Veteran author-journalist S Hussain Zaidi’s latest book Mafia Queens of India was recently launched in Mumbai. The book, which Hussain co-authored with Velly Thavar, promises to bring into focus the gripping, untold stories of women who shaped the underworld in their own formidable ways. For the launch ceremony, many notable film personalities like Ram Gopal Varma, Vishal Bhardwaj, Jaideep Ahlawat and Kirti Kulhari came together for a conversation with the author duo, where they talked about the depiction of crime and power in fiction, among other subjects.
During the conversation, Vishal Bhardwaj emphasised on the psychological exploration of criminals. He added, “If you only show crime, it becomes one-dimensional. What makes these stories engaging is the human side — the psychology, the journey, the layers that make a character real.” Ram Gopal Varma too expressed his fascination with wanting to understand what lies beneath a crime. “It’s not about glorifying it, but about exploring the mindset and the world beyond what we see,” he added. Kirti Kulhari agreed with the sentiment, saying, “Audiences today want to understand the people behind the crime — their motivations, their struggles and their reality.”
During the conversation, both Ram Gopal and Vishal also spoke about how stories of women as criminal figures often carry an additional layer of intrigue. RGV said, “Women in the world of crime often display a far greater ruthlessness than men, making their journeys even more compelling to explore on screen.” Meanwhile Vishal Bhardwaj lauded Hussain Zaidi for delving into the space with depth and authenticity.
On the other hand, Jaideep Ahlawat expressed his interest in being a part of any on-screen adaptations of the stories told in ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’ in the near future, adding, “As an actor, what attracts me most is the emotion of survival. Power and fame come later, but survival is the strongest driving force behind these characters.”
Widely regarded as India’s most definitive voice on organised crime, Zaidi has spent decades documenting the underbelly of Mumbai with rare access and credibility, while Thevar brings a deeply intuitive, narrative-driven perspective to the storytelling. Mafia Queens of India, much like Zaidi’s previous works such as Black Friday, Dongri to Dubai and Byculla to Bangkok, continues his legacy of bringing real stories to life — narratives that have also found strong resonance in cinema through acclaimed adaptations.
Together, S. Hussain Zaidi and Velly Thevar deliver a gripping, humanised account of crime — where power, survival and identity intersect, and where the most compelling stories are often the least told.
