said.

Shubham Lonkar is a resident of Akola who later shifted to Pune. Police said he was initially involved in farming and dairy-related work in Akola before allegedly entering arms supply networks.

He was arrested by Akola police in January 2024 in a weapons supply case and later released on bail. Lonkar was also named as an accused in the Baba Siddique murder case in October 2024 and was suspected in the earlier firing incident outside Salman Khan’s residence.

Police said Lonkar had expressed a desire to join the Indian Army but failed to clear the examination. Investigators claim he later came in contact with Bishnoi gang members in Rajasthan and became associated with the gang. Lonkar and the shooter remain absconding. Further investigation is ongoing.

Shabana Azmi in the film; Kabir Bedi plays Dr Rajendra Bothra; Dr Rajendra Bothra Pics/AFP, X, Instagram

When Shabana Azmi described the story of her next, USA v Raj, as “fab”, it naturally caught our attention. Directed by famed cinematographer Ravi K Chandran, the Indo-British co-production tells the story of Dr Rajendra Bothra, a celebrated surgeon in the US who was accused of fraud and faced 54 federal charges at age 79, before being cleared by a unanimous jury verdict in June 2022. While Kabir Bedi plays the protagonist, Azmi essays the role of his wife Pammi Bothra, and Emily Shah, their daughter Sonia.

“Dr Bothra was advised by all lawyers to plead guilty. His attorneys told him if he didn’t do so, he would die in prison. He said, ‘So be it. It’s the question of my honour, my family’s honour and that of the country I come from.’ The odds of a possible win were only 0.3 per cent, but he fought back. He spent three-and-a-half years in jail! Then he was acquitted on every single charge,” shared Azmi, when we got on a call with her.

USA v Raj went on floors in London in October 2025. With a chunk of the legal drama completed, the director is now planning the last leg in India and aiming for a summer 2026 release. The movie chronicles how in 2018, at a time when the US was witnessing a significant increase in opioid use and addiction, the surgeon was accused of further fuelling it. 

To Azmi, the film depicts not only Bothra’s integrity, but also the determination of Pammi, who didn’t let her health complications shake her as she stood by her husband during the legal battle. “His wife and their daughter Sonia took on the responsibility to set him free,” marvelled the senior actor. She added that during the two-month shoot, the husband-wife duo would be on the set every day. “I got along very well with Pammi.” 

The actor has a busy line-up in 2026. Besides USA v Raj, she will be seen in Awarapan 2 and more. “I am also doing a film produced by Mukesh Chhabra. There are three more projects in the pipeline.”

Ravi Kishan is enjoying a rewarding phase in his career after earning acclaim for Laapataa Ladies and the web series Maamla Legal Hai. He is currently seen in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain: Fun on the Run, the film adaptation of the popular sitcom, by Binaiferr and Sanjay Kohli.

Talking about coming on board the project, he says, “I have always been a fan of the show. The story, the director, and my role all played a big part in my decision. I enjoy making people laugh with a poker face. The character is someone who loves deeply but one-sidedly, and that really excited me. I meet such people almost every day in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.”

Though Ravi has been part of Hindi cinema for decades, wider recognition has come his way only recently. Reflecting on this shift, he says, “I waited patiently for 34 years. At one point, people assumed I had been boxed into a Bhojpuri image, that I had become a politician, grown old, and would now quietly fade away. But sometimes, by God’s grace, just when people think you are finished, a filmmaker like Kiran Rao comes along with a script like Laapataa Ladies, followed by Maamla Legal Hai. Last year showed what I can do when filmmakers believe in me and give me strong material. Meri journey strugglers ke liye ek misaal hai.”

Recounting the phase when meaningful opportunities in Bollywood felt elusive, he says, “After Tere Naam with Salman Khan, I felt exhausted because of the lack of opportunities. I thought yahaan bohot bheed hai, main iss race ka hissa nahi bann paunga, aur koi response nahi dega. Of course, there was frustration and anger, but I channelled that anger into building my own space in the Bhojpuri industry. But I never blamed Bollywood. Hindi cinema ne mujhe pehchaan di hai and taught me everything I later applied to Bhojpuri films.”

