3 weeks ago
Kumar Sanu recalls singing for Dawood Ibrahim, defying police warning
Kumar Sanu is a famous singer who sings songs for Indian movies.
He told a story about a time he was asked to sing in a city called Dubai.
A music director named Nadeem took him to a birthday party.
Kumar Sanu did not know that a powerful man named Dawood Ibrahim would be there.
Dawood Ibrahim and his family sat right in front of him while he sang.
When a picture of the party appeared in the newspaper, Kumar Sanu got scared.
Another time, he was asked to sing at a show connected to a gangster named Abu Salem.
The police told him not to go and said he could be arrested, but he went anyway after asking for security.
He sang and came back safely.
Kumar Sanu explained that in those days, powerful people paid for many movies, so singers and actors often had to do what they asked.
Kumar Sanu said music director Nadeem took him to Dubai for a birthday party where Dawood Ibrahim sat with his family in front of him.
Sanu said he was not told whose event it was and only got scared after photographs from the party appeared in newspapers.
Sanu performed at an Abu Salem show in Dubai despite police warnings and threats of arrest, after requesting security.
Sanu blamed underworld film financing for Bollywood's ties to gangsters, saying 'whoever gave the money would rule.'
The article notes films like Satya and Company were allegedly underworld-funded, and Bollywood shifted to corporate financing after Industry Status in 2000 and the 2001 Chori Chori Chupke Chupke case.
- Who
- Playback singer Kumar Sanu, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, gangster Abu Salem, and music director Nadeem.
- What
- Kumar Sanu recalled being taken to Dubai to sing at a birthday party attended by Dawood Ibrahim and performing at an Abu Salem show despite police warnings.
- Where
- Dubai; the events relate to the Mumbai-based Bollywood film industry.
- When
- Exact dates are not stated; the incidents belong to the period of underworld influence on Bollywood that was prominent in the late 1980s and 1990s.
- Why
- Sanu said underworld figures financed much of Bollywood's filmmaking at the time, so whoever gave the money ruled; he performed as his singing work and kept safe by staying away from the underworld.
Key facts
- Performer
- Kumar Sanu (playback singer)
- Dawood Ibrahim event
- Birthday party in Dubai; Dawood Ibrahim and his family attended; Anu Malik also present
- Arranged by
- Music director Nadeem
- Abu Salem show
- Sanu performed in Dubai despite police warning and threat of arrest
- Police response
- Warned Sanu not to go, said he could be arrested, and refused his request for security
- Era
- Bollywood-underworld nexus prominent in the late 1980s and 1990s
- Films allegedly underworld-funded
- Satya, Company, Daddy, Shootout At Wadala, Shootout At Lokhandwala (per D Sivanandhan)
- Turning point
- Industry Status in 2000; 2001 Chori Chori Chupke Chupke case linked to Chhota Shakeel
Quotes
Kumar Sanu
Indian playback singer known for his work in Bollywood
“"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."”
indianexpress.com
“"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.’"”
indianexpress.com








