My Name is Abu Salem

by S. Hussain Zaidi

Mumbai has produced many dons—but perhaps none so colourful as Abu Salem. The flamboyant ex-aide of Dawood Ibrahim is best known for his involvement in the Mumbai blasts of 1993 and for the murder of music composer Gulshan Kumar. But he became equally famous for his relationship with actress Monica Bedi and his close connection to Bollywood, leading to a number of attempted murders of the film industry’s biggest names. Now comes the ultimate telling of his life from the writer who knows the Mumbai underworld better than anyone else. Gripping, full of unknown details and first-hand accounts, My Name is Abu Salem is another unputdownable book from Hussain Zaidi.

Genres: Crime, Nonfiction, India, Biography, History

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

S. Hussain Zaidi is a prominent Indian author, journalist, and screenwriter celebrated for his invaluable contributions to the world of crime reporting, investigative journalism, and storytelling. Born on February 28, 1962, in Mumbai, India, Zaidi has left an indelible mark on the literary and cinematic landscapes of India, particularly in the realm of crime and the Mumbai underworld.

S. Hussain Zaidi embarked on his career as a crime reporter, where he honed his skills in uncovering hidden truths and delving into the intricacies of organized crime in Mumbai. His early experiences as a journalist provided him with a deep understanding of the criminal world and its dynamics.

Over the years, Zaidi transitioned from journalism to writing and screenwriting, bringing his unparalleled insights and storytelling prowess to a wider audience. His unique ability to humanize the characters in his narratives, whether they are criminals or law enforcement officers, sets his work apart.

"Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts" - Zaidi's book "Black Friday" is a compelling account of the 1993 Bombay bombings. It presents a factual and thorough examination of the events leading up to the blasts and their aftermath.

"Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia" - This critically acclaimed book stands as one of Zaidi's most notable works. It meticulously traces the evolution of organized crime in Mumbai over six decades. The book offers a comprehensive and gripping account of the city's criminal history.

"Mafia Queens of Mumbai: Stories of Women from the Ganglands" - In this compelling book, Zaidi sheds light on the powerful and enigmatic women who played significant roles in Mumbai's underworld. He tells their stories with empathy and detail, providing a fresh perspective on the world of crime.

S. Hussain Zaidi's influential literary works have transcended the confines of the written word and made a powerful impact on the silver screen. Some noteworthy adaptations of his books include:

"Black Friday" (2007) - Directed by Anurag Kashyap.
"Shootout at Wadala" (2013) - Directed by Sanjay Gupta.
"Class of '83" (2020) - Directed by Atul Sabharwal.
"Gangubai Kathiawadi" (2022) - Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, among many others.

In addition to his contributions to the film industry, S. Hussain Zaidi has harnessed his creative prowess in the realm of film and web series production. His noteworthy productions encompass projects like "Bard of Blood" and "Scoop" on Netflix, as well as the recent addition "Bambai Meri Jaan," available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

S. Hussain Zaidi has played a pivotal role in nurturing emerging literary talents within the authorship realm. Notably, individuals such as Bilal Siddique, Neeraj Kumar (Commissioner of Delhi Police), Kashif Mashaikh, and many more have found their path to success as authors under his guidance. This mentoring initiative is facilitated through "Blue Salt Media," an imprint in collaboration with Penguin India.

S. Hussain Zaidi's work, both in literature and cinema, continues to captivate audiences with its gritty realism, engaging storytelling, and insights into the complex world of crime and law enforcement in India. His contributions have not only enriched the true crime genre but have also served as a source of inspiration for aspiring writers, journalists, and filmmakers.

Reviews

[Arun Divakar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Scene 1 : Exterior Shot – A house in rural Kerala. Poverty stricken family.

Enter the hero, 25 + years old, unemployed and educated and in a rage. Hero’s father – old man ; 75 + years of age and Hero's mother - 60 + years and unremarkable are in the room

Father (seething with rage) : You have brought disgrace to the family ! This is unforgivable !

Son : But father, I am innocent….

Father (voice rising with each syllable) : Not another word from you ! Get out of my house !

Son : Mother, you too ?

