AI Generated Summary
- The sound of gunfire outside Punjabi singer-actor Gulab Sidhu’s home in Barnala district has once again brought into focus a disturbing pattern that has followed some of the biggest names in the Punjabi entertainment industry in recent years.
- The alleged claim of responsibility by a fugitive gangster has added another dimension to the case, though investigators will have to establish the authenticity of the recordings and determine the motive behind the shooting.
- Although nobody was reported injured in the attack, firing several rounds at the entrance of a performer’s family home carries an unmistakable element of intimidation.
From Punjab to Canada, shootings, threats and attacks involving singers and other entertainers have raised fresh questions over the security risks accompanying fame
The sound of gunfire outside Punjabi singer-actor Gulab Sidhu’s home in Barnala district has once again brought into focus a disturbing pattern that has followed some of the biggest names in the Punjabi entertainment industry in recent years.
Three unidentified men riding a motorcycle allegedly fired at least six rounds at the main gate of Sidhu’s residence in Pharwahi village on Saturday night. CCTV footage purportedly capturing the incident subsequently circulated on social media, while fugitive gangster Balwinder Singh alias Doni reportedly claimed responsibility for the shooting in two audio clips.
Police have so far disclosed little about the investigation. But the incident has revived concerns that extend well beyond one singer or one attack.
Over the past several years, Punjabi musicians and entertainers have repeatedly found themselves facing shootings, threats and other forms of targeted violence — both in India and overseas.
One of the early high-profile cases came in April 2018, when singer and actor Parmish Verma was shot and injured in Mohali. The attack demonstrated how the growing visibility and commercial success of Punjabi performers could also expose them to serious security threats.
Four years later, the industry was shaken by an attack of an altogether different magnitude. Singer and politician Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead at Jawaharke village in Punjab’s Mansa district in May 2022. His killing, which drew international attention, became the most prominent example of the intersection between Punjab’s entertainment world and organised criminal networks.
The problem has increasingly acquired an international dimension as Punjabi music has expanded its audience far beyond India.
Canada, home to a large Punjabi diaspora and an important market for Punjabi music, has witnessed several attacks involving prominent artistes or their properties.
Shots were fired outside singer Gippy Grewal’s residence in Canada in 2023. The following year, a shooting was reported outside the home of internationally popular Punjabi musician AP Dhillon.
Singer Karan Aujla’s residence in Canada has also reportedly been targeted on multiple occasions. More recently, a vehicle associated with Punjabi singer-actor Ammy Virk came under fire in Canada.
The threat has not remained confined to Punjabi singers. Comedian and television personality Kapil Sharma’s cafe was targeted in three separate shooting incidents last year, further highlighting the vulnerability of high-profile figures and businesses associated with them.
Punjabi singer Mankirt Aulakh, meanwhile, has also faced threats to his life.
Taken individually, the circumstances surrounding these cases vary considerably, and not every incident necessarily has the same motive or perpetrators. Collectively, however, they point towards a security challenge confronting a highly successful entertainment industry whose stars increasingly operate across borders.
Punjabi music has undergone a dramatic commercial transformation over the past decade. Its leading performers command vast audiences on streaming platforms, tour internationally and enjoy substantial visibility among diaspora communities. With that success has come greater public exposure — and, in some cases, unwanted attention from criminal networks.
Threats against celebrities can also extend beyond the artistes themselves to their homes, vehicles, businesses and family members, creating an atmosphere in which professional success may carry personal security consequences.
A relative of a prominent Punjabi singer, speaking to The Tribune, described the paradox facing some families: fame and financial success achieved after years of struggle had themselves become a source of anxiety.
The latest firing at Sidhu’s residence has reinforced those fears.
Although nobody was reported injured in the attack, firing several rounds at the entrance of a performer’s family home carries an unmistakable element of intimidation. The alleged claim of responsibility by a fugitive gangster has added another dimension to the case, though investigators will have to establish the authenticity of the recordings and determine the motive behind the shooting.
For Punjab’s entertainment industry, the larger concern is no longer limited to the security surrounding concerts or public appearances. The succession of attacks suggests that the risks can follow artistes to the places where they should ordinarily feel safest — their homes.
And as Punjabi music becomes increasingly global, the geography of that threat appears to be expanding with it.
