Here's why Deepika Padukone-Irrfan Khan's film on Sapna didi is 'fictional'

Irrfan Khan and Deepika Padukone

The audience curiosity had piqued when filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj announced that he will be collaborating with Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan for a film based on the life of Ashraf Khan aka Sapna didi. However, in a surprising turn of events, on Monday, the producers issued a statement saying that the movie is "fictional".

The claim threw people off-balance as buzz in the industry was that the movie was a biopic on the gangster, based on writer S Hussain Zaidi's book, Mafia Queens of Mumbai.

Hussain Zaidi

Insiders informed that the story of the Honey Trehan-directed project remains the same. "To avoid any litigation from her family members, the makers decided that they will adapt the film to suit the cinematic vision of the filmmaker."

Zaidi, who was informed about the development yesterday, told mid-day, "There is no confusion between Vishal and me. We are constantly discussing the story."

Stating that the team will be making the narrative "more dramatic", he added, "Since movies provide you with a grand canvas, the story will depart from reality. Some characters will be fictionalised."

For the uninitiated, Sapna didi had planned Dawood Ibrahim's execution to avenge her husband Mehmood Kaliya's death. The film is expected to go on floors early next year.

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