Bhojpuri actor Vinay Kumar. Telegraph pictures

Police of many Indian states may be still searching for Dawood Ibrahim but Bhojpuri cinema has caught the gangster on reel. A film inspired his by life would be released in June.

Directed by Shridhar Shetty and produced by Sanjay Kumar, Khooni Dangal would feature Vinay Anand. The Bhojpuri actor, also the nephew of Govinda, would essay the role of Dawood.

Films inspired by the maverick don, like Once Upon a time in Mumbai, Company and D, are common in Bollywood. But this is the first Bhojpuri cinematic venture to trace the underworld character. It will dramatise the conflict between Dawood and his aide-turned-enemy Chhota Rajan.

The leading man of the film claimed that performing the don was as difficult as catching him.

“It is not an easy job, performing Dawood,” said Vinay. “I had to do a lot of research. I tried to replicate his mannerism — how he smokes cigarettes, his black glasses and his moustache. It was a challenge. I have done my best and tried to live up to the expectations of the director and the producer. I hope the audience will like my performance.”

Describing the thorough research that he conducted on the gangster, Vinay said: “I watched all the films that have depicted him. I also watched his videos on YouTube. I read up many articles on him, published in newspapers and magazines. It is more difficult to portray him because it is difficult to get information on him. He is a mystery.”

Asked if he was satisfied with his performance, the actor said: “Even Govinda praised my acting. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I hope to get a good response from the audience.”

The director of the film, Shridhar, elaborating on why he chose to direct a film on Dawood, said: “It is a realistic film. The audience in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have never seen Dawood in their local dialect. So, this is our attempt to present a good gangster film on Dawood.”

He also said: “The film will not showcase his early life. It is more about his activities after becoming an underworld don and his animosity towards Chhota Rajan.”

The film has been completely shot in Jalna district of Maharashtra. Scriptwriter Saba Mustafa has written the story.

The director also said: “The audience may have different views about this film because we have shown a very hypothetical situation.”

The two-and-half-hour-long film will also show Dawood’s philanthropic work.

“It is full of action and entertainment. Like most Bhojpuri films, it has song and dance. The audience would be treated to two item numbers perfomed by Sapna,” said Shridhar.

The chase then is all set to begin again.