Former Mumbai Police encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma remains as disciplined and fit today as he was during his years in uniform. In a candid conversation with Dainik Bhaskar journalist Ashish Tiwari, Sharma reflected on his upbringing, his battle against Mumbai’s underworld, his portrayal in films, and the social work that now defines a significant part of his life.
When asked how he continues to look as fit as ever, Sharma credited the values instilled in him by his father, an English professor. “Discipline was always a part of my life,” he said, adding that he still wakes up between 5:30 and 6:00 every morning.
Growing up in Dhulia, Sharma was fascinated by a policeman who lived in his neighborhood. Watching the officer in uniform sparked an interest that would eventually lead him into the police force.
Recalling Mumbai in the 1990s, Sharma described a city gripped by the influence of gangsters such as Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan. Shootouts were frequent, often occurring three or four times a day, while celebrities and wealthy businessmen routinely received extortion calls.
He also recalled how some people openly displayed their allegiance to Dawood Ibrahim by wearing “D” belts, a symbol that reflected the underworld don’s influence during that era.
Sharma said his wife always understood the demands of his profession because her father was a former Air Force officer. The family's military and service background helped them navigate the dangers that came with his line of work.
Surprisingly, despite being associated with some of the most dramatic chapters in Mumbai Police history, Sharma says he prefers watching comedy films.
“I’ve had enough action in my life already,” he said with a smile.
He believes that films often underestimate the intelligence and complexity of police work. Sharma recalled that filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma once spent considerable time observing him and his work. The experience eventually influenced films like Company and later Ab Tak Chhappan, in which Nana Patekar played a character inspired by Sharma.
According to Sharma, he once told Varma, “A police officer is the greatest actor. Politicians come to him, criminals come to him, sex workers come to him, and he has to deal with all of them effectively.”
He added that the film Dhurandhar is “about 80 percent accurate” in its portrayal of his life and experiences.
Sharma revealed that the upcoming film Ab Tak 112 is based on his life and that he believes it is time for people to know his story in greater detail.
However, he noted that the film does not focus much on his political journey or the social initiatives he has undertaken in recent years.
Beyond policing, Sharma has dedicated himself to social work through a foundation focused on women's empowerment and healthcare.
The foundation operates medical outreach programs using ambulances and healthcare facilities to reach underserved communities. According to Sharma, nearly one lakh families have benefited from these efforts. Free diabetes medication is distributed, and cataract surgeries are conducted at no cost to patients.
Reflecting on politics, Sharma remarked that police officers often struggle to become successful politicians.
“Once you are a police officer, you remain a police officer. You can never become a good politician because you can never learn to lie,” he said.
He also spoke about a legal case that hung over his head for nearly a decade, describing it as one of the most challenging phases of his life.
“You can’t buy courage in the market. You’re born with it,” Sharma said while discussing the dangerous operations that defined his career.
He recalled an incident involving Firoz Konkani, an associate of Dawood Ibrahim, who allegedly shot a constable at a hospital. Sharma and his team were called into action at around 3 a.m. to handle the situation.
He also acknowledged that success often brought jealousy from within the system, with some senior officers becoming uncomfortable with his achievements.
Explaining where his courage came from, Sharma said many situations left him with no choice but to act. “Sometimes it’s simply a case of ‘what else could you do?’”
Among the many memories he shared, one stood out as particularly emotional.
One day, Sharma’s father visited a police station and asked for his son. The staff reportedly told him to address Pradeep Sharma as “Saab.”
For Sharma, seeing his father witness the respect he had earned was one of the proudest moments of his life.
He also revealed that he fired a weapon for the first time at the age of seven while visiting relatives in Uttar Pradesh, where he was handed a locally made firearm. At the time, he could not have imagined that weapons and policing would become such a defining part of his future.
As the conversation concluded, Sharma urged citizens to trust and support the police, emphasizing that public cooperation remains essential for maintaining law and order.