Pics by Rons Bantwal

Mumbai, Jul 29: The path has been cleared for Ekta Kapoor's Once Upon A Time in Mumbai, slated for release this Friday. The HC on Wednesday directed the film's producers to issue a clarification that the film is a work of fiction and not based on underworld don Haji Mastan.

The late don's adopted son Sunder Shekhar had appealed to the HC asking for an injunction on the film's release. He said his father was not a don and making such a film would damage his image.

However, Justice R C Chavan, after hearing the appeal, directed Balaji Telefilms to issue a statement denying that the film is based on the don.

Accordingly, Balaji Telefilms issued a statement denying that the film Once Upon A Time in Mumbai is based on the life of the late Haji Mastan Mirza. Balaji Telefilms and director Milan Luthria have never represented before anyone, including the press, that the film is based on the life of the late Haji Mastan Mirza. The film is purely a work of fiction and the characters are fictional and do not represent any individual, living or dead.

Shekhar had earlier filed a case in the city civil court seeking a 'permanent order of injunction' against the film. The court directed that a disclaimer be added at the film's beginning, which the producers did.