Best gangster films of Bollywood

Bollywood has always had a penchant for gangster or underworld films. Though there are quite a few films that have been inspired by real-life goons, here are some of the top Bollywood gangster flicks of all time...

Gangs of Wasseypur

Setting a new benchmark for gangster films, Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur, which focused on the coal mafia of Dhanbad, opened to rave reviews. The film featured a stellar cast, including the likes of Manoj Bajpai, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Huma Qureshi, Richa Chadda and Tigmanshu Dhulia in lead roles. Telling the story of war between criminal dynasties, Gangs of Wasseypur was praised for its gripping narrative and thrilling plot dynamics. Apart from being commercially successful, the film won numerous accolades at film festivals and also went on to bag several awards.

Satya

This Ram Gopal Verma film follows the story of a young man who comes to Mumbai in search of a job. What follows are a series of events that draw him into the underworld. The film is known for its impressive screenplay, fine camera work, remarkable performances and realistic portrayal of the underworld. It also marked the introduction of an advanced genre of film making, which came to be known as Mumbai noir. This modern masterpiece is regarded to be one of the best gangster films ever made.

Company

Ram Gopal Verma’s Company revolved around Mumbai’s underworld wars. Starring Mohanlal, Ajay Devgan, Manisha Koirala, Vivek Oberoi, and Antara Mali, this film is said to be based on the D-Company, Dawood Ibrahim’s mafia organisation. The story traces the experiences of a young man named Chandu, as he climbs the underworld crime ladder. Company, not only received positive reviews, but also went on to become the highest grossing Hindi film of 2002.

Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai

This film traces the growth of Mumbai’s underworld, and is said to be based on real-life gangsters Haji Mastan and Dawood Ibrahim. Featuring Ajay Devgan, Emraan Hashmi, Prachi Desai, Kangana Ranaut and Randeep Hooda in lead roles, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai was a box office hit. The extremely dramatic narrative and whistle-worthy dialogues made this film an interesting watch. Though the film received much appreciation, its sequel Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara failed to create any magic at the box office.

Vaastav: The Reality

Director Mahesh Manjrekar’s Vaastav: The Reality is believed to be loosely based on the life of underworld gangster Chota Rajan. This hard-hitting film delves into the realities of the underworld. Known to be one of Sanjay Dutt’s best performances, Vaastav was successful in its attempt to show that the underworld is not just about bloody fights, but consisted of human beings who are capable of emotions.

Shootout at Lokhandwala

In the film Shootout at Lokhandwala, Vivek Oberoi essayed the role of Maya Dolas, an underworld goon who is looked after by his mother. The film is based on the Lokhandwala Complex shootout that took place in 1991. Shootout at Lokhandwala saw some fine performances, including that of Amrita Singh as Aai and Sanjay Dutt as the Additional Commissioner of Police. Most of the scenes in this film were shot at the actual location where the shootout took place.

Shootout at Wadala

Sanjay Gupta’s Shootout at Wadala is regarded to be based on the life of Manya Surve, a Mumbai-based gangster. This film brings to the large screen the first-ever registered encounter of Mumbai police, during the course of which gangster Manya Surve was shot dead. This film was liked by the audience and was commercially successful as well. A sequel to Shootout at Lokhandwala, this film, featuring John Abraham in the lead role, is also said to be loosely based on Hussain Zaidi’s book Dongri to Dubai.