Shootout... runs into legal row

REAL OR FAKE? Vivek Oberoi plays the role of Maya Dolas—an alleged gangster who was killed in an encounter in 1991.

Featured Blog

Rajdeep Sardesai

26/11: Terror comes precariously close

Featured Slideshows

Mumbai: Shootout at Lokhandwala—a film based on a real life encounter that took place in the Mumbai suburb in 1991 has run into trouble. The mother of one of the encounter victims has taken the filmmakers to court.

In the film, actor Vivek Oberoi plays the role of Maya Dolas—an alleged gangster who worked for real-life underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and got killed in an encounter. Dola’s mother Ratnaprabha has filed a complaint in the Sessions court in Mumbai pressing defamation charges against filmmakers (White Feather films) asking for an injunction to stay the release of the film.

The reason cited by Ratnaprabha is actor Amrita Singh’s (who plays her in the film) alleged misstatement of facts in a tabloid interview.

“Amrita Singh says Dola’s mother was a crude woman. And that Dola killed his father at the age of 9, which is distortion of truth. Dola’s father died a natural death in 1977,” said prosecution lawyer Chandrakant Mishra.

The film's producer though defends the movie and says building a fictional account around a real life situation is the right of a filmmaker.

“We have apologised to her for any misrepresentation. But the truth is that we have fictionalized the character and the situations so that they do not resemble anyone living or dead,” said Sanjay Gupta Producer and Scriptwriter.

Luckily for movie buffs the Sessions court has dismissed the request for an injunction, which means the movie's release, is still on track. However Ratnaprabha is not disheartened.

“We are taking the matter to the High Court,” said Chandrakant Mishra Prosecution Lawyer.

With Ratnaprabha on the warpath, the film producers may just have to run for cover before the Shootout hits the big screens.