Bollywood’s fascination with D-Company and Dawood Ibrahim has endured for over two decades, inspiring a steady stream of films and web shows. Interestingly, even though 2026 is only in its fourth month, two films and one series have already featured characters either based on or clearly inspired by the fugitive don.

O'Romeo, Dhurandhar The Revenge, Matka King: How ‘Bade Sahab’ returned in 3 different avatars in 3 consecutive months

O’Romeo, Dhurandhar The Revenge, Matka King: How ‘Bade Sahab’ returned in 3 different avatars in 3 consecutive months

The trend began with the February 13 release O’Romeo, in which Avinash Tiwary played Jalaluddin, also known as Jalal, a character said to be loosely modelled on Dawood Ibrahim. The crime drama drew inspiration from the Sapna Didi chapter in S. Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai.

A month later came Dhurandhar The Revenge, which was released on March 18. The first part, Dhurandhar (2025), had teased the presence of a mysterious figure known as Bade Sahab. In the sequel, the gangster was finally revealed, instantly becoming a major talking point on social media. Unlike the larger-than-life portrayals of the past, Dhurandhar The Revenge depicted him as frail and bedridden. It also stands out as the only film after Black Friday (2007) to openly refer to Dawood Ibrahim by his real name. The role was played by Danish Iqbal.

Lastly, the web series Matka King, which dropped on Amazon Prime Video on April 17, featured Viineet Kumar Siingh in a cameo as gangster Darab Ahmed Wadkar, a character that also appears to be inspired by Dawood Ibrahim. As per a report in Mid-Day, Viineet is expected to have a crucial role in the second season of the show. Matka King is set in the 1960s and 70s and features Vijay Varma in the lead role of a poor, honest man who starts a gambling business.

In short, even decades later, the fugitive gangster continues to loom large over Bollywood’s imagination. Whether named openly, hinted at through coded characters or reinterpreted for a new generation, his presence in Hindi cinema and streaming stories refuses to fade, underlining the enduring pull of crime, power and notoriety on screen.

Also Read: Web Series Review: MATKA KING works due its novel backdrop and effective direction