Bollywood's obsession with Dawood Ibrahim

Bollywood often got intertwined with our society and inextricably linked to the real lives of thousands of fans across boundaries.

Often seen as a brainwave for gen-next, Bollywood also came under fire for being irresponsible with its contents.

Bollywood's fascination with the underworld has been a major concern for the censor board.

Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, a notorious gangster from Mumbai has been one of the favorite subjects and highly romantised protagonist in numerous movies.

The recent crop of Bollywood films, taking inspiration from the mafioso and featuring the notorious don Dawood Ibrahim and his D Company seems unending.

This year itself, Bollywood has a lot of Dawood - there is Ram Gopal Varma’s 'Department', Sanjay Gupta-directed 'Shootout at Wadala', Milan Luthria’s 'Once Upon A Time in Mumbai 2', two untitled biopics by Kumar Taurani and Amit Chandra (both featuring Vivek Oberoi), and a sequel to 'Ab Tak Chappan' – all based on the life and times of Dawood Ibrahim. 

The 2002 Indian film 'Company' is loosely based on his activities, as well as its prequel, the 2005 film D. Other Indian crime films loosely based on Ibrahim and his D-Company include Black Friday in 2004, Shootout at Lokhandwala in 2007 and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai in 2010.

Bollywood has been glorifying this criminal who has been a fugitive since 1986 to avoid criminal prosecution.

Sometimes projecting his rise as a don, the shrewd brain behind organised crimes and at other times focusing his personal life.

Indian film industry is earning the moolah by making films on the underworld.

In 'Once Upon A time in Mumbai 2', Akshay Kumar reveals the don’s romantic side and the film shows Dawood’s illicit relationship with a yesteryear’s actress played by Sonakshi Sinha.

Currently on the wanted list of Interpol for organised crime and counterfeiting, Bollywood built up a glamourous image of the underworld, and an aura around the man.

Noted journalist S Hussain Zaidi, who wrote a book on Dawood Ibrahim 'Dongri to Dubai', said "Dawood was a ruffian but then went on to be idolised as the Don Corleone of India by Bollywood".

Former IPS officer turned lawyer and now filmmaker YP Singh is disgruntled with this trend. “They glorify gangsters by making them heroes, who pull off daring stunts and action scenes, but in real life they are merely rats who are holed up in other countries. The film industry must realise, they are encouraging youngsters to adopt crime,” said Singh. 

Bollywood would pay obeisance to him; actors traveling abroad have been accused of making space in their itineraries to wine and dine with the criminal.

Now in the latest Rishi Kapoor will be seen essaying the role of Dawood Ibrahim in Nikhil Advani's next.

After Ajay Devgn in 'Company', Randeep Hooda in 'D', Emraan Hashmi in 'In Once Upon A Time in Mumbai' it's now Rishi Kapoor's turn.

Bollywood have been fed on countless films based on the underworld don and each of these movies has been super hits.

Looks like Dawood's romance with Hindi film will go on for years to come.

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