Rs 1.5 crore was demanded from Salman Khan’s director; buying a fancy car led to bullets being fired

Bollywood director Lawrence D’Souza, known for Salman Khan’s 1991 hit Saajan, recently shared a harrowing experience from the early 2000s, revealing how he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt and faced extortion threats amounting to Rs 1.5 crore. His story sheds light on the dark side of the industry during that era, when success often attracted the attention of Mumbai’s criminal underworld.

Rising Success and Unwanted Attention

After Saajan became a massive hit, Lawrence carved a niche for himself with moderately successful mid-budget films. However, the increasing attention also made him a target for gangsters. In an interview with Amar Ujala, he recalled that owning luxury items such as a car or a flat often drew unwanted scrutiny.

Lawrence shared that after buying a Mitsubishi Lancer for Rs 14 lakh, he began receiving late-night calls from unknown individuals demanding money. The persistent harassment forced him to sell the car for just Rs 5 lakh to avoid further trouble.

Making Indian Babu and Extortion Calls

The director recounted his work on the 2003 film Indian Babu, produced by a London-based backer who wanted to launch his son as an actor. Lawrence invested Rs 4 crore in the project. Soon after returning from the shoot, he began receiving threatening phone calls, which he traced to notorious gangster Ejaz Lakdawala.

He described one such call during a song-editing session, when the caller introduced himself as Ejaz Lakdawala. Lawrence initially thought it was a prank, hanging up after the brief conversation. When he called back and “played the song for him,” the gangster reportedly became furious, escalating the threats.

Narrow Escape from an Assassination Attempt

Weeks later, Lawrence was sitting in a lawn outside his office when a motorcyclist fired two shots at him. Fortunately, a gate with an acrylic sheet provided protection, and one bullet struck a nearby statue of Mother Mary, sparing his life. He credited this miraculous incident for saving him from serious harm.

Following the shooting, the gangster continued harassing Lawrence, demanding Rs 1.5 crore and suggesting he ask Nadeem of the music duo Nadeem-Shravan for the money. Lawrence and his family were bewildered, questioning why Nadeem would be involved. Eventually, the calls stopped, bringing an end to the terrifying episode.