While many come here in search of a career in the film industry some treated it as a home for illicit and terror activities.

One such man was Haji Mastan. In 1926, Mastan Mirza was born in Tamil Nadu in a farmer's house. Mastan's father Haider Mirza had to leave his village due to poverty.

Mirza moved to Mumbai in 1934 and laid his hands on many jobs. However, he failed in all of them. At last he
opened a cycle repair shop in Mumbai's Bengali Tola area. Yet his income was confined to Rs. 5 a day only.





While Haider Mirza was fighting for his and his son's survival in the city, his son Mastan Mirza dreamt big. An urge to get rid off his penury and become rich motivated Mastan to adopt a path which was not right yet lured him.

An adult by then, Mastan got to know that he could make good money if he saved imported goods from Britain from steep customs duties. Coincidently, Mastan met Mohommad Ali Ghalib who was looking for someone as smart as Mastan.