Director Sanjay Gupta 'gifted' the actor the role of a gangster slain near his house in Versova

On his birthday on November 20, Tusshar Kapoor paid a visit to director Sanjay Gupta's home. Little did he know that Gupta had an interesting gift to give him -- a role in a new film, Shootout At Wadala. The character will be based on slain gangster Sheikh Munir, who, as it turns out, was shot dead close to Gupta's bungalow in Versova.

"It was my birthday gift for Tusshar. I've cast him as gangster Manya Surve's right-hand man Sheikh Munir. I called him home to give him a full narration of his character, " said Gupta.

"That was a bizarre bit of coincidence I stumbled on recently, " said Gupta about the fact that Munir was shot dead in front of his home in 1983.

"I realised that he was gunned down in an encounter on the street where I live, bang in front of Vikram Bhatt's residence. This twist in the tale does give an eerie feel to the character. I mean, Tusshar got his birthday surprise, just yards away from where the character died, " he added.

Kapoor's look has also been worked out, said Gupta. Pictures of the gangster have been sought for reference. Munir was gangster Manya Surve's most trusted lieutenant and was slain a year after Surve, in what was widely regarded as Mumbai's first encounter killing.

"Unlike Manya Surve, not much is known about Sheikh Munir, " said Gupta.

Surve and Munir encounters

Issac Bagwan gunned down Manohar Surve alias Manya Surve in Wadala, on November 1, 1982. He later eliminated Surve's key associate Sheikh Munir in Versova in February 1983.

Belonging to the 1974 batch, Bagwan was first posted at the Colaba police station in 1981. He later joined the special squad formed by former commissioner of police Julio Ribeiro to tackle the underworld.