Mother (weeping copious tears and at the verge of bawling) : I never expected this from you ! I don’t wish to see your face again !

Son : I will leave, but mark my words for I shall return and cleanse my name of this disgrace.

(Son leaves the house not knowing where to. Scene fades at the railway station.)

Scene 2 : A small by-lane in Mumbai

Hero stands by the roadside gobbling down food at a roadside eatery. All around him are laborers and working-class people.

Enter the local thug. Heftily built and surrounded by an army of cronies, he starts haranguing the people around. He notices the hero who is a new comer and focuses a lot of attention on him.

Thug : New comer, huh ? You need to pay me protection money.

Hero : But sir, I have no money.

Thug : No excuses, you pay up or I beat the crap out of you.

Hero : No money with m….

Hero is slapped by the thug and falls to the ground

Hero (face contorted in anger) : Don’t hurt me again

Thug (smirking) : Or what ?

(What ensues is a huge fist fight in which the hero decimates the thug)

In the time that follows, hero rises through the ranks of the Mumbai underworld and returns home to a grand welcome. He vanquishes the villains and lives a life of peace.

The End.

With minor alterations, this was the script that most of the mafia movies in India followed in late 70’s to early 90’s. This was because reel life was reflecting real life and the dons of India were the idols of the movie goers, Beyond the 1993 blasts in Mumbai, the scene changed for everyone. The same mass of moviegoers who loved the vigilantes on the screen balked at their names for they had become terrorists overnight. The same author through two of his books had chronicled the rise and fall of mafia in Mumbai. This book picks one of those flamboyant, larger than life characters named Abu Salem and tells his story.

While the earlier books tackled larger themes and the encompassed more than just the extravagance of the mafia, this book and its plot is restricted only to Abu Salem. The growth and flamboyance of this character, his scandalous relationship he shared with the starlet – Monica Bedi and his fall from grace is all that forms the content of this book. Hussain Zaidi with his background as a journalist deftly handles the subject without romanticizing it a great deal. However considering that the gangster’s life story isn’t a lot spectacular, it really isn’t much of a page turner until the final few chapters. It is only with incredulity that you can read the last few chapters of what eventually became of Abu Salem and Monica Bedi. The eventual fate of the man who has perpetrated so many crimes and of his accomplice is something that will make you sit back and think as to what happens when the law enforcement agencies are unable to prove a case beyond reasonable doubt.

Worth reading as a companion volume to Black Friday and Dongri To Dubai. As a standalone volume, it really isn’t great from the content standpoint.

[Vikas Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming from India's No-1 Crime Writer this is a true account of one of the most dreaded Mumbai gangsters. Painstakingly researched the book is a great resource to understand how the underworld thrives in India. Great read

[Ishwinder Sialy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Zaidi's most concise book yet. Unlike his previous books which tell SEVERAL stories about many different gangsters, this one is specific. Yes, he still speaks of Dawood Ibrahim, Chota Shakeel, Chota Rajan and the usual suspects, but this time, they're spoken of only about Abu Salem and their roles in his rise and fall. Less than 200 pages, this book is a page-turner, taking the reader on the run with Salem. Abu Salem's story is the thing fast-paced, gripping Hollywood movies are made of. This is a man that instilled terror in the wealthy and famous and commanded respect.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Zaidi's most concise book yet. Unlike his previous books which tell SEVERAL stories about many different gangsters, this one is specific. Yes, he still speaks of Dawood Ibrahim, Chota Shakeel, Chota Rajan and the usual suspects, but this time, they're spoken of only in relation to Abu Salem and their roles in his rise and fall. Less than 200 pages, this book is a page turner, taking the reader on the run with Salem. Abu Salem's story is the thing fast-paced, gripping Hollywood movies are made of. This is a man that instilled terror in the rich and famous and commanded respect. Also, if Mafia Queens of Mumbai was exciting for Bollywood fans, My Name is Abu Salem is just amazing. While Zaidi's previous books have spoken of these incidents, this one does so in detail, considering Salem was the mastermind behind them. We get front row seats into Salem & Monica Bedi's life, a very specific and (finally) understandable explanation for Sanjay Dutt's connection with the underworld, details on Gulshan Kumar's murder and Nadeem Saifi's involvement, Rajiv Rai's reasons for abandoning ship and leaving India - and much more! After Mafia Queens of Mumbai, I will say this is probably my 2nd favorite of Zaidi's books, if only because it was a tighter story with less names to follow.

