Once Upon a Time in Mumbai is cleared by the Mumbai civil court

Balaji Motion Pictures’ upcoming movie, Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, has been cleared by a Mumbai Civil court on July 20, 2010. The court refused to impose a stay on the release of the movie and ordered the makers to provide a disclaimer in the beginning of the movie clarifying that the movie has no resemblance to the life of Haji Mastan, a notorious gangster of the 70s.

On July 19, 2010, Sundar Shaekhar, alias Suleman Mirza, the adopted son of Haji Mastan, and the Bharatiya Minorities Suraksha Mahasangh, an organization founded by Mastan, filed a complaint in the court seeking a stay on the release of Once Upon a Time in Mumbai saying that the movie portrayed Haji Mastan as a “Don” and linked him to personalities like Dawood Ibrahim. Suleman Mirza asked for a “permanent order of injunction.”

Suleman Mirza alleged that director of the movie, Milan Luthria claimed that the movie is based on the life of Haji Mastan and it would derogate him.

Ekta Kapoor’s lawyer, Dinesh Gandhi argued that Ekta Kapoor did not make any such remark to any newspaper. He said, “They can publish whatever they want Have they quoted us?...If Haji Mastan was not an underworld person as you say, then why are you connecting him to a film based on the underworld?''

Gandhi also stated in a latter that his client had denied all the allegations and the movie is fictional work. Gandhi also said that if Mirza had any problem with the content of the movie, then he should approach the censor board and register his complain.

Mirza said that he wanted to watch movie prior to its release and if they were dissatisfied they would move to the High Court. He also said that he would approach the censor board and stage a dharna.