Chhota Shakeel Age – 37

Chhota Shakeel is the real 'Bhai', Mumbai’s lingo for a gangster, that the Indian film industry lives in complete fear of getting a call from. Just like mentor Dawood, Chhota Shakeel has also been involved in all things criminal ranging from murder and extortion to gunrunning - but if there was a specialization, he could be called a specialist in extortions with the big money spinning industry of Bollywood being his favourite and happiest hunting ground.

Indian intelligence agencies say Chhota Shakeel is an ISI agent. He has been charged with trying to kill Shiv Sena leader Milind Vaidya and planning assaults on film producer Ramesh Sharma and art director Sushankar Manjekar. He has also admitted to being responsible for the murder of Chhota Rajen, a former key aide and lieutenant of Dawood Ibrahim.

Interview: Chhota Shakeel

Author:
Publication: India-Today
Date: January 1, 2001

Chhota Shakeel, an aide of Dawood Ibrahim who is emerging as a challenger, spoke to Special Correspondent Sheela Raval on phone from Karachi. Excerpts:

Q. In an earlier interview, you had denied any links with the Hindi film industry. Now you are one of the main accused in the Rizvi case.
A. It was true then that there was no direct involvement anywhere. But times change. When the other two gangs (of Chhota Rajan and Abu Salem) are making money openly from the film world, why not us? Today we are involved in everything-from extorting money to financing films and helping whoever comes to us with genuine requests.

Q. What kind of help?
A. I have helped many top producers financially. We must have made 20-25 films and earned profits too. Ten more are on the floor today. Instead of extorting money from film personalities, we thought we'd do business with them. And doing business is not a crime. But it seems the industry and the Mumbai Police don't like our idea of being straight. The filmwallahs seem to only understand the language of bullets. So be it.

Q. Was it a business deal with Rizvi for Chori Chori Chupke Chupke?
A. I hardly know Rizvi. He was put behind bars for the wrong reasons. If knowing us is a crime, then why didn't the police arrest Rajan's brother who made Vaastav? Why not Salem's fronts who are producing films for him and organising shows? I have not invested any thing in CCCC.

Q. But the Mumbai Police claim they have concrete evidence of your direct involvement in the film ...
A. There are some 20 cases against me, this is just one more. I am not bothered. Money was invested by Bharat Shah. But when I lose something, I will not keep quiet. I am not silly to wait for a so-called Rs 6 crore profit, which I can collect within a minute if I want. One call is enough to make crores.

Q. Evidence with the police reveals that you were speaking to Rizvi about "eliminating" Rakesh Roshan and pressuring Hrithik to work in his new project ...
A. Rakesh Roshan is a hypocrite. I had asked for money because I had information that he had paid Rs 2 crore to the other two gangs. His father-in-law requested me that we should not demand so much money as Hrithik had just begun his career. Inspite of having concrete information about payments made by them at Moti Mahal in Andheri and through hawala at Zaveri Bazar, I considered his request and asked if Hrithik could act in one of our films. It was not an unreasonable demand. They had agreed. Then they went ahead and complained against us.

Q. So you used pressure tactics?
A. I am mad with them because of their doublespeak. Lato ke bhut baton se nahi mante (some people only understand the language of force).