Dons and their molls

What makes actresses and models fall for gangsters

They say behind every successful man is a woman. And perhaps the same holds true for gangsters too. Late Haji Mastan, Dawood Ibrahim and Abu Salem were all underworld dons, but that did not stop actresses from associating with them. Yesteryear Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni had dropped off the radar for nearly 24 years until recently when she came in the news for her alleged involvement in a drug scam with her husband Vicky Goswami.

What is it that attracts actresses to dons Is it the money, the power or both Says Anjani Kumar, additional director general of Hyderabad police (Law and Order), “Some models who are used to lavish lifestyles find it difficult to switch over to other professions after their career declines.” Shiv Visvanathan, sociologist explains, “There are two ways a gangster can enter Bollywood, through crime or by adopting a moll. It’s structured as they always pick starlets. I don’t think Mamta was trapped, she was the executive of Vicky’s firm. When she realised that she had no future in the film industry, she decided to opt for this.”

He contines, “I was reading an old Rajinikanth interview a few days ago where someone asked him what would he be if not a bus conductor or an actor; he admitted, either a bootlegger or a smuggler. I then read about the Bombay blasts and Dawood Ibrahim, and realised that he would also give car allowances, furniture allowances, and even give extra money to people who had girlfriends. That’s what people do to sustain the loyalty of the people working for them.”

Coming back to Mamta’s life he adds, “Her life as a star was over; what other avenues did she have Crime seemed to be quite a romantic escape when you have a gangster wooing you. Bollywood, cricket and crime have a seamless connection.”

Director Vikram Bhatt says, “I feel that people from all walks of life do things which are not legal. The problem is that whenever you find someone from the film industry who is doing something like that, you get up and say ‘arey yaar yeh to koi film wala aadmi aisa kar raha hai’. The point is that the only ones who get noticed are the people in films. There are two aspects which are always highlighted in the Indian media: Bollywood and cricket. If you are from any one of these areas, chances are that you will get picked up and people will say ‘here’s the pattern’.”

The glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry drags people in. Who wouldn’t want the money and luxurious lifestyle Recently, another former model Sangeeta Chatterjee was arrested by the Chittoor police in Kolkata in connection with an alleged red sanders smuggling network. It was found that Sangeeta not only knew of the activities of Markondan Lakshman alias Lakshman Dange alias Tamang, a notorious international red sanders smuggler, but also played a major role in expanding his network by establishing contacts with smugglers in Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata.

Reasoning behind these actresses getting lured by gangsters, Anjani Kumar, adds, “The actresses fall prey to easy money even though they are illegal. Gangsters use them as glamour symbols not only to satisfy their egos but also to trap others. It is highly unfortunate to see cases like that of Monica Bedi and others. Resisting temptation is extremely significant in such issues.”

Actresses’ tryst with the underworld Monica Bedi The actress made headlines for her involvement with underworld don Abu Salem and even served a jail sentence.

Mandakini Her claim to fame was Raj Kapoor’s Ram Teri Ganga Maili. She was then connected to Dawood Ibrahim, but later emerged as the wife of a Tibetan doctor, and now runs a Tibetan medicine and meditation centre.

Heena Kausar Yesteryear starlet Heena Kausar, daughter of filmmaker K. Asif, was married to a top drug baron, late Iqbal Mirchi.

Sona Haji Mastan, who was a huge fan of Madhubala, married Sona, yesteryear actress, who resembled Madhubala.

Neetu Agarwal The Telugu starlet was arrested for her alleged involvement in red sanders smuggling. Neetu had acted in a Telugu film, Prema Pranayam, which was produced by her alleged lover Kondampalli Mastan Vali, a sandalwood smuggler.