Mumbai, Sep 1 (IANS): Actor Aakash Dahiya says that his film "Meeruthiya Gangsters" is unnecessarily being tagged as a gangster film despite it actually being an absolute friendship-based film.

"It's being called as gangster film' repeatedly, but this is not a criminal film. It is not a violent film. It's a very likeable film about six friends. It is not just a gangster film, the bond and unity shared between them in a jovial manner forms the core of the film. The pillar on which 'Meeruthiya Gangsters' story rests is friendship," said Aakash.

"The fact of the matter is that we haven't depicted a single murder in the film, there are gunshots and breaking of bottles but that's towards the end of the film. The film is a dark comedy and the intentions of the men are to get educated and work normally but they get defrauded and then start kidnapping people. The kidnapping has been portrayed in a humourous and organic manner," he added.

An interesting fact about the film is that director Zeishan Quadri initially wanted Aakash to help him cast teenage boys for the film since Aakash is a talented casting associate. But some months later, Zeishan was assured that he needed Akash as an actor more.

Aakash says that his character's name in the film is Amit and he is known as Shakuni in the film as he is the one who sparks fire in various situations.

"He'll die for friendship but still gets his friends stuck in various problems. All the slaps that his friends receive in the film are due to him," he said.

The actor also says that he doesn't want to get typecast in a certain mould and wants to challenge himself.

"It has been my attempt to try out something different in all my films and to accept different kinds of films. In 'Chillar Party' my voice was different while in 'D Day' I had a different role. In 'Bobby Jasoos', I portrayed a Hyderabadi character."

"Meeruthiya Gangsters" also features Mukul Dev, Sanjay Mishra, Nushrat Bharucha, Jaideep Ahlawat and is releasing on September 18.