Somy Ali on should Salman Khan apologise to Bishnoi community: It makes no sense

In an exclusive interview with us, Somy Ali opened up on Lawrence Bishnoi's threats to Salman Khan and why she wants to meet the gangster.

In Short

• Somy Ali defended Salman Khan over the blackbuck incident
• She said Salman didn't know about blackbucks being worshipped by the Bishnoi community
• Somy expressed concern for Salman's safety and condemned violence

Former actor Somy Ali, who also dated actor Salman Khan for a few years in the 90s, opened up about her Instagram post made for gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. While speaking to India Today exclusively, she answered if Salman should comply with Lawrence's demand to apologise to the Bishnoi community for allegedly killing a blackbuck.

In her post, she wished to speak with the gangster who is serving a jail term in Punjab, after he issued death threats to Salman and took responsibility for the killing of politician Baba Siddique. Somy claimed that her ex-boyfriend never knew that blackbucks are worshipped by the Bishnoi community, so there is no reason for him to apologise.

She said, "Why should he apologise for something he didn't know about? That's like doing something inadvertently, unintentionally and being forced to apologise for it. It makes no sense. It's not about ego. People say that he (Salman) is very arrogant and he has a reputation. I have nothing to do with him or his family today. I just don't want anyone murdered, in Bollywood or Hollywood. Violence is never the answer."

She added, "Salman is a very kind person. He has an NGO, and he didn't know that the animal is worshipped by that tribe. Do you think Salman is the only person who goes hunting in that area? But, because he is Salman Khan, they are after him."
When asked if Salman ever talked to him about the incident and claimed innocence, the 48-year-old recalled the actor telling her the same. She said, "The Bishnoi community needs to understand that Salman didn't know. He told me that he had no idea. It's absurd."

"I can assure you that Salman Khan didn't know"

She continued, "I can assure you that Salman didn't know the Bishnoi community worships blackbucks. I have been hunting with Salman many times during outdoor shooting. During the 1998 shooting, he didn't take me because he said 'you prey out loud on purpose and animals start running away'. I don't like hunting as a sport. One time I didn't go, he ended up catching the animal."

Somy elaborated about her viral post in which she requested to meet Lawrence Bishnoi. In an interview with us, she said her post was "misconstrued" as sarcasm and a joke, but that wasn't her intention. The actor, who is now a producer and a social worker active in Los Angeles, shared that he wants to meet Bishnoi in India the way she meets any other victim or criminal as part of her social work.

Somy said she was fascinated to know that one can use Zoom calls in Indian prisons because that's not something permissible in American jails. "My post was completely misconstrued. They thought I was being sarcastic about the fact that he's in a prison, and I was making a joke about it. But, I wasn't. I actually called my mother and told her that 'you know, they allow Zoom calls in Indian prisons'. I was realistically shocked and couldn't fathom people making Zoom calls in American prisons. So, that's one," she explained.

"I want to talk to Lawrence Bishnoi in media's presence"

She went on, "I found out that an interview was conducted in February 2024. I have a degree in broadcast journalism and psychology. I have training in that field. When I watched the interview and with my experience of working with NGOs, I became fascinated by human behaviour. Someone like Lawrence Bishnoi, who has committed a heinous crime, I want to talk to him in person, within the media's presence. I am going to try and do that in November when I come to India."

Somy also made it clear that she has nothing to do with Salman or his family today, but she is concerned about his well-being the way she is worried about anyone else. The former actor said she doesn't believe in violence. "It stems from serious concern for Salman Khan, about the murder. I am anti-death penalty and anti-murder. I am as concerned about Salman as I am about a man walking down the street or my neighbour. I do not want to have a conversation, do not have feelings for Salman. I do not care about him, I don't want to reunite with him. I don't want any publicity from him. I don't want his money. I have my own money. The last time I spoke to Salman was in 2012. I haven't spoken to him in years. The only thing I want is not for anyone to be murdered," she elaborated.

She offered her condolences to Siddique's family. "Whatever happened to Mr Baba Siddique, I want to wish my deepest condolences to his son, Zeeshan, and his entire family. I am very sorry that happened. I do not know Baba Siddique. I am sorry for him the way I will be sorry for anyone who's killed like him," she shared.

During the interview, Somy folded her hands and apologised to the Bishnoi community on Salman's behalf. Somy said, "I, on behalf of Salman Khan, apologise to the community. He didn't know that you worship a blackbuck. I will come to India and visit your temple. I will do the puja and will also donate to your temple."

Somy and Salman dated and lived together for a few years during the late 90s. The two worked in the 1993 film Bulund.