Haji Mastan Mirza
Haji Mastan Mirza, also known as Sultan Mirza and popularly known as Mastan Mirza was the Godfather of the Mumbai Mafia in 70s. He was like a mentor for them and his syndicate worked like an umbrella organisation for the underworld. Originally he hailed from Tamilnadu.
At the peak of his criminal career, Haji Mastan operated a powerful smuggling syndicate in Mumbai or the esrtwhile Bombay and along the Gujarat coast and later he diversified into film financing and real estate business.
Haji Mastan was known to be a shrewd businessman and a cunning deal-maker. He always maintained friendly relations with the police and government officials and often promoted peace between rival gangs, and was good friends with Kareem Lala of the Pathan Gang, Vardharajan Mudaliar, Hassan Patni and Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.
Very early in his criminal career, Haji Mastan realised the importance of being seen among the famous personalities from politics and the film industry as a symbol of power. Therefore, he hobnobbed among the city's rich and famous and was frequently seen with Bollywood personalities at public functions.
Haji Mastan was arguably the most influential mafia don of his time. He was also seen as a "style icon" by many due to his extravagant lifestyle including immaculate white clothes, white shoes, white Mercedes cars and expensive gold watches. Haji Mastan flaunted an extravagant lifestyle to appear affluent and influential.
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