Exclusive! Mushtaq Sheikh, son of Ahmedabad-based gangster Abdul Latif says he will the makers of upcoming Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Raees' to court once the film is out
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 22, 2016)

After the trailer of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Raees' went viral, don Abdul Latif (pictured below, left)'s son Mushtaq Sheikh has issued a fresh warning to the makers of the film. He had filed a Rs 100-crore defamation case in April. While the makers claim that they are working on "pure fiction", Shaikh says the depiction is lopsided.

Earlier in April, Ahmedabad-based liquor Mafioso, Abdul Latif's son Mushtaq Sheikh filed a Rs 100 crore defamation suit in the Gujarat High Court against the makers of the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan-starrer, 'Raees'. Demanding a stay on the film's release, he alleged that the protagonist's character, played by SRK, was based on his late father.

Although Mushtaq had admitted that the film's team had consulted his family, he alleges that they weren't aware that the don would be portrayed as one who ran a brothel and used women to deliver liquor consignments.

Following the release of the film's trailer earlier this month, the filmmakers issued a statement insisting that the thriller is in fact "a pure work of fiction". "['Raees' is] not based on any person; living or dead... It is an imagined crime thriller set against the backdrop of Gujarat," the statement read.

While the court, citing these assertions, advised Mushtaq (left) to await the film's release, the latter isn't buying into the assurance. Speaking to hitlist, he said, "I have watched the film's trailer, and what they (makers) say doesn't matter. It is clearly based on my father's life. I will wait till the matter is taken up in court again after the film's release."

The film's producers, Excel Entertainment, refused to comment on the story, saying they stand by the press statement issued. Mushtaq's lawyer Harsh Gajjar argued that though they haven't filed for interim injunction, they intend to take action once things are clearer. "(Latif's) family was approached by the makers in 2014 to reveal details of his look and work. My client's family parted with the information with the faith that it wouldn't be commercialized. But the depiction looks lopsided. He [Latif] has been made to look like a gunda. None of the positive work he did, including winning the elections and helping people, has been highlighted," he said, referring to the Robin Hood-esque stories of him being an outlaw but helping people find jobs.

Harsh added, "The facts have been manipulated to defame Latif. We are waiting to check if the family is credited [for sharing the information]. My client must be compensated for the damage caused to his family's reputation."

Mushtaq's personal legal counsel, Ilyas Pathan, said, "Another major bone of contention is the depiction of Latif's wife. No hijab-wearing lady of Daryapuri has ever been caught for being involved in the liquor business. The local Muslim community has taken offense to the inappropriate depiction and intends to file a petition. Haraam ki cheezein dikha rahe ho jo ki sach nahin hai."

Distances himself from Mustak Ahmed (son of Abdul Latif), who has now sent Khan a legal notice and made monetary demands
Subhash K Jha (DNA; November 14, 2016)

When he started shooting for Raees, Shah Rukh Khan visited Gujarat at least twice to meet Mustak Ahmed Abdul Latif Shaikh at the latter’s invitation. This was done to enable SRK to understand his Raees character Abdul Latif (also Mustak’s father).

Says a source, “At the outset, Raees was being made with Mustak’s active involvement. He provided inputs and kept track of the shooting to ensure the film was going smoothly.”

Thereafter, it came to light that the entire Latif family was very close to the ruling BJP government. Says the source, “When Shah Rukh realised his meetings with Latif were being given political overtones, he decided to keep a distance. When Mustak invited Shah Rukh again, the actor didn’t respond. This incensed Mustak who felt affronted by the star’s snub and decided to dissociate from the project.” Now it is learnt that Mustak has asked for a huge amount money (rumoured to be Rs 10 crores) to allow the film’s release.

However, a source from the production says, “SRK is away, shooting for The Ring and thereafter, will be tied up, promoting Dear Zindagi. He’s extremely busy and therefore, unavailable.”

The inspiration
In Raees, Shah Rukh Khan plays a character apparently inspired by Abdul Latif, an alleged gangster who ran the illicit liquor business in Gujarat during the peak of Prohibition in the 1990s. Allegedly, Latif had over 40 murder cases filed against him.