3 weeks ago

Kumar Sanu recalls singing for Dawood Ibrahim, defying police warning

Kumar Sanu recalls singing for Dawood Ibrahim, defying police warning
Kumar Sanu recalls singing for Dawood Ibrahim, defying police warning over Abu Salem show · indianexpress.com

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.

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

Sources

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