Bollywood's Dawood connection: ‘Aashiqui' star Anu Aggarwal reveals 'underworld' secrets of movie industry. 'It was ruled by...'

Economic Times

18-05-2025

Anu Aggarwal, best known for her role in the 1990 hit Aashiqui, has opened up about Bollywood's deep connections with the underworld during the 1990s. She revealed that most film funding at the time came from figures like Dawood Ibrahim through under-the-table deals, calling the industry a 'dirty business.' Anu also spoke about the overwhelming fame she faced, which led her to walk away from the limelight. Despite the success of Aashiqui, she claimed she was never fully paid, receiving only 60% of her agreed fee.
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Aashiqui Success Did Not Bring Full Compensation
Anu Aggarwal, who gained nationwide fame with her debut in the 1990 romantic film Aashiqui, has made candid revelations about the shadowy underworld influence in Bollywood during the 1990s. Speaking in a recent interview, she described the film industry of that period as a 'dirty business,' highlighting how much of the financing came from illicit sources. Aggarwal pointed out that during her time in the industry, Bollywood was essentially controlled by underworld figures, including Dawood Ibrahim.In her conversation with Pinkvilla, she recalled that most of the money flowing into films came through under-the-table deals. According to her, 'It was ruled by people like Dawood Ibrahim. All the money that was coming into the film industry came from the underworld. It was a completely different scenario.'Anu's rise to fame was swift. Aashiqui's massive success turned her into a household name overnight, but the adoration soon became overwhelming. The constant public attention affected her deeply, leading her to retreat from the spotlight. She spoke about the level of obsession fans had, with some even traveling internationally just to get a glimpse of her residence.She noted, 'For me to walk around alone and live alone at that time… I had fans standing under my building. Luckily, it was an MLA-MP building, so we had police protection. It was madness. People would fly from countries just to see my building, just like how it is for Shah Rukh Khan today. Shah Rukh is my neighbour, and that's what used to happen to me, and I ran away from it.'This period of fame, rather than being a time of celebration, became suffocating. Anu eventually chose to walk away from films, not because of bitterness or disillusionment, but because the intensity of fame was too much to handle. She explained that she had already accomplished her dreams and wanted to pursue personal growth outside of the industry.Despite the commercial triumph of Aashiqui, Anu Aggarwal revealed she was never fully paid for her role in the film. She claimed that she only received 60 percent of the remuneration promised to her and that the remaining amount remains unpaid even decades later. 'I haven't gotten the full fees for Aashiqui till today. I've only been paid 60% of the full fees. They still owe me the 40%,' she said.Following her breakthrough, she acted in other films such as Ghazab Tamasha, King Uncle, and Ram Shastra, among others. However, her rising career came to a sudden halt after a devastating car accident in 1999. The crash left her in a coma for 29 days, and she never returned to acting after recovering. Her final film appearance was in the 1996 thriller Return of Jewel Thief.While the industry's dark associations and the pressures of fame could have been enough to push anyone out, Anu clarified that her decision to leave was personal. She emphasized that she had no regrets and simply wanted to explore a life beyond cinema.