However, when we called up Milan, he did confirm having signed Ajay for the film but dispelled any notions of his character being based on Haji Mastan. "Ajay is doing my film ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbai’ but it would be wrong to say that his character is based on the notorious gangster Haji Mastan.”

“There is a lot of media speculation going on but there is no truth to it. My film basically talks of how the Mafia came into force for the first time in Mumbai. It's a fast paced action thriller which depicts the crime scenario in Mumbai during the 70's and 80's. We have done research in finding out who were the people who ruled the crime syndicate, how did they operate, what was their code of conduct etc. at that time in Mumbai. But let me make it clear that our film is a totally fictional account and is not based on anybody's life."

So who else stars in the film apart from Ajay Devgan? "We are yet to finalize the other actors. There are 3 female leads also but we are still in the process of developing each character before we can go ahead with the complete casting. As for Ajay, he is the best in this genre and hasn't done a film like this in a while. I needed somebody with controlled intensity. Besides Ajay and I have done 2 films together (‘Chori Chori’ and ‘Kachche Dhaage’). We share a good comfort level. In my last couple of films, I didn't have a suitable role for him. But this time when the opportunity came by, I approached him and am glad that we are working together once again," says the talented filmmaker.