Mumbai: Actor Samir Kochhar has recounted the frightening moments surrounding the shooting outside a football ground in Mumbai’s Juhu area on October 18, when Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff was targeted shortly after attending a birthday celebration. Kochhar was celebrating his daughter Sara’s ninth birthday at the venue when gunshots rang out. Shroff escaped unharmed, while his driver sustained injuries in the attack.

Tiger Shroff met children before leaving the venue

Mumbai: Recalling the incident in an interview with India Today, Kochhar said Shroff had been playing football on an adjoining section of the ground with the All-Stars group, a regular gathering of football enthusiasts that has met for the past five to six years.

According to Kochhar, Shroff and other members of the group arrived earlier in the day and interacted with the children attending Sara’s birthday party. They met the birthday girl, posed for photographs and then headed to the football session.

As the party was nearing its end, Shroff returned briefly to meet a few more children and take additional photographs. Kochhar said he offered the actor something to eat before he left, but Shroff declined because he was following his usual strict diet.

Kochhar recalled: “Tiger and the gang all walked in earlier. They met all the kids, met my daughter, before heading for the game. And as the party was almost finishing, Tiger walked back, met a few more kids, they took a few more pictures of them.”

He added that Shroff then got into his car and drove away, with Kochhar seeing the vehicle leave shortly before the shooting took place.

Gunshots initially mistaken for firecrackers

Kochhar said the first sounds did not immediately alert those at the birthday party to the seriousness of the situation. With the festive season underway, some people initially thought the loud noises were firecrackers.

However, the situation changed within seconds when people near the entrance began shouting that Shroff had been shot at.

Kochhar said the car had travelled only a short distance when the group heard the sounds. The people present initially struggled to understand what was happening until those who had witnessed the shooting began screaming.

“Then, just about 30 seconds later, the people at the gate who witnessed the whole scenario started screaming, saying that Tiger has been shot. And there have been bullets that have been fired,” he said.

Kochhar recalled that people rushed towards the gate to understand what had happened. By the time they reached the entrance, Shroff had driven away from the immediate area.

The sudden realisation that gunshots had been fired left those at the venue shocked. What had begun as a birthday celebration had quickly turned into a frightening incident involving a high-profile actor.

Parents rushed to ensure children were safe

The shooting also created confusion among the children attending Sara’s birthday party. Some parents had not yet arrived to collect their children, leaving the adults at the venue responsible for keeping everyone calm and ensuring their safety.

Kochhar said the immediate priority was to make sure the children were safe. He expressed relief that the children at the party had not been harmed.

The actor described the incident as bizarre and unexpected, saying the group had never imagined that violence of this kind could occur during its regular Sunday football gathering.

He also expressed surprise that the attack appeared to have taken place without the group being aware of any impending danger.

Kochhar said Bunty Sajdeh left for the police station before joining Shroff. Asked whether he had spoken directly to Shroff after the shooting, Kochhar said he had remained in touch through Bunty Walia and had been informed that the actor was doing well.

The experience left those present grateful that Shroff had escaped unharmed and that the children at the birthday celebration were safe.

Samir Kochhar questions safety in Juhu

The shooting has raised concerns about security in Mumbai, particularly after an armed attack in a busy neighbourhood such as Juhu. Kochhar said the fact that the incident occurred in an open area during the day made it especially disturbing.

Reflecting on the incident as both a public figure and a Mumbai resident, he said authorities needed to examine what had gone wrong and strengthen preventive measures.

“See, I think the authorities best know what to do. But obviously, something is amiss somewhere,” Kochhar said, adding that the attack raised questions about whether adequate measures were in place.

He also questioned how individuals carrying firearms could allegedly carry out an attack in such a public location.

Kochhar called for stricter measures and better intelligence gathering to identify people who might be planning violent acts. He warned that incidents of this nature could make ordinary residents fearful of moving around public spaces.

The actor said authorities needed to investigate where the suspects had come from, what they were doing and how the attack had been carried out.

He added that it was too early to determine whether the football group would resume its regular Sunday meetings at the same venue. Those involved were still processing the incident, and the immediate feeling was one of relief that Shroff was safe.

What happened in the October 18 shooting?

According to reports, three men riding a motorcycle opened fire at Shroff’s vehicle in Juhu on October 18. The actor escaped unharmed, while his driver and a passer-by were reported injured in the incident.

Mumbai Police have been investigating the alleged roles of the suspects, their connections with one another and possible links to gangster Anil Pandit. Investigators are also examining how the firearm was brought to Mumbai and whether encrypted communications were allegedly used in planning the attack.

The police are probing the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the suspects’ movements before and after the incident and their alleged attempts to escape.

The case has also prompted scrutiny of a possible firearm supply network allegedly linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. These alleged connections remain part of the investigation and should not be treated as established facts unless confirmed by the authorities or in court.

Arrests rise to 10 as investigation continues

Mumbai Police have widened the investigation following the shooting. According to reports published on October 21, police arrested seven additional people in Haryana in connection with the case, taking the total number of arrests to 10. The accused reportedly include two women.

The arrests form part of efforts to establish the alleged roles of those involved and determine whether the attack was supported by a wider network.

Investigators are examining the relationships among the accused, the alleged movement of firearms and the communications that may have preceded the shooting. Further details about the motive and the full extent of the alleged network remain subject to the ongoing probe.

For Kochhar and those present at the birthday celebration, however, the incident remains a disturbing memory of how quickly an ordinary afternoon can turn dangerous.

His account has added a first-hand perspective to the incident, highlighting the confusion in the moments after the gunfire, the fear among children and parents, and the relief that Shroff escaped without injury. As the police investigation continues, questions about public safety and the circumstances that allowed the attack to take place remain central to the case.