During the 1980s and 1990s, the Mumbai underworld was defined by the influence of organized crime syndicates that exerted significant control over the city. At the core of these operations were professional shooters, or hitmen, who carried out targeted violence to maintain gang authority and resolve territorial disputes. These individuals acted as the operational backbone for crime bosses, facilitating the expansion and protection of illicit interests.

While shooters continue to be utilized by criminal elements in the modern era, analysts suggest that their status within these organizations has remained largely disposable. Despite the high-stakes nature of their work, shooters are often treated as expendable assets rather than permanent members of the criminal hierarchy. This dynamic reflects a broader trend where the risk of detection or elimination falls primarily on the individuals executing the violence, while the leadership structures remain insulated from the immediate consequences of their operations. The reliance on these figures persists, yet the relationship between the shooters and the underworld leadership remains transactional and precarious.