Bollywood's BEST Dawood Ibrahim portrayal? VOTE!

Art imitates life, insists popular belief.

And when it comes to the gangster/crime genre of cinema, it's not too far from the truth.

Quite a few filmmakers take inspiration from the real life activities of notorious underworld figures to create an interpreted or fictionalised character.

Besides authenticity, it increases the buzz surrounding the film. Especially when the man happens to be organised crime honcho Dawood Ibrahim. (Of course, most directors like to keep it safe and change the protagonist's name to avoid any trouble. )

From glamorous to ruthless, Bollywood's leading actors have portrayed his many, um, shades.

While two Dawood portrayals on this list are yet to hit the big screen, VOTE for your favourite onscreen avatar from the rest, at the end of the slide show!

Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai Dobaara

Akshay Kumar steps into Shoaib Khan's shoes to play a flamboyant, verbose version of the mafia man clashing with his right hand man (Imran Khan) after they both fall for the same girl in Milan Luthria's upcoming sequel.

After making sweet and sentimental fare like Kal Ho Naa Ho and Patiala House, Nikhil Advani advances to cast Rishi Kapoor as D-man in this Friday's release.

It will be interesting to see what new dimensions the 60-year-old actor offers to the role after negative turns in Agneepath and Aurangzeb.

Before Akki, Emraan Hashmi made an impression with his gritty portrayal (and six-pack physique) of the aggressive, rebellious Shoaib betraying his boss (Ajay Devgn in a role modelled on Haji Mastan) in the slick, stylish, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai.

Not surprising then how comfortable Emraan Hashmi appeared aping Dawood-inspired mannerisms and look as a character loosely inspired by the mob man in Kunal Deshmukh's runaway hit Jannat 2.

Company is among the final few remarkable creations from the Ram Gopal Varma school of filmmaking.

In this ambitious underworld saga, Ajay Devgn and Vivek Oberoi's conflict inspired by the acrimonious spilt between Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan sets the tone for a tension-filled drama.

Devgn's restraint as the moody don was particularly lauded.

In the style-over-substance scheme of Sanjay Gupta's filmmaking, Sonu Sood serves as a retro-themed reminder of Dawood's influence in the world of crime during the 1980s.

In Anurag Kashyap's memorable adaptation of S Hussain Zaidi's book about the 1993 bomb blasts in Mumbai, Vijay Maurya plays the don in question with startling authenticity adding further chill to the already disturbing proceedings.

Promoted as a prequel to Ram Gopal Varma's Company, the Vishram Sawant directed D holds no candle to his gangster classics like Satya or Company.

Randeep Hooda, it must be said, makes an impression with his commanding screen presence as Deshu the sly criminal mind paving his way to become the most powerful man in the gang.

So what are you waiting for? Vote now!