[Vaibhav Anand · Rating 3 out of 5]

The one thing that keeps me buying Zaidi's books is the inimitable manner in which he becomes a fly on the wall of Mumbai's most dangerious criminals and fiercest cops alike. 'My Name is Abu Salem' tracks the life and times of Abu Salem - the man whose crime career is perhaps best known for Gulshan Kumar's brutal murder and whose personal life is best known for his relationship with Monica Bedi.

What goes against the book however, is the small parts that you will find slightly repetitive in case you have read all of Zaidi's earlier works. However, that is an inevitability... Zaidi has to cater to first time readers and fiercely loyal readers (like me) alike.

'My Name is Abu Salem' is not Zaidi's best book but it still has Zaidi at his best. Recommended.

[Divya Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally intriguing, will keep you glued till the end. Considered as the ultimate Don of Mumbai mafia, who wouldn't want to know about his journey from being a school drop out to being one of the most dreaded gangster. This book (not a fiction) has each and every single detail about this man. Life story of a gangster very smartly and professionally written by a talented journalist and novelist S Hussain Zaidi. It's a must read.

[Madhulika Liddle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was gifted this book by a complete stranger, someone who had no idea of my taste in literature. But, being the sort who will conscientiously at least try to read anything that comes my way, I decided to give My Name is Abu Salem a try. Not that organized crime interests me. Not that I follow crime news very carefully or knew anything about Abu Salem except that he was one of the most wanted Indian criminals in recent times. Not that I find the sleaze of 90s’ Hindi cinema—both onscreen and off—at all fascinating.

Despite that, I found S Hussain Zaidi’s biography of Abu Salem a thoroughly engrossing read. Using a very varied collection of sources—including Salem’s autobiography, which two cellmates of his translated and transcribed in English for the mafioso; an interview with Salem’s ex-wife, various interviews with a range of people (Salem, of course, one of them) etc—Zaidi weaves an interesting story of the rise and fall of a criminal. From Abu Salem’s early life, as the second son of a lawyer in Azamgarh, to his coming to Mumbai and falling in with Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company, to his dealings with Bollywood (especially Sanjay Dutt), to his stranglehold over big business, to his escape from India and his extradition back from Portugal—Zaidi covers it all.

I’ll admit this was a book that surprised me. It wasn’t something I’d thought I’d find enthralling, but it was. Partly because Zaidi’s style of writing is good: informative, chatty, with the odd detail here and there that lends a greater insight into how the underworld functions (for instance, he busts some Bollywood-propagated myths about the underworld, which I found interesting). Partly because his subject is so interesting, so larger than life.

If there’s one thing I’d liked to have seen more of, it would be Abu Salem’s thoughts on himself. Zaidi mentions in several places that Salem regards himself as a good man, an upright man, but in a book that draws from Salem’s autobiography, I’d liked to actually see what Salem says about himself.

[Azam Ch. · Rating 4 out of 5]

abu salem seems like a very colorful man- a cold-blooded killer and a thug, a rags to riches billionaire, an underdog, a lover of women, the high life a dandy and at the same time perhaps also someone that saw himself as a warrior of the faith from time to time.

zaidi's writing however felt robotic at times on it but whenever he quoted salem it came off as colorful and lively again.

salem once wrote a 100+ page manuscript as a autobiography - now thats something that would be much more interesting to read, the page count may seem small but ben yehuda's autobiography was of a similar length and a masterpiece none the less.

[gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

why was the timeline so confusing why can't everything be chronological

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

# #Binge Reviewing my previous Reads # True Crime #Indian Underworld and Terrorism

There is something uncomfortably magnetic about S. Hussain Zaidi’s universe. The man writes crime like others write elegy — with rhythm, empathy, and that unmistakable glint of lived knowledge. You can almost smell the cigarette smoke curling through Mumbai’s alleys, hear the rattle of the local train cutting through the heart of the city, and feel the pulse of danger running beneath its neon glow.

