In the late 1980s and 1990s, a period marked by the significant influence of the underworld on the Bollywood film industry, numerous prominent actresses were rumored to have connections with the infamous Dawood Ibrahim. Among them was Anita Ayub, a Pakistani actress whose career trajectory took a dramatic turn after being linked to the notorious gangster.

Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Anita Ayub pursued her education and earned a master's degree in English Literature from Karachi University. Aspiring to become an actress, she moved to Mumbai, India, and enrolled in the Roshan Taneja School of Acting to hone her skills. In 1993, while in India for a commercial shoot, she caught the eye of veteran actor and filmmaker Dev Anand, who was seeking a fresh face for his film "Pyar Ka Tarana". Anand cast her in the lead role, marking her Bollywood debut.

"Pyar Ka Tarana" didn't fare well. However, Dev Anand cast Anita again in his film "Gangster" in 1995. It was around this time that rumors of a relationship between Anita Ayub and Dawood Ibrahim began to surface. Despite Anita never acknowledging these rumors, they gained traction and significantly impacted her career.

In 1995, producer Javed Siddiqui reportedly refused to cast Anita in his film, and was allegedly murdered by Dawood Ibrahim's men. This incident solidified the perception of Anita's association with Dawood and further ostracized her from the industry. A Pakistani magazine, Fashion Central, added fuel to the fire by alleging that many in Bollywood suspected Anita of being a Pakistani spy, leading to a virtual ban on her.

Adding to the turmoil, Anita reportedly turned down a role in the film "Bulandi" opposite Salman Khan, due to disagreements with the director over creative changes. This decision further fueled speculation about her dwindling career prospects in Bollywood.

Faced with mounting allegations and a stalled career, Anita Ayub left India and returned to Pakistan. In 1995, she married Saumil Patel, an Indian Gujarati businessman, and relocated to New York, where they had a son. However, their marriage eventually ended in divorce, and Anita later married Pakistani businessman Subak Majeed. Since then, she has remained out of the public eye, living abroad, away from the spotlight of both India and Pakistan.

Anita Ayub's story serves as a cautionary tale about the dark side of Bollywood and the devastating consequences of alleged connections with the criminal underworld. While she initially showed promise as a rising star, her rumored association with Dawood Ibrahim overshadowed her talent and ultimately led to her downfall.