In the 1960s and 70s, the name Haji Mastan evoked images of smuggling empires, Mumbai underworld rivalries, and extravagant Bollywood lifestyles. This Tamil migrant built a fearsome reputation as a mob boss in the city. But where is this once-infamous godfather today? Is the man who rubbed shoulders with film stars and politicians still alive? Let’s rediscover the intriguing life story of Haji Mastan Mirza.
From Dock Worker to Don: Haji Mastan’s Rise to Power in Mumbai
It all started small. As a boy, Mastan migrated from his Tamil Nadu village to Mumbai seeking better fortunes. He worked odd jobs initially before becoming a dock worker – giving him key insights into smuggling logistics.
In the ’50s, Mastan begin organizing smuggling of contraband goods from international waters into Mumbai docks. His smooth operations and networks flourished, making Mastan rich and influential among Mumbai’s nascent underworld scene.
By the ’60s, Mastan helmed a vast smuggling empire bringing gold, electronic items and liquor into the country circumventing customs duties. His wealth and dominance grew immensely.
Big Man in the Underworld: Mastan at the Peak of Power
During his prime from early 1960s to mid 1980s, Haji Mastan became the undisputed overlord of Mumbai’s bustling underworld networks.
Mastan strategically maintained cordial relations with police, politicians and rival gangs. Unlike other mobsters, Mastan preferred negotiations to gang wars. His persona was more of an elder statesman and deal broker between underworld factions.
With his smarts, charm and street credibility, Mastan came to be respected as a principal arbiter controlling much of Mumbai’s illegal trades – smuggling, film piracy, gambling and extortion rackets.
Glitz, Glamour and Crime: Haji Mastan’s Dual Life
The crafty don reveled in expensive clothes, luxury cars and elite connections. He invested heavily in Bollywood as a movie financier and producer. Haji Mastan hobnobbed with stars like Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor.
While he operated global smuggling channels on one hand, Mastan was also a gritty man of the streets. He became a folk hero among Mumbai’s poor by providing employment and SETTLEMENT in slums through his D-company enterprise.
This paradoxical image captured the imagination of the public and storytellers. Several fictionalized portrayals of him emerged later in movies and books.
Fall from Grace: The Unraveling of Haji Mastan’s Empire
Mastan’s storied empire, however, collapsed in the late 1970s due to two major factors:
The 1975-77 Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi saw Mastan imprisoned for 19 months along with other gangsters. This allowed Dawood Ibrahim to seize control of Mumbai’s smuggling networks from Mastan.
Post-prison, a more introspective Mastan struggled to regain his past power and turf. The ruthless ascent of Dawood and new mafia groups had forever changed the underworld. Mastan’s relatively peaceful reign was over.
Seeking Redemption: His Later Years and Eventual Death
In the 1980s, a guilt-ridden Mastan tried to redeem his public image through philanthropy and even floated a political party aiming to unite minorities.
But his criminal past continued to haunt him. Mastan failed to regain political or popular support in his final years. Disillusioned, he died of a sudden heart attack in 1994 at age 68.
While Mumbai saw richer dons after him, Haji Mastan’s larger-than-life persona remains etched in the public imagination – a symbol of the city’s underbelly.
Is Mumbai Don Haji Mastan Still Alive in 2023?
No, Haji Mastan passed away nearly 3 decades ago in June 1994. He died of cardiac arrest in Mumbai at age 68.
If he were alive today, Mastan would have been 97 years old. But the former smuggling kingpin’s remarkable journey from impoverished Tamil migrant to Mumbai’sReads first ganglord continues to intrigue people.
Through pop culture portrayals and nostalgia around the city’s past, Haji Mastan remains immortalized as an iconic figure synonymous with Mumbai’s history of crime, ambition, and redemption.
Where is Haji Mastan Mirza Now? His Final Resting Place
Haji Mastan was laid to rest at the Mohammadiya Masjid graveyard near JJ Hospital in South Mumbai. His funeral in June 1994 was attended by thousands, including politicians, bureaucrats and Bollywood personalities.
While the flamboyant don lived in upscale bungalows during his heyday, Mastan opted for a simple burial site close to his roots. This unremarkable grave of Mumbai’s once mighty Sultan of Smuggling is Mastan’s final resting place.
In a way, it reflects his own remarkable personal arc – from a poor Tamil boy working on Mumbai docks to the pinnacle of wealth and fame as an underworld boss, and then a return to humble origins at death.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Where is Haji Mastan Now in 2023?
Haji Mastan passed away in 1994 at age 68. He was laid to rest in the Mohammadiya Masjid graveyard near JJ Hospital in South Mumbai. This is his final resting place.
2. Is Mafia Haji Mastan Alive?
No, Haji Mastan is not alive today. He died of cardiac arrest in June 1994 at the age of 68 in Mumbai. If he were alive in 2023, he would have been 97 years old.
3. What was the cause of Haji Mastan’s death?
The direct cause of Haji Mastan’s death was a fatal heart attack. He was taken to Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai after complaining of chest pain but doctors were unable to save him.
4. Where can people visit Haji Mastan’s grave?
People can visit Haji Mastan’s final resting place at the Mohammadiya Masjid graveyard located near JJ Hospital in the Byculla area of South Mumbai. Thousands attended his funeral at this site in 1994.