Reflecting on delayed success, he adds, “Yeh ugte sooraj ka khel hai, and that is the truth across professions. But there is also a lot of affection coming my way now, and I am grateful for that.”

Violence shook the neighbourhood of Juhu when two assailants, in the small hours of Sunday, fired multiple rounds outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence, Shetty Tower. Following the attack, Mumbai Police beefed up security at the director’s property as it investigated the matter. Now, mid-day has learnt that security will be deployed on the set of his next, Golmaal 5 that is expected to roll soon.

A member of the film’s creative team revealed, “The film was to roll after February 15 in Mumbai. Whether the shoot dates move will now depend on Shetty and clearance from the police.”

For now, there has been no intimation of a date change. However, the insider revealed that a security team of about 60 will be put into place if Shetty reports on the laugh riot’s set on the scheduled date. Apparently, a two-tier  security ring will be implemented — the first comprising the local police, and the second consisting of Shetty’s personal bodyguards.

“More importantly, there will be an access-controlled zone in which Rohit will operate, and only a few will have access to it. Every person entering the set, including junior artistes, vendors, and daily-wage crew, will be pre-registered with ID verification; no spot entries will be allowed. Vehicle movement will also be regulated with all equipment trucks and vanity vans logged in advance and checked at entry point,” said the insider. 

Keeping the filmmaker’s safety in mind, details regarding the shoot timing and locations will be given on a need-to-know basis. The insider added, “The call-sheet circulation will be restricted, and location details will be shared in a staggered manner.” 

Meanwhile, Shetty’s other film, the Rakesh Maria biopic — which had gone on floors in April 2025, with John Abraham stepping into the shoes of the former Mumbai Police Commissioner — has been on hold over the past fortnight. A source revealed to mid-day that the director was in Ooty for a recce until January 30. “Until mid-January, the film was being shot in South Mumbai. Another two weeks’ work is left on it. But now, the remaining shoot will be reconsidered,” said the source. 

Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) as well as All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) condemned the incident. In its statement, citing the earlier attacks on Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and murder of Baba Siddique, the AICWA said, “This pattern reflects a systematic attempt to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation within the film industry.”

Four gang members of the Bishnoi gang were arrested by the police for firing at Bollywood director Rohit Shetty’s Juhu residence at 12.42 am on Sunday. The accused, aged between 19 and 27, were arrested by the Pune police following information from their Mumbai counterparts, who tracked them down with the help of their scooter and CCTV cameras.

Police said unknown men arrived in a vehicle and fired five rounds outside the bungalow. One bullet reportedly smashed through the gallery glass. Officers tightened security at Shetty’s residence and seized CCTV footage from the area. Investigators spotted a vehicle in the footage and tracked its movement towards Pune, after which Mumbai Police alerted Pune Police.

The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the firing outside Rohit Shetty’s Mumbai home, Shetty Tower. In a post, his men said the multiple gunshots were fired as a warning to the Singham director. This was not the first time the gang has targeted celebrities from the Hindi film industry. Past targets include superstar Salman Khan, AP Dhillon, Badshah, Kapil Sharma, and Munawar Faruqui.

A case was registered at Juhu police station, and the Crime Branch took over and formed 12 teams. Since Shetty did not report any earlier threat or complaint, officers said they were checking every angle. Acting on Mumbai Police inputs, Pune Police detained four men and handed them over to Mumbai Police, who brought them to the city on Sunday night and questioned them about their alleged role, the mastermind, and the motive. An officer said police will arrest them if the evidence matched. Those arrested were identified as Aditya Gyaneshwar Gayaki (19), Siddharth Deepak Yenpure (20), Samarth Shivsharan Pomaji (18), and Swapnil Bandu Sakat (23).

