Characters in Bollywood movie are based on Dubai bad guys

They are two of the world’s most notorious criminals - and they once lived in the UAE.

Now their life stories are coming together in a new Bollywood musical.

Indian gangster Ibrahim Dawood and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout are the inspiration for ‘Jannat 2’, a major new Bollywood movie that premiered in Dubai last night.

The film is a remake of the Nicholas Cage movie ‘Lord of War’, which is based on the life of former Sharjah resident Viktor Bout.

Bout operated the world’s largest gunrunning operation and supplied some of the world’s most notorious militias and drug lords.

He was jailed for 25 years in New York last month after he was caught in a US sting operation.

Now the 2005 Hollywood movie of his activities has been remade in New Delhi. However, actor Emraan Hashmi has based the look and feel of the lead character on heavily moustached Indian gangster Dawood, who has been dubbed ‘the world’s most dangerous man’.

Dawood, who used to live on Al Wasl Road in Dubai, is suspected of terrorism attacks, gunrunning and drug dealing. He is still at large and believed to be living in Pakistan.

Despite the serious subject matter, the crime thriller still has time for plenty of tunes, including the lead song ‘Tu Hi Mera’ (Only You Are Mine).

Hashmi and co-stars Esha Gupta and Randeep Hooda were in Dubai for the premiere at Vox Cinemas at Deira City Centre yesterday.

They also visited Options restaurant to mingle with fans.

Ahead of the premiere, controversial director Kunal Deshmukh promised an action-packed and smart gangster film, in which the star sings of his love for a woman from a wealthier family and tries to woo her by making money through crime.

sean@7days.ae