Anu Aggarwal on dealing with fame as big as Shah Rukh Khan's: 'We had like guards coming with guns... It was madness'

Anu Aggarwal, who shot to fame with the blockbuster Aashiqui, recently opened up about the whirlwind of stardom she experienced early in her career. From overwhelming fan frenzy to the darker undercurrents of Bollywood’s past, she shared candid insights on how fame changed her life and how the industry has evolved over the years.

Overwhelming Fame and Safety Concerns

In conversation with Pinkvilla, Anu recalled how overwhelming the attention became. She described it as a frightening experience, with fans crowding outside her building day and night. Fortunately, she lived in a government-allotted MLA/MP building, which meant there was police protection in place. Armed guards—sometimes up to ten—were stationed at the gates to control the crowd and prevent anyone from entering. “It was madness,” she said, looking back at the surreal intensity of her early stardom.

The actress revealed that during her peak fame, fans would come from different countries just to catch a glimpse of her building, similar to the craze Shah Rukh Khan experiences today. She mentioned that Shah Rukh is now her neighbor and reflected on how intense her own stardom was back then, admitting she eventually chose to step away from the spotlight to escape the overwhelming attention.

Underworld Influence in Bollywood

She also revealed that during her time, Bollywood was heavily influenced by underworld figures like Dawood Ibrahim, with many deals happening behind the scenes. She explained that a significant portion of the film industry's money was linked to the underworld.

Changing Times: A New Bollywood Landscape

During the interview, the actress also shared her perspective on the current state of the film industry. She mentioned that she finds today’s scene much more interesting compared to five or ten years ago. Noting that filmmaking has evolved globally, including the rise of South Indian cinema, she observed that audiences have become more discerning and no longer simply flock to films based solely on star power.