Across books like *Dongri to Dubai*, *Byculla to Bangkok*, and *My Name is Abu Salem*, Zaidi builds not just stories, but a sprawling moral atlas of Mumbai’s underworld — a city beneath the city, where ambition, betrayal, and violence perform their eternal dance. Each book stands alone, yes, but together they form what might as well be called the “Mumbai Underworld Trilogy.” And when read comparatively, these works trace the underworld’s evolution — from its chaotic birth amid poverty and political neglect to its global expansion and eventual psychological unraveling.

If *Dongri to Dubai* is the saga, *Byculla to Bangkok* is the aftermath, and *My Name is Abu Salem* the elegy. The three books aren’t merely crime reportage; they are Zaidi’s attempt to document the anatomy of power — how it’s seized, how it mutates, and ultimately, how it consumes those who worship it.

*Dongri to Dubai* is where Zaidi first lays out the blueprint. It’s epic in scope, tracing the rise of Dawood Ibrahim from the chawls of Dongri to the palaces of Dubai — from a pickpocket’s son to the godfather of D-Company. The narrative feels almost mythic: Dawood, the boy who dreamed too big, whose charm was matched only by his ruthlessness. Yet Zaidi resists the temptation to glorify. He roots the legend in its socio-economic soil — the post-Independence poverty, the communal fractures, the corruption of the police system, and the desperation of the youth who saw crime not as rebellion, but as the only available career.

Zaidi’s genius in *Dongri to Dubai* is his ability to make the underworld feel inevitable — not as a freak occurrence but as a logical consequence of India’s moral compromises. Every bullet fired, every gang formed, every deal struck — all of it reflects the failure of the State to contain its own contradictions. Dawood, in Zaidi’s telling, is not merely a villain; he’s a mirror. The Mumbai underworld, birthed from smuggling and protection rackets, is the city’s shadow economy — as integral to its functioning as its stock exchange.

The book’s narrative rhythm is relentless, cinematic, almost operatic. The scope is massive — spanning decades, continents, and countless corpses — yet the focus remains intimate. Zaidi lets you meet the men behind the guns: Haji Mastan, Karim Lala, Vardabhai, and of course, Dawood himself. You see their rise from poverty, their negotiation with politics, their uneasy flirtation with Bollywood. The charm lies not just in the violence but in the *why* — the psychology of men who chose crime and then became defined by it.

By contrast, *Byculla to Bangkok* is the quieter, darker middle act. It peels away the glamour of the don and exposes the rusting machinery underneath. Here, Zaidi turns his gaze from the bosses to the foot soldiers — the gangsters who never got the limelight, who lived and died in the cracks of larger empires. The book humanizes the men and women who filled the ranks: Arun Gawli, Ashwin Naik, and other figures who oscillated between violence and vulnerability.

The title itself — from Byculla to Bangkok — signals a shift. Byculla, once the crucible of gang wars, becomes a symbol of decay, while Bangkok stands for the new geography of crime — globalized, efficient, dispassionate. The book reads like a requiem for a generation that outlived its purpose. The underworld, once a creature of ideology or vengeance, becomes increasingly transactional. Crime industrializes. Guns turn digital. And the men who once fought for territory now fight for survival.

Zaidi’s tone here is weary, almost philosophical. The thrill of *Dongri to Dubai* gives way to reflection. You can sense that the chronicler himself has matured — he’s no longer documenting the rise, but the rot. Where Dawood once symbolized control, these men symbolize chaos. Where *Dongri* had swagger, *Byculla* has sorrow.

Then comes *My Name is Abu Salem*, which reads like the slow unspooling of a Greek tragedy. If Dawood was the architect, Salem is the apprentice who wanted to outshine his master — and paid the price for it. The book zeroes in on a single figure: a small-town boy from Azamgarh who clawed his way into the D-Company, betrayed his mentors, and found himself exiled, hunted, and forgotten.

