Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s security cover has been increased to the Y+ category after he allegedly received death threats. The Y+ category is the second-highest level of security in India, and it provides for 11 security personnel, including six commandos, four police personnel, and a traffic clearance vehicle.
The decision to increase Khan’s security cover was taken by the Maharashtra government after it received intelligence reports that the actor was facing threats to his life. The threats are reportedly linked to the controversy surrounding his upcoming film, Pathaan.
The controversy erupted in August 2023, when a song from the film, Besharam Rang, was released. The song was criticized by some Hindu groups for allegedly depicting the actress Deepika Padukone in a disrespectful manner. Padukone was wearing a saffron bikini in the song, which is a sacred color in Hinduism.
The controversy led to protests and calls for a boycott of Pathaan. Some Hindu groups also issued death threats to Khan and Padukone.
In the wake of the threats, the Maharashtra government decided to increase Khan’s security cover. The government also deployed police personnel at Khan’s residence, Mannat.
The increased security cover for Khan is a sign of the growing concerns about the safety of Bollywood celebrities. In recent years, there have been a number of cases of celebrities being threatened and harassed.
In 2020, actress Kangana Ranaut received death threats from a Sikh man after she made some controversial comments about the Sikh community. In 2021, actress Swara Bhaskar was threatened with rape and murder by a Hindu man after she criticized the BJP government.