Success often has a hidden price tag attached to it. Celebrities are always distinctly visible, and easy to spot in parties and public gatherings due to their high-profile status and exposure in the media. They cannot – even if they want, act normal – spend time with their family or friends or behave like common people without attracting public attention. They are always the focus of attention for overzealous fans, stalkers, or criminals. This is the biggest price that they have to pay for their fame and success.
Hence they need bodyguards to manage the crowd and create a barrier between them and the potential threats. Bodyguards help them maintain privacy by keeping paparazzi and overly intrusive fans at a distance.
Bollywood celebrities often hire bodyguards to ensure their safety, security and peace of mind. These bodyguards are trained to react quickly and effectively to ensure the safety in case of medical emergencies and other unexpected situations. They allow celebrities to focus on their work and public appearances without worrying about their personal safety and overall well-being.
Some Bollywood celebrities have bodyguards who accompany them to events, shoots, as well as public and personal functions. They spend so much time together that the bodyguards often develop a close bond with the celebrities they protect and become an inseparable part of their life and entourage. Here are some of the most famous Bollywood celebrity-bodyguard jodis:
Shah Rukh Khan and his bodyguard Ravi Singh
Shah Rukh Khan and his bodyguard Ravi Singh are one of the most talked about celebrity-bodyguard jodi. They are often seen together at public events. Celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan have to be extra cautious when going out, and hence they need dedicated bodyguards for protection. Ravi Singh is known for maintaining a low profile and avoiding publicity. However, he is always close by, ensuring Shah Rukh Khan’s safety at public appearances, film sets, and even court appearances (like during Aryan Khan’s case). Ravi Singh is reportedly the highest-paid bodyguards in Bollywood drawing an estimated annual salary of ₹3 crores (around $400,000 USD). Ravi Singh has been with Shah Rukh Khan for more than 10 years. Bodyguards like Ravi Singh often take on additional responsibilities like crowd management, managing schedules, or even act as a personal assistant as and when required. Apart from SRK, Ravi Singh also provides security to Aryan Khan, Suhana Khan and Abram Khan. This shows the level of trust between them and his expertise in protecting the actor.
Amitabh Bachchan and his bodyguard Jitendra Shinde
Amitabh Bachchan is provided X category security by four Mumbai police constables in two shifts. From 2015 till August 2021 Jitendra Shinde a Mumbai police constable was his personal bodyguard and was providing security arrangements at various events and public appearances. He was however suspended by Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale after it emerged that he had started his own security agency in the name of his wife which was providing security to the Bachchan family and his annual earnings are alleged to the tune of ₹1.5 crore.
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Salman Khan and his bodyguard Shera (Gurmeet Singh Jolly)
Salman Khan’s bodyguard, Shera alias Gurmeet Singh Jolly is perhaps one of the most recognizable celebrity bodyguards in India. He has launched his own security firm called Tiger Security, and has provided security for other celebrities like Justin Bieber and Keanu Reeves. Shera has been with Salman for nearly three decades and is considered quite close to the actor, almost like a family member. Shera earns an impressive monthly salary of around Rs. 15 lakh, amounting to nearly Rs. 2 crore per year.
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Akshay Kumar and his bodyguard Shreysay Thele
Akshay Kumar’s bodyguard Shreysay Thele provides round-the-clock security cover for the actor who does all his stunts himself and accompanies him to all public events. Be it a family outing or a public function, Shreysay is almost always there, silently observing and making sure everything around the actor and his family is in order. Besides providing security to Akshay Kumar, Shreysay Thele also accompanies the actor’s son Aarav on his outings every now and then. Bodyguard Shreysay Thele reportedly draws a salary of Rs. 1.2 crore per year for his security services.
Aamir Khan and his bodyguard Yuvraj Ghorpade
Aamir Khan is another bollwood celebrity who always has a trusted bodyguard escorting him. Yuvraj Ghorpade has been his personal bodyguard for over a decade. Yuvraj reportedly dropped out of school when he was 16 and was doing odd jobs till he joined Ace Security agency in 2002 and was assigned to protect Aamir Khan. Today he earns Rs. 2 crore annually as Aamir Khan’s personal bodyguard. His task is to keep over-eager fans at an arm’s length.
Hrithik Roshan and his bodyguard Mayur Shettigar
Mayur Shettigar with his imposing physique and calm demeanor takes care of Hrithik Roshan’s security. Shettigar accompanies Hrithik Roshan to almost all events and public appearances, ensuring his security and safety. Come hail and storm Mayur Shettigar is always seen by Hrithik Roshan’s side like a shadow. Mayur has been with Hrithik Roshan for quite a while and provided security cover to Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherji, Preeti Zinta and Amir Khan in the past.
Deepika Padukone and her bodyguard Jalaluddin
Deepika Padukone is one of the most talked about actress in Bollywood with a crazy fan following. Every time she goes outdoor, fans rush towards her to take pictures or autographs. There are a few people in the crowd who want to touch her. This makes the job of her personal bodyguard Jalaluddin Shiekh all the more difficult. Jalaluddin always keeps a watchful eye on Deepika during appearances and events. His primary concern always is to ensure that she is safe who makes sure she is safe whenever they are shooting outdoor or travelling. According to reports Deepika ties a rakhi to him and he was responsible for providing security during her wedding with Ranveer Singh.
Anushka Sharma and her bodyguard Sonu
Anushka Sharma is protected by Sonu who is almost like a family member. Such is their bonding that Anushka Sharma celebrated Sonu’s birthday on the sets of her film ‘Zero’. Sonu was her bodyguard even before her marriage. Today, apart from Anushka, he also takes care of Anushka’s husband Virat Kohli and their daughter Vamika’s security. Both Anushka Sharma and her husband Virat Kohli are one of the most famous and influential couples in India. Hence wherever they go out or travel, they are often chased by fans who like to kiss or take a selfie with them. This is where Sonu comes in and plays a part by preventing the hyperactive fans from invading the couple and their family’s privacy. Known for his dedication and attention to detail Sonu reportedly draws a salary of Rs 1.2 crores per year — much higher than the CTC of many CEOs in the country.
Katrina Kaif and her bodyguard Deepak Singh
Being a celebrity has its perks but also have a number of shortcomings. For instance movie stars often face the risk of getting mobbed in public places. This is why film stars need bodyguards who accompany them round the clock wherever they go and protect them. This is what Katrina Kaif’s bodyguard Deepak Singh has been doing for several years. Highly trained and handsome, above six foot tall Deepak is one of the most photogenic and sought after bodyguards in the industry. Apart from Katrina, Deepak Singh has provided security to Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Jacqueline Fernandez, Paris Hilton, and Deepika Padukone on different occasions. Deepak has also provided security to American media personality and socialite Paris Hilton – the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, the founder of Hilton Hotels – a number of times. Deepak has also provided security to a number of international celebrities like John Travolta, Russo Brothers and Juan Mata. Deepak Singh who happens to be actor Ronit Roy’s brother in law, reportedly earns approximately Rs 1 crore per annum from Katrina Kaif alone.
Manisha Koirala and her female bodyguard
Manisha Koirala started a new trend in 2015 when she hired a female bodyguard for her security. “Only women can safeguard each other”, she said trying to justify her decision. This was indeed the beginning of a new trend in the personal security industry because male body guards were increasingly becoming ineffective and could not physically touch or push females in the crowd who wanted to touch, hug, kiss or pink male film stars – just for fun. On the other hand the newly recruited female bodyguards trained in unarmed combat and crowd management – could take on both – the unruly men and women in the crowd who tried to do ‘stupid things’ for sadistic pleasure.
