Acclaimed director Vishal Bhardwaj has finally locked in his leading man for his gangster thriller based on the life of Hussain Ustara. After years in the pipeline, the project, earlier titled ‘Sapna Didi’, will star Kartik Aaryan in the titular role. This will be the first collaboration between Bhardwaj and Aaryan.
New Details
According to a recent social media post by film journalist Rahul Raut, the film will be a gritty thriller with Aaryan portraying the fearless gangster Hussain Ustara, who locked horns with the notorious underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Reports suggest that the script, originally intended for the late Irrfan Khan and Deepika Padukone, has been reworked "to focus on Ustara's perspective," the report says.
CONFIRMED!! #KartikAaryan and #VishalBhardwaj collaborate for a gritty thriller, produced by #SajidNadiadwala...
— Rahul Raut (@Rahulrautwrites) April 1, 2024
Kartik to play #HussainUstara, a fearless don who stood against the underworld's kingpin #DawoodIbrahim... It's reportedly the same #SapnaDidi project Bhardwaj was… pic.twitter.com/TJkkGiZoV4
The report further hints at the film's shooting schedule, revealing a September 2024 commencement date. However, the casting for the female lead, presumably based on Sapna Didi, remains unconfirmed.
Who Was Hussain Ustara?
Hussain Ustara was a Mumbai-based gangster known for his rivalry with Dawood Ibrahim. Bhardwaj reportedly wrote a script based on Ustara's life years ago. Author S Hussain Zaidi, known for his book 'Dongri to Dubai', provided details on Ustara through his social media series 'The Source'.
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Zaidi's account reveals that Ustara's real name was Hussain Sheikh. At a young age, he received the nickname 'Ustara' after a particularly brutal fight that left a long, clean gash on his opponent. "It is said that a long incision had been made from shoulder to bottom," Zaidi wrote. "The doctors were stunned to see such a cut. They did not understand how to operate." According to Zaidi, only a surgeon could make such a clean cut, and that too with the help of his scalpel.
The Story Of Sapna Didi
The other half of the story revolves around Sapna Didi, whose real name was Ashraf Khan. Ashraf's husband, Mahmood, was reportedly associated with Dawood Ibrahim. When Mahmood was killed in a police encounter, Ashraf, unaware of his underworld (Actresses Connected With Underworld) connections, sought revenge against Dawood.
Ashraf's quest for revenge led her to Hussain Ustara, a rival of Dawood. Initially sceptical, Ustara is said to have been impressed by Ashraf's resolve and agreed to help. "He trained her in martial arts and weapon handling," the report says.
Ashraf, now known as Sapna Didi, became a police informant, providing intel on Dawood's drug and gambling operations. She even formed her own gang "to loot Dawood's smuggled goods and make profit by selling them," the report reveals.
A Deadly End
One account suggests that Sapna sought help from gangster Arun Gawli, Dawood's arch-rival, but was turned down due to mistrust. "Gawli refused to help, saying that he could not trust people 'like him,'" the report says. It was then that she adopted the alias Sapna and formed her gang. Sapna even attempted to assassinate Dawood during a cricket match, but the plan failed.
Dawood's right-hand man, Chhota Shakeel, discovered Sapna's plan and exacted revenge. Sapna was brutally murdered by Shakeel's men. Despite Sapna's demise, Ustara continued to lead his gang for several years. However, in September 1998, he was ambushed and killed by Shakeel's men while leaving his girlfriend's residence.
Kartik Aaryan's Upcoming Projects
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This gangster thriller marks a new chapter for Kartik Aaryan, who recently wrapped up the first schedule of Anees Bazmee's comedy horror film ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’. The film also stars Triptii Dimri and Vidya Balan. Aaryan has a busy slate ahead, with Kabir Khan's sports drama ‘Chandu Champion’ and the upcoming musical romance ‘Aashiqui 3’.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
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