Meanwhile, a threatening message went viral from gang member Shubham Lonkar’s Facebook account, claiming the attack and warning Shetty. The post said this was just a trailer; the next bullets would be in his chest, and that his condition would be worse than Baba Siddiqui, who was gunned down by the Bishnoi gang in October 2024.

Police sources said technical analysis of the scooter’s movement patterns and related inputs led investigators to the Waraje area of Pune, from where the suspects were taken into custody for questioning. The men, who are said to be working as drivers and mechanics, are suspected to have helped arrange transport, shelter, and escape routes for the attackers.

Mumbai Police are treating the threat linked to the firing outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence as a high-risk organized crime act after investigators found striking similarities with the Bishnoi gang’s earlier modus operandi, sources said.

According to Crime Branch sources, the Bishnoi gang has a consistent pattern of claiming responsibility through social media posts immediately after an attack. The post is then widely circulated, screenshots are taken, and the original social media account is deleted shortly thereafter. This tactic makes it difficult for investigators to trace the original URL or determine the exact location from where the post was uploaded.

Sources said the same method was used during the firing outside actor Salman Khan’s residence and in the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique. In both cases, threatening posts were uploaded shortly after the incidents and the accounts were deleted soon after, erasing key digital trails.

In the Shetty case, police found that a threatening Facebook post claiming responsibility surfaced within 45 minutes of the firing and was deleted later, raising red flags. Subham Lonkar is an unknown destination outside India and is suspected to be the mastermind. Rohit Shetty was on the sixth floor of his tower when the incident took place.

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Mumbai: Police are probing if the firing at filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s bungalow could be linked to his upcoming film projects. Shetty shares close ties with senior police officers and is often seen sharing the dais with them during programmes. He recently acquired the rights to former police commissioner Rakesh Maria’s book on the underworld.

Police have increased security around his residence. Police and forensic teams secured the premises to carry out a detailed examination.

The gunman was arrested along with three others from Pune. The four arrested men are: Swapnil Sakat (23), Siddharth Yenpure (20), Aditya Gayaki (19) and Samarth Pomaji (18). One is a college student and the others are unemployed. Police haven’t said who among them is the gunman. A fifth, Aman Marote (27), also from Pune, has been served a notice and will be called for questioning.

The firing was at 12.45 am on the first floor of Shetty Tower, Hasya Kalakar Mehmood Chowk, Juhu.

In a social media post, written in Hindi and English, gangster Shubham Lonkar, an associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, said: “Ram Ram, Jai Bajrang Bali, to all brothers. We, Shubham Lonkar, Aarzoo Bhishnoi, Hari Boxer, and Harman Shandu, take responsibility for the firing that took place today at film director Rohit Shetty's house (Shetty Tower) in Mumbai.”

It said: “We messaged him many times telling him not to interfere in our work, but he didn't understand. We've given him this small trailer. If he doesn't understand our message and doesn't listen to us, then the next bullet won't be fired outside his house, but inside his bedroom, right in his chest. And this is a warning to the entire Bollywood industry: mend your ways while you still have time, otherwise, your situation will be very bad.” Police said they are verifying the claim, given that Shetty is not known to have received threats.

Police said the suspect came on a bike from Pune (from where he left on Saturday), fired five rounds and abandoned his bike 2 km away. “The bike had a Pune registration. The rider was captured on CCTV near Shetty's home.”

The officer said the bike was not stolen and was owned by one of the suspects, and it is in custody of Crime Branch and Anti Extortion Cell. "The bike’s details led us to the suspects.”

The police said Shetty has three guards in the building. "The guards were inside the building, with one visiting the toilet. All rushed out on hearing bullet sounds. The bullets struck the first floor and the wall of the building. Shetty called the police," said a crime branch officer.

Pune is believed to be where the Bishnoi gang plotted the murder of NCP MLA Baba Siddiqui, in which police had arrested four suspects from Pune’s Karvenagar and Shivane areas, including Pravin, brother of Shubham Lonkar, who ran a dairy in Karvenagar.

A senior crime branch official said no direct link has been found yet between the Juhu firing case suspects and those arrested in the Siddiqui murder, though the angle is under investigation.

