Actor Ajay Devgn has said his upcoming release Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai is a pure work of fiction and was not inspired by any individual's life.
The Balaji Telefilms-produced movie faced legal trouble over claims that it was based on the life of alleged smuggler Haji Mastan's life.
However, Bombay High Court has paved the way for its release tomorrow after producers agreed to insert a disclaimer that the film was not based on late Mastan.
Mastan, who was active in the metropolis in 1970s, is just a reference point and the film is not his life story, Devgn told Press Trust of Indian (PTI).
The Bollywood star, who plays the role of underworld don Sultan Mirza, said preparations for the film took the actors back in time three decades ago.
"We saw a lot of films, photographs and references of the 1970s period. Several looks and costumes were tried before the final look was decided," said the 41-year-old actor, who has essayed the role of gangsters in the past also.
"When you decide on how to approach a character, references are looked at. In this case, Mastan is just a reference. If I am enacting the role of a person suffering from spastic, I will meet such real people as part of preparations for the role. It does not mean I am doing that person's life story on celluloid," he said.