Baba Sehgal recalls getting threat from underworld asking him to stop making music: 'Bollywood was very insecure with me...'

Time of India

09-06-2025

Baba Sehgal revealed Bollywood's insecurities impacted his career. He found recognition in South Indian cinema after feeling sidelined in Bollywood. Sehgal shared he received underworld threats in 1998, warning him to stop singing. Despite the challenges, he continued his career. He also reflected on the turbulence in the entertainment industry during the late '90s.
Rapper and music icon Baba Sehgal recently opened up about his challenging journey in the Hindi film industry, revealing how Bollywood's insecurities and industry pressures shaped his career.
From feeling sidelined by Bollywood to gaining respect in South Indian cinema, Baba also shared a shocking encounter with the underworld that threatened his passion for music.
In a candid chat with Siddharth Kannan, Baba reflected on his journey in regional cinema, sharing that the South Indian film industry gave him the recognition he never quite received in Bollywood. Citing his impressive body of work—including over 250 Telugu songs, 35–40 Tamil tracks, and more than 25 Kannada numbers—he said the South took him seriously and embraced his music.
In contrast, he described Bollywood as being insecure about his presence right from the start.
Sehgal believes his direct and upfront personality may not have aligned with Bollywood's expectations. He recalled how music directors would reach out to him, but perhaps found his demeanor or way of speaking off-putting. Despite rising to national fame in the early '90s with Indipop chartbusters like Thanda Thanda Paani, Baba feels his success outside the film industry may have made the Hindi film music scene uneasy and hesitant to fully embrace him.
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He also shared that he received a threat call from the underworld back in 1998—a time when such intimidation was not uncommon in the entertainment industry. While he never imagined being targeted as he considered himself 'just a singer,' the incident came as a shock. He recalled how the experience brought immense stress to both him and his family during that turbulent period.
Baba further revealed that the underworld call he received in 1998 wasn't about extortion—but a warning to stop making music altogether.
'They told me to stop singing. The tone wasn't aggressive, but it was serious,' he recalled, adding that the calls often came at night, making it a deeply unsettling experience. Despite the threats, Baba chose to stay the course, building a successful career beyond Bollywood with the support of his loyal fans and the South Indian film industry.
Baba Sehgal also reflected on the turbulence in the entertainment industry during the late '90s. He described it as a confusing period when non-film music declined, remixes took over, and the underworld gained influence. 'It wasn't just me; the entire industry was shaken,' he said, highlighting the widespread challenges artists faced during that era.