In *Dongri to Dubai*, Dawood is the myth. In *My Name is Abu Salem*, Zaidi gives us the man behind the myth — delusional, insecure, and oddly sentimental. Salem’s obsession with fame, with being seen and adored, becomes his fatal flaw. His romance with Bollywood actress Monica Bedi, which once seemed like a tabloid fantasy, turns into the emotional core of the book — a tragic subplot about how love and power can corrode each other.

Zaidi treats Salem with a strange tenderness — not sympathy, but comprehension. He doesn’t excuse the crimes; he explains the impulses. The narrative is tight, less panoramic than *Dongri*, but psychologically richer. It’s not about shootouts or smuggling anymore — it’s about the unraveling of identity. Salem’s insistence that he’s “not a terrorist” but a “businessman” becomes almost pathetic — a desperate attempt to rewrite his story while the world has already moved on.

If *Dongri* was about the birth of power and *Byculla* about its mutation, *Abu Salem* is about its death. The tone is elegiac, the pace methodical. We follow Salem across continents — from the chaos of Mumbai to the icy isolation of Portugal, where he’s finally captured and extradited. Zaidi’s description of those years in hiding carries a ghostly stillness: a man surrounded by luxury but haunted by the echo of his own name.

This is Zaidi’s most mature book — stripped of the sensationalism that true crime often leans on. He trusts his reader to find the horror in the details, not the dramatics. The interrogation scenes, the extradition hearings, the betrayals — they read less like action and more like existential theatre. Salem, who once lived by the gun, is reduced to a name on a file, a man arguing semantics with the law. It’s quietly devastating.

Comparing the three works also reveals the evolution of Zaidi as a writer and moral observer. *Dongri to Dubai* is all momentum — youthful, ambitious, driven by adrenaline and anger. It’s the work of a journalist bursting to tell the story that the city itself whispers at night. *Byculla to Bangkok* is more nuanced — a balancing act between reportage and reflection. By *My Name is Abu Salem*, Zaidi has become something else entirely: a storyteller-philosopher of crime.

He begins to question not just what happened, but *why we are drawn to it*. Why does society mythologize its criminals? Why do we speak of “Dawood” or “Abu Salem” with the same awe we reserve for movie stars? And what happens to men who start believing in their own myths? These questions linger beneath the surface of his prose, making the later books as much about morality as about crime.

Zaidi’s language evolves too. The early work is fiery — full of police slang, local dialects, and that irresistible street rhythm of Mumbai. In *Byculla to Bangkok*, his sentences stretch longer, more meditative, less driven by plot and more by mood. By the time we reach *Abu Salem*, the prose turns clinical, pared down, even elegiac. It’s as if the author himself has aged with his subjects — losing some of the thrill, gaining a measure of wisdom.

And then there’s the craft of empathy. Zaidi never paints his criminals in monochrome. He knows that evil in the Indian context is rarely pure — it’s circumstantial, systemic, and deeply human. Dawood’s charisma, Gawli’s stubborn pride, Salem’s narcissism — they all come wrapped in moments of vulnerability that make them real. It’s this empathy that separates Zaidi from pulp crime writers. He’s not interested in glamorizing; he’s interested in *understanding*.

Read together, these books form a meta-commentary on India itself. *Dongri to Dubai* captures the socialist-era corruption and the birth of parallel economies. *Byculla to Bangkok* maps the liberalization years — the rise of ambition, consumerism, and the criminal as entrepreneur. *My Name is Abu Salem* takes us into the 21st century, where globalization and digital surveillance have rendered the old gangster obsolete.

The trilogy is, therefore, a chronicle of transition — from analog violence to digital crime, from chawl politics to international rackets. Yet beneath it all, Zaidi keeps reminding us that the underworld and the overworld aren’t separate. They are twin cities feeding off each other. The politician who takes protection money, the builder who cuts deals, the actor who courts notoriety — they all belong to the same moral ecosystem.

What Zaidi shows, subtly and consistently, is that the underworld thrives wherever legality falters. Each book becomes a different diagnosis of the same disease: a nation unwilling to confront its own complicity. Dawood could not have risen without the help of politicians. Gawli couldn’t have survived without local support. Salem could not have evaded arrest without bureaucratic indifference. The criminals are the symptom, not the cause.