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After shots were fired outside actor Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments in 2024, a similar firing incident is now reported outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Juhu.

The incident took place around 12.40 am on Sunday at the 10-storey Shetty Tower, located at Hasya Kalakar Mahmood Chowk. An unidentified man allegedly fired five rounds at the building before fleeing the spot. The filmmaker, along with his family, was present at his residence when the firing occurred.

Following the incident, the Mumbai Crime Branch, with assistance from Juhu police and the Pune Crime Branch, detained five suspects from Pune in connection with the case.

According to police sources, the accused had purchased a two-wheeler in Pune a few days earlier. The vehicle was registered in another person’s name. The shooter allegedly conducted reconnaissance of the area and mapped out escape routes prior to the attack.

“At around 12.40 am, the accused arrived on the two-wheeler and parked it two buildings away from Rohit Shetty’s residence. He then walked to the spot and fired five rounds,” a police officer said.

“One bullet struck the safety glass of a balcony, two hit the wall on the first floor, and the remaining two hit the safety wall near the building entrance.” The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed in the building and nearby areas.

After firing, the accused fled on the two-wheeler. However, upon encountering a police nakabandi near the Tulip Star Hotel junction, he made a U-turn and escaped towards Juhu Church. Out of fear of being caught, he abandoned the vehicle near the church and boarded an autorickshaw. When the driver refused to go to Kalyan from Juhu, he was dropped at Juhu Chowpatty. He later changed autos, reached Santacruz station, travelled to Kalyan and eventually escaped to Pune by train, police said.

During the investigation, police examined multiple CCTV cameras but found only blurred footage of the accused parking the two-wheeler. The vehicle was seized from the spot. Using the registration number, police traced the original owner, who revealed that he had recently sold the vehicle to the shooter. Mumbai Crime Branch officials subsequently alerted the Pune Crime Branch, leading to the detention of five suspects from different locations in Pune.

- Aman Anand Marote, 27, resident of Karve Nagar

- Aditya Gnaneshwar Gayaki, 19, Karve Nagar

- Siddharth Deepak Yenpure, 20, Dhayari

- Samarth Shivsharan Pomaji, 18, Dhayari

- Swapnil Bandu Sakat, 23, Pune district

Police recovered five used bullet cartridges and sent them for forensic examination. Bullet impact marks have also been documented. 

A senior Crime Branch officer said Shetty had not received any threat calls or messages prior to the incident. “There is no record of threats or any ongoing dispute. He was not involved in any controversy. We are still trying to determine why his residence was targeted,” the officer said.

Following the firing, a social media post surfaced claiming responsibility in the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Police said the post, which also carried threats aimed at the film industry, is currently being verified. No official confirmation has been made so far regarding the authenticity of the claim. 

Investigators are also examining whether the incident could be linked to the recent launch of a book on the Mumbai underworld by former police commissioner Rakesh Maria, an event attended by Shetty and actor Ajay Devgn. Police have not established any direct connection so far.

“This was not an attempt to kill the filmmaker,” a Crime Branch officer said. “It appears to be an act meant to intimidate. The motive behind the firing is still unclear and remains under investigation.”

With Border 2, Ahan Shetty got a well-earned second shot at movies. As the war drama continues its strong run at the box office, the actor is not only relishing the fruits of his hard work but also building his line-up of projects.

He revealed to mid-day that he has signed three films, including one with director Shaad Ali of Saathiya (2002) fame. “It’s an intense action love story, something I’m returning to after Tadap [2021]. I like such intense characters and the depth they carry,” he shared.

Work on the yet-untitled project is underway, with Ali aiming to take it on floors by summer. “We should start filming around March-April. But dates are flexible right now. We’re sitting on the script and music,” revealed Shetty, adding that he is looking forward to surrendering to Ali’s vision.

“Shaad sir knows exactly what he wants. I’m excited to work with him because we understand each other. I think he’ll get a great performance out of me. I believe in completely surrendering to my director.”