O'Romeo is taking over the box office and critics by storm. The film, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, is based on a chapter from S. Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges' book Mafia Queens of Mumbai. The film's plot takes inspiration from the story of Ashraf (Sapna Didi), who sought to kill Dawood Ibrahim, and her association with gangster Hussain Ustara, played by Shahid Kapoor. As the crime drama catches steam, it is the perfect time to go re-watch (or watch, if you haven't) Bollywood films that are based on real-life gangsters.
Updated On: 2026-02-13 08:18 PM IST
Compiled by : Amarylisa Gonsalves
Vaastav: The Reality (1999)
Sanjay Dutt's iconic film is believed to be loosely inspired by the life of gangster Chhota Rajan.
Nayakan (1987)
The Tamil film starring Kamal Haasan is loosely based on the life of Varadarajan Mudaliar, a prominent Mumbai-based don. The film was remade in Hindi in 1988 by the name Dayavan.
Daddy (2017)
Arjun Rampal-starrer biographical drama was about Arun Gawli, a feared don-turned-politician from Mumbai's Dagdi Chawl.
Rakta Charitra (2010)
This two-part political crime movie is based on the life of Paritala Ravindra, a powerful gangster-turned-politician from Andhra Pradesh.
Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)
Alia Bhatt's National Award-winning film was based on the life of Gangubai Harjivandas, who rose to become a powerful figure in Mumbai's Kamathipura. Interestingly, this film too was based on Hussain Zaidi's Mafia Queens of Mumbai.
Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010)
This film is said to be loosely based on the lives of Haji Mastan, played by Ajay Devgn and Dawood Ibrahim, played by Emraan Hashmi and thier rise in the Mumbai underworld.
Company (2002)
Starring Ajay Devgn, Company is loosely based on the real-life relationship and fallout between Dawood Ibrahim and his former protégé Chhota Rajan.
Shootout at Wadala (2013)
The film starring John Abraham is based on the infmaous 1982 police encounter of gangster Manya Surve.
Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007)
The film starring Vivek Oberoi and Sanjay Dutt recreates the 1991 gun battle between the Mumbai Police and the gang led by Maya Dolas.
Black Friday (2004)
This film is based on Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts, a book by Hussain Zaidi about the 1993 Bombay bombings and the involvement of Tiger Memon and Dawood Ibrahim.
Haseena Parkar (2017)
Haseena Parker is based on the life of Dawood Ibrahim's sister, Haseena Parkar, and her influence in the Mumbai underworld.
Gangs of Wasseypur (2012)
The Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer, directed by Anurag Kashyap, is based on the decades-long blood feud between criminal families involved in the coal mafia of Dhanbad.
