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The 1991 film ‘Saajan’ was a box office hit. The film featured Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit. The film was directed by Lawrence D’Souza. Recently, Lawrence said that he was once targeted by underworld gangsters.
In the 1990s, Lawrence made several mid-budget films, which continued to earn minor profits, but when they made the film ‘Indian Babu’ in 2003, the gangsters called his home and started demanding ransom.
In a recent interview to Amar Ujala, Lawrence said that at that time, buying a new car or flat could also put in danger.
He said that when he bought a Mitsubishi Lancer car of Rs 14 lakh, he started calling continuously. After this, he soon sold this car for only 5 lakh rupees.
The film ‘Indian Babu’ was produced by Surjit Pandher. It played the lead role by Jas Pandher and Gurleen Chopra.
Lawrence reported that the film ‘Indian Babu’ had made for a London producer, who wanted to launch his son. 4 crores was spent on this film.
Lawrence said that someone gave information about this to gangsters. As soon as he returned from the shooting of the film, he started calling for ransom.
Lawrence told,
One day when I was editing the song, I got a call. The person in front said, “I am speaking Ejaz Lakdwala.” I said, ‘Who? I never heard the name. ‘ I thought someone must be joking and disconnected the phone, but when I later returned the call and narrated the song, he got angry.
Lawrence D’Souza has also directed films like ‘Nyaya Injustice’, ‘Sapna Sajan Ke’ and ‘Dil Tera Aashiq’.
After this, the people of Ejaz started chasing Lawrence. A few weeks later, when Lawrence was sitting in a lawn outside his office, a man on the bike opened fire on him.
Lawrence said,
I was outside the office, but there was an acrylic sheet at the gate. The bullet did not reach me, the sheet and the statue of Mother Mary.
The gangster continued calling the house even after this and demanded Rs 1.5 crore.
Lawrence told,
He (gangster) said that ask for money from Nadim. I asked – ‘Why will Nadeem give? He is a music director. ,
Eventually, after some time he stopped calling and the matter calmed down.