Music baron and Super Cassettes Industries proprietor Gulshan Kumar.

MUMBAI, AUGUST 12: If the attack on Gupt director Rajiv Rai had stunned the Mumbai film industry the brutal killing of Gulshan Kumar has sent a tingle of cold fear down many spines.

The question that is on everyone's mind but which no one is willing to articulate is: who next?

Since March when film producer Mukesh Duggal was killed the film industry seems to have become the underworld's favourite target.

The first to be threatened was the relatively obscure producer Nazim Rizvi who is making a film based on the Kashmir issue called Angaar Vade.

Later, it was the turn of Subhash Ghai who was allegedly threatened just before the release of Pardes, then came the blatant attack on Rajiv Rai and now, in less than a month, the murder of Gulshan Kumar.

Several other stars and high-profile filmmakers are said to be on the underworld's hit-list but no one is confirming names. Few days ago, the elders of the film industry had convened an in camera meeting to discuss the threats and a delegation had met Director General of Police A S Samra to seek protection.

Now, enraged over the "police's inability to do anything" the film industry has called for a total bandh tomorrow.

The premiere of Aur Pyar Ho Gaya too has been cancelled.

The decision was unanimously taken by the Film Federation of India, Association of Motion Pictures & TV Programme Producers, Film Makers Combine, Federation of Western India Cine Employees, Association of Motion Picture Studios, Indian Motion Picture Distributors' Association and the Theatre Owners' Association.

Announcing the bandh, Pahlaj Nihalani, president of the Motion Pictures & TV Programme Producers said, "Whatever is happening is not a good sign. We are creative people and if we can't make pictures in peace, it would be better to stop making films. I mean if such a thing can happen to a God-fearing man like Gulshan Kumar what will happen to the others?"

Mahesh Bhatt who directed two superhit films for T-Series,Aashiqui and Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin and was to direct yet another film starring Gulshan Kumar's brother Kishan Kumar, said he has lost faith in the law-and-order machinery. "I am shocked at the ineffectiveness of the Government in protecting the lives of people from the underworld. If the police can't protect, let them not give any false hopes to people that they are under the control of law and order. We can't even openly express our grief".

What surprised everyone was that the underworld should target the T-Series chief. "He was a self-made man and has contributed to the music industry like no one else in the recent past. He had no enemy and yet he was attacked and killed," said B R Chopra.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.