Bollywood star Salman Khan has spoken out regarding the death threats he has received from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

In a media interaction ahead of the release of his film Sikandar, Khan addressed his heightened security measures due to these ongoing threats.

“God, Allah, everything depends on Him. It’s predetermined how long I’ll live. That’s it,” Salman Khan stated, expressing his belief in fate amidst the anxiety surrounding his safety. He added, “Sometimes, I have to be escorted by so many security officials that causes a problem.”

Bishnoi, currently incarcerated in Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati jail for various serious charges, has previously threatened Salman Khan publicly. In a notable incident, members of his gang reportedly opened fire outside Salman Khan’s residence last year.

Following that, the Navi Mumbai Police uncovered a plot by the Bishnoi gang to kill the actor while he was en route to his farmhouse.

In October, Salman Khan received a threat via the traffic police’s WhatsApp helpline, demanding a ransom. The sender warned that both Khan and Maharashtra NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique would face dire consequences if they did not comply.

The threat referenced the murder of Siddique’s father, Baba Siddique, who was shot dead in Bandra.

Additionally, in November, a new threat emerged, with a demand for INR 5 crore ($6m) from someone claiming to be a brother of Lawrence Bishnoi. This message also insisted that Khan apologise for an alleged blackbuck poaching incident from 1997, stating that failure to comply would result in death.

The alleged blackbuck poaching incident, which is a sensitive issue in the Bishnoi community, occurred during the filming of the 1999 film Hum Saath Saath Hain. The blackbuck is revered by this community, and Khan’s involvement has led to long-standing animosity from Bishnoi and his followers.

Salman Khan’s security has been significantly increased as a result of these threats. He revealed that he now travels exclusively between home and filming locations. “I am not worried when I am with the press, but when I am without the press, that cramps my style. Now it’s all about Galaxy (his home) to shoot and from shoot to Galaxy, nothing else,” he added.

Despite the ongoing threats, Salman Khan remains focused on his work. His upcoming film, Sikandar, is set to release on March 30, coinciding with Eid celebrations. Directed by AR Murugadoss, the film also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Sathyaraj, Kajal Aggarwal, and Sharman Joshi.