Celebrated security consultant, Yusuf Ibrahim debunks the claims of celebrity bodyguards earning in crores.
When it comes to Bollywood’s A-listers, trusted security personnel and personal bodyguards are a key necessity for stars to navigate the frenzy of fans and shutterbugs. Among them, Shah Rukh Khan’s trusted bodyguard, Shera, and Salman Khan’s Ravi Singh are currently among the most recognised names in the industry. While these megastars are always under media glare, the consistent presence of their bodyguards has led to much speculation about their salaries, and reports claim that they earn in crores. But how accurate are these claims?
Salman’s long-time bodyguard, Gurmeet Singh Jolly urf Shera, has been under the radar for a long time, given his shadow-like presence in the megastar’s public appearances, and apparently earns Rs. 2 crore annually. Reports are also rife that Shah Rukh Khan’s current bodyguard, Ravi Singh is the highest-paid in Bollywood, surpassing even Shera’s impressive salary. Ravi has been working for SRK for over a decade, and he is apparently paid Rs. 2.7 crore annually.
In a recent podcast with Siddharth Kannan, renowned celebrity security consultant, Yusuf Ibrahim addressed these claims. Ibrahim has been providing security for Bollywood stars like Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, and Ranbir Kapoor. He emphasised that the figures reported in the media are often exaggerated. He dismissed Ravi Singh’s alleged salary and explained:
“See, I told you, We don’t really know how much anyone is earning, especially when it comes to these high-profile roles. It's not possible to make such claims.”
However, in Shera’s case, Yusuf acknowledged that the numbers might be different, given his additional business ventures. He allegedly earns a staggering Rs. 15 lakh per month, amounting to an annual income of Rs. 2 crore, a figure higher than top Indian executives. Yusuf told Siddharth Kannan:
“See, Salman Khan’s Shera has his own business, he has his own security company. I think he has multiple businesses. So it is possible that he must be earning it.”
Yusuf revealed that most celebrity bodyguards earn between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 1,00,000 per month. However, stars often cover their bodyguards' essential expenses, such as medical bills and children’s school fees. Commenting on Akshay Kumar’s bodyguard, Shreysay Thele, who is rumoured to earn Rs. 1.2 crore annually, Yusuf shared:
“I don’t have his personal information… Calculate monthly, Rs 10 to Rs 12 lakh, it is possible, not possible too. Depends on what billing is going for your shoot, or events or promotions. How much is your salary? All these things factor in. How many days a month your star is working, the billing depends on that! All these figures, I feel, just chhaap diya hai kisine.”
Yusuf had been a trusted bodyguard of Shah Rukh Khan for several years. During the interview with Siddharth Kannan, he recalled one remarkable incident when he was in awe of Shah Rukh’s calm demeanour in the face of public frenzy. During an unplanned IPL visit to Ajmer Sharif Dargah on a busy Friday, fans swarmed the area, causing such frenzy that police resorted to a lathi charge. Despite the overwhelming crowd, Shah Rukh remained composed, leaving Yusuf in awe of the star’s cool demeanour.
What are your views on Yusuf Ibraim’s revelations?
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