And that’s where Zaidi’s journalism shades into philosophy. By the time we reach *Abu Salem*, we’re not just reading about crime — we’re reading about decay. A man like Salem is what happens when society teaches ambition but denies opportunity, when fame becomes a drug and morality a nuisance. Zaidi doesn’t sermonize; he simply lays the facts bare, and the reader feels the moral weight.

In *My Name is Abu Salem*, you can sense that the age of the don — as Bombay once knew it — is over. Global surveillance, financial scrutiny, and the decline of old-style street networks have reduced the gangster from myth to meme. What remains are the stories — the legends that Zaidi has so carefully preserved.

When you read *Dongri to Dubai* today, it feels like a historical novel. The streets, the smuggling routes, the codes of loyalty — all belong to a bygone world. *Byculla to Bangkok* marks the bridge — the fading of the old order and the rise of a corporate-style criminal class. *My Name is Abu Salem* closes the circle: the last of the dons reduced to a courtroom curiosity, his once-terrifying name now uttered with ironic detachment.

Zaidi’s trilogy, therefore, becomes a requiem — not just for the underworld, but for a certain idea of Mumbai itself. The city that once thrived on myth now runs on algorithms. The men who once ruled its docks and dance bars are gone, replaced by bankers, scammers, and politicians in designer suits. Yet the moral tension remains: the hunger, the hustle, the eternal temptation to take the shortcut.

What makes Zaidi’s work endure is not just the detail — though his research is legendary — but the compassion. He writes like a man who’s looked evil in the face and still refuses to hate. He does not justify, but he *listens*. In a country where crime is either glamorized or moralized to death, that’s rare.

Through *Dongri to Dubai*, *Byculla to Bangkok*, and *My Name is Abu Salem*, Zaidi achieves something extraordinary: he turns the chronicle of crime into a meditation on human frailty. His Mumbai is both wound and witness — a city that forgives but never forgets. And in tracing the arc from Dawood’s rise to Salem’s fall, he gives us a panoramic history of ambition — not just criminal, but national.

These books, read together, are less about the men who carried guns and more about the society that loaded them. They remind us that every empire, whether criminal or corporate, eventually collapses under the weight of its own contradictions.

And so when Abu Salem, sitting in a Portuguese courtroom, insists that he’s “just a businessman,” you almost want to believe him — not because it’s true, but because it captures the absurdity of it all. The gangster as entrepreneur, the criminal as brand, the myth as commodity — Zaidi saw it all coming.

In the end, this trilogy stands as both archive and elegy — the living memory of a Mumbai that was beautiful, brutal, and utterly unforgettable. And Zaidi, its tireless chronicler, remains the city’s most reliable witness — watching, recording, and whispering the truth from the shadows.

Give it a try.

[Pooja Anand · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book by Mr. Zaidi is impossible to ignore and kept aside for few hours once you start reading it, at least for me. I had all my hopes up when I started with the book and in my excitement I would have finished the book in two days but the curiosity about various characters and incidences in the book kept me busy searching and reading about them before I went ahead with next chapter.

I am Abu Salem is another book in the series about Mumbai Mafia by S. Hussain Zaidi, first being Dongri to Dubai. I am ready to confess that by the time I finished the book I felt more mature to actually understand the reason for missing details (wherever they were in the book) and to not get annoyed with the author (I am a fan of his writing and crime investigations).

This book is about the man named Abu Salem and his journey from a poor mechanic to a handsome, dangerous mafia don. The story makes its reader have a rendezvous with the life of this don and his way of working, the terror he loved, and the innocence he feel towards himself. This story is about a womanizer and highly vainglorious man who thought he looks even better than Salman Khan and who till date dreams of getting his life made into a super-hit film. Today while fighting his cases and as his lawyers help him get acquitted and extradited from India, he wishes to enter politics (This does scare me and get frustrated of what kind of a system we have and what our future would be.)

Abu Salem is an under-educated man with good looks and even sharper mind with decent family background. His father was a lawyer and after death of his father his mother tried hard to make ends meet and teach her children etiquette and make good, healthy, and humble persons out of them. But, fate had something else in store. Seeing the struggle that his family was going through, he ran away from Azamgarth to Delhi, indulging in some small time business and then to Mumbai in search of settling down and earn good money.

