Haji Mastan

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Haji Mastan Mirza popularly known as Haji Mastan OR Gul Mastan; was an infamous Mumbai (Bombay) gangster and smuggler in the 1960s and 70s. Mastan became the first celebrity gangster of the city, expanding his clout in the Bollywood. As Mastan's influence in Bollywood grew, he began to produce films and cast his mistress, an aspiring starlet into small roles. He was also known for his links with the legendary actor Dilip Kumar.^[1]^[2] During the Indian Emergency (1975 - 77) he was imprisoned. Haji Mastan became as a Muslim leader in 1984. He formed Dalit Muslim Surakhsha Maha Sangh in 1985-86. He did not know how to read or write English, Hindi or Urdu. Aslam Kiratpuri a well known journalist, gave him ideas how to speak in public meetings after which he became a good speaker. In the year 1994 he died in Mumbai.

He migrated to Mumbai from Madras at the age of 17 , in 1955. He later became so powerful as to become indispensable to the Political leadership of Maharashtra^{[citation needed]}. He was an avid muscleman , and though he stood only 5 feet 7 inches in height , he was very strongly-built.

Haji Mastan planned his own foray into films with a project titled Mere Garib Nawaz which failed to take off^{[citation needed]}. Deewar (1975 film) - a well recognized film in Bollywood's crime genre - is based on the life of Haji Mastan. Unlike real life, the protagonist in the film, who survived as long as he bore a plate with the number 786 which is significant to Islam, dies at the hands of his honest brother.

To give the role authenticity, Amitabh Bachchan reportedly met Haji Mastan to study his mannerisms.