Haji Mastan's adopted son sends Rajinikanth notice over Thalaivar 161

Rajinikanth will be seen next in Kabali director Pa Ranjith's gangster film tentatively titled Thalaivar 161. The film is supposedly be based on the life of Mumbai smuggler and businessman Haji Mastan. Now, the film appears to be in trouble.

A man called Sunder Shekhar has sent a notice to Thalaivar Rajinikanth asking him to not portray his 'father', Haji Mastan, in bad light. Sunder has added that any attempt to make a film on Haji Mastan will invite legal action from his end.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Sunder Shekhar said, "Depicting him as smuggler and underworld don is highly unacceptable and defamatory. He was never convicted in any court for smuggling or underworld activities."

However, Sunder Shekhar is ready to discuss the life of his father with Rajinikanth.

"I am interested in making a biopic on him as am a producer and a registered life time member of Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association," Sunder added.

Haji Mastan, born as Mastan Haider Mirza, was born in 1926 in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. He later migrated to Mumbai when he was eight years old. He was an associate of gangster Varadarajan Mudaliar and Karim Lala and is considered by many to be the mentor of Dawood Ibrahim. Ajay Devgn played a character based on Haji Mastan in the 2010 Bollywood film Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai.

The makers of Thalaivar 161 have, however, offered no comment about Sunder Shekhar's notice. The film will be directed by Pa Ranjith while Dhanush will bankroll the project through his company Wunderbar Films. Santosh Narayanan who composed for Pa Ranjith-Rajinikanth's last film together, Kabali, returns to score for Thalaivar 161 as well. Nothing else about the cast, crew or plot has been revealed yet.

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WATCH: Rajinikanth gets notice from Haji Mastan's adopted son