Salem’s quest for quick money and fame also cohabited his enormous lust. He had a forced marriage that failed which he refuses to acknowledge and his tumultuous love story with Sameera Jumani culminating in marriage. He turns out to be a megalomaniac and narcissist to the core by the time he is in love with Monica Bedi. Introduction and details of his initiation into petty crimes, setting up of extortion rackets to moving to Dubai to trying hands at kidnapping has been well-written in the book. One of the plus of the author’s writing is that nowhere in the book he seems to be sympathetic or aggressive towards Abu Salem, rather he just concentrated on stating facts as far as he could and let reader decide how they want to feel about the don.

At many places in the book I felt Mr. Zaidi is just telling the incidences as story and putting irrelevant information such as about Dawood or Sanjay Dutt and while reading I had my grudges accumulating for the author for not writing the reality and complete details about any incidence. Wherever I felt annoyed, by chance I fell on a name which kind of raised curiosity such as Vicky Goswami, Romesh Sharma, Dewani, the two navy jail associates of Salem. I searched on Internet about these people and tumbled upon so dreadful details about them that I felt angry, frustrated, dying to know more. The story recitation is so beautiful that it leaves me with a desire to try attend a court hearing of Abu Salem and hear him talk and smile (the book had Abu Salem so live in front of me.) And as I read more and more about Abu Salem and the latest news about court orders against the book, I understood the reason why it was difficult for the author to actually state the facts in details. By the time I finished this book, I am sure I have more knowledge about the crimes, mafia-related details and other incidences that happened around me but I wasn't aware of them.

There is no doubt that Mr. Zaidi is one of the best crime non-fiction writer who has a way to put down horrendous mafia-related details in a curious and exciting way where the reader doesn't scream with fear rather with excitement. I just wish he had more liberty to share details and incidences that he had to omit due to legal and other miscellaneous reasons.

My all well wishes to him to win any court cases against his books and be safe and keep delivering us with mouthwatering and brain-numbing stories about India and its fatty, well-fed criminals.

[Utkrisht Fella · Rating 5 out of 5]

S. Hussain Zaidi's 'My Name is Abu Salem' offers a gripping, unvarnished look into the life of one of India's most notorious underworld figures. Zaidi, a master of investigative journalism, meticulously chronicles Abu Salem's rise from a small-town boy to a key player in the Mumbai mafia, detailing his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts, high-profile relationships and eventual extradition.

The book is a deep dive into the murky world of organized crime, exploring its intricate nexus with Bollywood and politics. Zaidi's narrative is rich with authentic detail, drawing on extensive research to weave a compelling story. While the subject matter is dark, his writing is clear and accessible, humanizing Salem without glorifying his actions.

This is more than just a biography; it's a significant contribution to understanding India's criminal landscape. It's a must-read for anyone interested in true crime, investigative journalism, and the socio-political dynamics of Mumbai.

[Bulbul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Hussain Zaidi's books. He writes on people we are all curious about- the hard core criminals of the country. I finished this book in a few hours since I spent quite a lot of time at the airport and on the flight this weekend.
This book tracks the life of Abu Salem from birth till now. It's a fascinating read because Hussain gives details like how Abu thinks he is as good looking as a star and is looking for fame. It also focuses on his wives and the relationship with Monica Bedi without entering the gossip territory. So, no, there is nothing about Monica and Rahul Mahajan because that is not relevant to Abu's story.
The end is scary because Abu is still in prison but his chances of going scot free have improved since Saba took over his case. And all because the Indian government has made so many blunders.
All in all a good book and worth reading.

[Letty Abraham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hussain Zaidi like we all know is a brilliant writer. HE makes crime fiction look so interesting. The book narrates the story of Abu Salem and the recod of his crimes and love affairs.

The most interesting chapter was about his first wife's revenge and the entry of Monica Bedi. Sad that she didn't do the interview, but without that as well the write got enough dope on their relationship. However, it would have been interesting to see some pictures of the infamous man.

The book is engaging and you will just not feel like keeping it down.

