Bollywood movies based on real life gangsters Abu Salem Dawood Ibrahim Haji Mastan

From Vaastav to Gangster: 10 Bollywood movies based on real-life gangsters Abu Salem, Dawood Ibrahim, Haji Mastan

The recent conviction of gangster Abu Salem in the 1993 blast case by TADA court has caught the headlines on Thursday. While many are rejoicing the conviction, the judgement has once again highlighted Bollywood's affair with the underworld as Abu Salem was said to be dating B-town actres Monica Bedi. Besides, the silver screen has often been a witness to B-town's love towards the underworld in the form of movies revolving around several mafias and their gangs. Interestingly, underworld and mafia gangs have always been one of the most interesting subjects for filmmakers and the directors have recreated the lives of gangsters on silverscreen time and again. From tracing their growth in the mafia world to their cross-border connection, women in the lives and their eventual downfalls, the lives of the gangsters have always been a perfect plot for a Bollywood movie. Here we bring you a list of Bollywood movies based on real-life gangsters which has rocked the box office:

From Vaastav to Gangster: 10 Bollywood movies based on real-life gangsters Abu Salem, Dawood Ibrahim, Haji Mastan

Dayavan - Helmed by Feroz Khan, this 1988 release was based on the life of Varadarajan Mudaliar. Popularly known as Vardha Bhai, he was said to be one of the most powerful gangsters in Mumbai for two decades during early 1960s to 1980s along with Haji Mastan and Karim Lala. Interestingly, Dayavan was the Hindi remake of Mani Ratnam’s 1987 superhit Nayakan which had Kamal Haasan in the lead. In the Hindi remake actor Vinod Khanna was seen essaying the role of Vardha Bhai along with Madhuri Dixit, Aditya Pancholi, Feroz Khan and Amrish Puri in key roles

From Vaastav to Gangster: 10 Bollywood movies based on real-life gangsters Abu Salem, Dawood Ibrahim, Haji Mastan

Vaastav - Featuring Sanjay Dutt in the lead, this Mahesh Manjrekar directorial is said to be based on the life of underworld gangster Chhota Rajan. Released in 1999, Vaastav revolves around the a young man Raghu, who is unwittingly caught in the power struggle of Mumbai's mafia and traces his journey - both rise and downfall as a gangster. Vastav is touted to be one of the cult classics of Indian cinema and did a stupendous business at the box office.

From Vaastav to Gangster: 10 Bollywood movies based on real-life gangsters Abu Salem, Dawood Ibrahim, Haji Mastan

Once Upon A Time in Mumbai - This 2010 release was said to be based on the life of Haji Mastan, was said to be the first don of Mumbai. Haji Mastan, who was active in the 1960s and 1970s, was touted as style icon who had some principles even in the mafia world and the underworld was said to be getting organised under his reign. Helmed by Milan Luhtria, Once Upon A Time in Mumbai captures Haji Mastan life and his fall in the underworld and also throws light on Dawood Ibrahim's (Mastan's disciple) rise to power. The movie featured Ajay Devgn in the role of Haji Mastan and Emraan Haashmi in the role of Dawood Ibrahim.

From Vaastav to Gangster: 10 Bollywood movies based on real-life gangsters Abu Salem, Dawood Ibrahim, Haji Mastan

Deewar - Starring megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the lead, Deewar was another Bollywood flick based on the life of underworld don Haji Mastan. The 1975 release crime drama was helmed by Yash Chopra and captured the struggle of two brother who fell victim to corruption. While one of the brothers went on to become a police officer, the elder one decide to take on the system and create a world of his own making him the first don of the city. Deewar is said to be the first real homage Bollywood had paid to a real life don.

From Vaastav to Gangster: 10 Bollywood movies based on real-life gangsters Abu Salem, Dawood Ibrahim, Haji Mastan

Gangster - Starring Shiney Ahuja, Emraan Hashmi and Kangana Ranaut in the lead, this 2006 release is said to be loosely based on the life gangster Abu Salem and his affair with Bollywood actress Monica Bedi. Helmed by Anurag Basu, Gangster was declared a hit at the box office and the cast won several accolades as well.

From Vaastav to Gangster: 10 Bollywood movies based on real-life gangsters Abu Salem, Dawood Ibrahim, Haji Mastan

Shootout At Wadala - Helmed by Sanjay Gupta, the movie was based on the life of gangster Manya Surve (played by John Abraham), one of the Mumbai dons who did leave an impact on the underworld. It is reported that Surve was a well educated criminal who used to plan robberies like an expert. He was killed in an encounter by Mumbai police which turned out to be the city's first recorded encounter.

From Vaastav to Gangster: 10 Bollywood movies based on real-life gangsters Abu Salem, Dawood Ibrahim, Haji Mastan

Company - A Ram Gopal Varma directoral, this 2002 release is said to be loosely based in underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his close aide Chhota Rajan. Company displayed the infrastructure of underworld and the brutal reality of the mafia gangs. The movie featured Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi, Antara Mali and Manisha Koirala in key roles and was quite acclaimed by audience and critics.

From Vaastav to Gangster: 10 Bollywood movies based on real-life gangsters Abu Salem, Dawood Ibrahim, Haji Mastan

Raees - Starring superstar Shah Rukh Khan in the lead, the mvoie was said to be based on criminal Abdul Latif's life, a gangster from Gujarat. Helmed by Rahul Dholakia, Raees features the rise fall of Abdul Latif who was said to one of the associates of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Latif was shot and killed by the police in Ahmedabad in an alleged 'encounter' in 1997.

From Vaastav to Gangster: 10 Bollywood movies based on real-life gangsters Abu Salem, Dawood Ibrahim, Haji Mastan

Daddy - Based on the life of gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli, this Ashim Ahluwalia directorial stars Arjun Rampal in the lead. The intriguing trailer of Daddy left everyone amazed as it gave a glimpse of how the shutdown of Mumbai's textile mills hiked the underworld activities in Mumbai. It not just shows the story of Arun Gawali as a ganster but also shed light on his political career. The movie is slated to release on September 8.

From Vaastav to Gangster: 10 Bollywood movies based on real-life gangsters Abu Salem, Dawood Ibrahim, Haji Mastan

Haseena: Queen Of Mumbai - The Apoorva Lakhia directorial stars Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor in the lead and traces the life of Dawood Ibrahim's sister Haseena Parkar. Shraddha is seen playing the titular role in the movie along with brother Siddhanth Kapoor who essays the role of the underworld don. Haseena: Queen Of Mumbai is slated to release on September 22.