HC okays release of gangster film

With producer Balaji Telefilms agreeing to issue a press statement saying the film, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, is not based on the life of alleged smuggler Haji Mastan, decks have been cleared for its release.

With producer Balaji Telefilms agreeing to issue a press statement saying the film, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, is not based on the life of alleged smuggler Haji Mastan, decks have been cleared for its release.

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The Bombay High Court was hearing a plea on Wednesday filed by Mastan’s adopted son Sundar Shekhar alias Suleiman Mirza, who was seeking a stay on the movie’s release and demanding a preview screening.

His contention was that he needed to see the film to check whether it was defamatory. Justice R.C. Chavan did not accept Mirza’s demands after Balaji Telefilms agreed to issue a statement that states that the producer has “never represented before anyone that the film is based on Haji Mastan Mirza, it is a pure work of fiction and characters therein are fictitious”.

The court asked the producer to issue the statement by Wednesday evening, which will be in addition to a similar disclaimer at the start of the Ajay Devgn starrer.

The sessions court had on Tuesday directed the producer to issue this disclaimer.

Mirza had taken exception to the fact that his late father had been portrayed as a don in the movie and had argued that though there were criminal cases registered against Mastan, there were no convictions.

So, Mastan could not be portrayed as a gangster. To this, Balaji Telefilms had said the movie was based on underworld dons and that there was not even a mention of Mastan’s name.

The film, directed by Milan Luthria, stars Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, Prachi Desai and Kangana Ranaut, and is scheduled for release on July 30.