[Sandip Balakrishnan · Rating 2 out of 5]

An average fare after the thrilling ride of Dubai to Dongri and Byculla to Bangkok.Its a life history penned down with a writers grace

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Part hagiography, part plain stupidity. Maybe it's the translation at fault.

> The Ansari community that Qayyum belonged to is not generally considered to be very well educated. But the lawyer and his brother were exceptions, and had studied as far as college.

Considered by whom?

Two cases belonging to the same family qualify as exceptions? They are simply the ones above the average. Zaidi does not seem to grasp the concept that the average is not something of an upper limit.

Again, maybe it is the translation. Which is of very poor quality from the point of view of a non-Indian.

> One day, Aziz Bilakhia—known rather cruelly in the underworld as Aziz Tingu on account of his diminutive stature—came to Arasa to meet Topi.

What's Tingu? Obviously it is something that has to do with not being tall. Still.

[Saisudha Acharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard about Hussain Zaidi at a bookclub meeting. Everyone there seemed to know of him and I felt out of the loop. I see why now.

Hussain Zaidi isn't a writer you read for language.. where he lacks in technique he more than makes up for in interesting content. I have no way of knowing how true all his stories are but they are fascinating and he doesn't ruin it by sounding loftier and more intellectual than is necessary

I didn't know very much about Abu Salem. When he dominated the news cycle in the mid 2000s, I found it irritating. But reading about him now - I was fascinated. It's like a gossip rag that doesn't make you feel as awful...

[Hardeep Singh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I try not miss any of the Hussain Zaidi books because they are informative about the topics they promise and are true to the content. Same happens with this book but there stands a limitation if you have already read Dongri to Dubai or Byculla to Bankok . As i have already read those i already knew much of the stuff that has been explained in this except the legal proceedings and the difficulties that the government fell into.

Still a good read to understand the mind of the most wanted criminal of the country.

[Aryan Sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the continuation of the mafia saga so articulatly presented by S. Hussain Zaidi. He really is a maestro in this space, weaving stories from his innumerable sources. The story is of a small town lackey from UP's Azamgarh becoming one of the most dread mafiosa in Bombay. The hold of abu Salem over bollywood is unprecedented ranging from helping sanjay dutt get guns to killing Gulshan kumar in a broad day light murder. He was engaged with a barge of bollywood starlets even marrying one for a long time. His extradition is one of the most successful in mafia history.

[Vaibhav · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast paced and not so immersive. Abu Salem as an individual can be quite interesting character, Hussain however does not seem to thoroughly elaborate him. There are often chapters which are felt incomplete, or more fast paced with random introduction of characters on the go.

I think somehow multiple books are related and needs to be read to get complete understanding. Especially books about Mumbai Mafia.

[Yash Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Name is Abu Salem by S. Hussain Zaidi is the story of one of the most notorious mafia dons of Mumbai. The journey of Salem from a mechanic in Sarai Mir (Azamgarh, UP) to one of the most dreaded gangsters of the D-company, who used to extort money from some of the big builders of Bombay and Bollywood stars, is intriguing. The author has told the tale of Abu Salem without beating around the bush.

[Draksha · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Name is Abu Salem narrates the story of a man who was unknown to the mass but the most dreaded and good looking criminal of his time. The book gives insights about the extravagant life Abu Salem lived and the conspiracies that knocked him down the flamboyant criminal.

[Animesh Mitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of fun and entertainment. Must read if you are interested in Mumbai underworld and crime histories.

[dr raman · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderfully written

[Ankan Malla · Rating 5 out of 5]

An in detail story of the gangster more ferocious than Dawood Ibrahim

[Петр · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, well researched, highly recommended. It reads like a thriller, a good one at that, but I remind myself it's a true story. Superb.

[Sakib Nishu · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Book contains Biased information

[Vineet Potnis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting Narrative of a criminal mind, though lacks literary appeal

[Sonali Mundle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely riveting! A ton of research that the author has put into writing this book makes it all the more gripping.

[Vikkram Dewan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by the author. It keeps you hooked till the end. The description of Gulshan Kumar's murder was disturbing...Fascinating read...