The Dark Underbelly of a Bollywood Romance
The 2001 romantic drama Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, directed by Abbas-Mustan and featuring a star-studded cast including Salman Khan, Preity Zinta, and Rani Mukerji, is often noted for its early, albeit flawed, portrayal of surrogacy in Indian cinema. However, the film's legacy is overshadowed by its notorious connections to the Mumbai underworld, a web of intrigue that ensnared its financier, Bharat Shah, who was initially unaware of these dangerous links.
How the Film Came Together
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, who had previously co-produced Dil Se.. with Shah, recounted the project's origins in a conversation with journalist Hussain Zaidi. "At a point of time, he (Bharat Shah) got a guy who told him he has Salman Khan's dates. So, he said, 'Okay, cool.' But since that guy didn't have a film background and wasn't even rich, Bharat bhai called Salman," Varma explained. "Salman told him, 'Yes, I've given him dates.' That reassured Bharat bhai enough for him to give the money and the film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke started."
The Underworld Connection Emerges
Shah's confidence was short-lived. He later discovered that the film's producer, Nazim Rizvi, allegedly had ties to the notorious underworld figure Chhota Shakeel. Varma described Shah's perspective at the time: "After some time, he got to know the producer, Nazim Rizvi, has some connection with Chhota Shakeel. But he thought he's doing a legal business, and if the producer has some underworld connection, how does that concern him? He's himself not even a criminal, but just associated with a criminal."
Escalation and Extortion
The situation intensified when an unnamed businessman from the film industry received an extortion call demanding Rs 5 crore. In desperation, he turned to Shah for assistance, hoping that Rizvi's connection to Shakeel could mediate the crisis. Through negotiations, the demand was reduced to Rs 2 crore.
Soon, other industry figures began approaching Shah for similar help. Despite his interventions, Shah was not profiting financially from these acts. "But he wasn't getting any money. He was just helping out. But the cops were tapping his phone," Varma recalled. "He was trembling with shock and fear. The cops suggested maybe Shakeel was acting for you. So, Bharat bhai said, 'Why would he act for me? I'm just a filmmaker.'"
Arrests and Legal Consequences
In 2001, the Mumbai Police arrested both Shah and Rizvi. Shah was convicted for failing to disclose Rizvi's alleged underworld links and sentenced to one year in prison. However, having already spent 14 months in custody during the trial, he was released immediately. Meanwhile, Rizvi and his associate Abdul Rahim Allahbaksh Khan were found guilty of maintaining underworld connections and extorting members of the film industry. They were each fined Rs 15 lakh and sentenced to six years in jail.
Bharat Shah's Legacy in Bollywood
Before this controversy, Bharat Shah, a prominent diamond merchant, was one of the most influential financiers in Bollywood. His extensive portfolio included backing major production houses such as:
- Yash Raj Films
- Dharma Productions
- Dreamz Unlimited
- Red Chillies Entertainment
His co-production credits spanned a range of successful films, including:
- Darr
- Yes Boss
- Dil Se..
- Pukar
- Devdas
- Main Hoon Na
These projects involved collaborations with renowned filmmakers like Yash Chopra, Aziz Mirza, Mani Ratnam, Rajkumar Santoshi, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and Farah Khan, cementing his role as a key player in the industry's growth during that era.
The saga of Chori Chori Chupke Chupke serves as a stark reminder of the complex intersections between Bollywood's glamour and the shadowy underworld, highlighting how even well-intentioned financiers could become entangled in legal and ethical quagmires. This episode remains a cautionary tale in the annals of Hindi cinema, illustrating the risks behind the scenes of blockbuster productions.
