Kumar Sanu Unveils Underworld Encounters: A Glimpse into Bollywood’s Past Nexus
Mumbai, India – Renowned Bollywood playback singer Kumar Sanu has recently shed light on a previously undisclosed chapter of his illustrious career, detailing two separate instances where his professional engagements led him to perform at events in Dubai with direct links to notorious underworld figures Dawood Ibrahim and Abu Salem. Sanu’s candid revelations offer a rare, personal perspective on the complex and often perilous relationship between the Indian film industry and organized crime during a specific historical period.
In an interview with Lallantop, the iconic singer recounted his first encounter, which he described as an unwitting participation in an event associated with Dawood Ibrahim. Sanu explained that he was accompanied to Dubai by music director Nadeem, under the impression that he was simply performing at a birthday celebration. Crucially, the identities of the hosts and attendees were not disclosed to him prior to his arrival.
“I sang in Dubai once. Nadeem ji took me there. It was either Dawood’s brother’s daughter’s birthday or his own daughter’s birthday. Anu Malik and I were there. Dawood Ibrahim was there; I saw him sitting in front of me,” Sanu stated, painting a vivid picture of the unexpected realization. He further elaborated that he performed his standard repertoire of songs, with Ibrahim and his family seated directly before him. “They requested all those songs that I sing on stage. Dawood Ibrahim was sitting right in front of me with his family. After that, I never met him again nor did I speak to him,” he affirmed.
Sanu emphasized his initial lack of awareness regarding the true nature of the gathering. “We didn’t know much about them earlier. A music director was taking me, so I had nothing to do with it. They didn’t tell me whose show I was going to. They just said, ‘Come, you have to sing at a birthday party in Dubai.’” The gravity of the situation only fully dawned on him when photographs from the event were published in newspapers. “Later, when my photo appeared in the newspaper, I thought, ‘What have I done?’ That was when I got scared,” he confessed.
The singer also detailed a separate incident involving gangster Abu Salem. Sanu recalled receiving a demand for money, which he declined, instead offering his services as a performer. “Someone called me and said, ‘Give us this much money.’ I said, ‘Sorry, we won’t be able to give money. If there is some work, tell me. If you want me to sing, tell me.’ I even went to Dubai once to perform at Abu Salem’s show. There is nothing to be scared of or hide about this,” Sanu openly shared.
This particular engagement, however, came with a stern warning from law enforcement. Sanu recounted receiving a call from the police before his departure, advising him against attending the show. “The police station also called me and said, ‘You are going to perform at Abu Salem’s show?’ I said yes, I am going. What should I do? The police officers said, ‘You shouldn’t go.’ I said, ‘We won’t go, but you give me security.’ If he shoots me, tell me, what am I supposed to do? You give me security,” he recalled, highlighting the predicament faced by artists caught in such circumstances.
The police, according to Sanu, even threatened him with arrest if he proceeded with the trip. “He said, ‘If you go, we will arrest you there.’ I said, ‘Look, either you give me security or give me an assurance that nothing will happen to me. I am a singer. I have to sing; it is my compulsion.’” Despite the explicit warnings, Sanu ultimately went to Dubai, performed, and returned without any adverse incidents. “I went, sang and came back. Nobody said anything. I went, performed, returned to the hotel, collected my luggage and came back. The very thing for which I was threatened, I went and did that work, I sang and came back safely.”
Reflecting on the broader context of Bollywood’s entanglement with the underworld during that era, Sanu pointed to film financing as a primary catalyst. “Most of the financing for films used to come from these people, so whoever gave the money would rule. That is what used to happen,” he explained, offering a concise summary of the prevailing power dynamics.
Throughout these challenging experiences, Sanu stated that he deliberately maintained a focus on his professional duties and personal safety, choosing not to delve deeply into the intricate web of connections between the film industry and organized crime. His account provides a unique and candid insight into a turbulent period, underscoring the precarious situations artists sometimes found themselves in, navigating the blurred lines between legitimate entertainment and the shadowy influences of the underworld.
