Bollywood director Anurag Basu has said his forthcoming film 'Gangster', which releases in April next year, is not based on the life of underworld don Abu Salem and his girlfriend Monica Bedi.

He, however, admitted that the story idea came to his mind when Salem was arrested in Portugal two years ago.

Basu told here that ''I spoke about the idea to Mukesh Bhatt who told me to develop a story on it. The film is about a gangster who is on the run from country-to-country with his girlfriend, who in turn is responsible for his arrest.''

''When we began working on the film, we did not have an idea that Salem would be deported to India. My film 'Gangster' is not Salem's life story but the idea has been inspired from his arrest in Portugal. The timing of the film's release with Salem's subsequent deportation is unintentional,'' he said.

In the film, actor Shiny Abraham plays the title role while Emraan Hashmi has been protrayed as the love interest of the gangster's girlfriend, played by newcomer Kangna.

Mallika Sherawat was the original choice for the gangster's moll. After the Bhatts blocked her out, Pakistani actress Meera's sister, Aksa, was a leading contender.

"Anurag sent me a note saying he wanted to talk to me. I was sipping coffee there. We spoke and I was happy that I was being offered a Bhatt film," recounts Kangna.

Anurag first spotted Kangna at the J W Marriot Hotel. "She walked past me and I turned around to give her another look. Almost instantly, I decided to approach her," he says.

About 50 per cent of the movie has been shot in Seoul, South Korea and it is the first Indian film to be shot in the Asian country.

Meanwhile, Mahesh Bhatt, the co-producer of 'Gangster', who was present on the occasion, said the film will be screened at the Busan film festival in October next year.

Incidentally, the film was initially offered to Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib akhtar who refused it.