While Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan and Arbaaz Khan play the cops in Apoorva Lahiya's film, Shootout at Lokhandwala, based on actual events in suburban Mumbai in 1991.

Let's have a look at a few of the real cops who involved that fateful day: Aftab Ahmed Khan (played by Sanjay Dutt), Sunil Deshmukh (played by Abhishek Bachchan) and Iqbal Shaikh (played by Arbaaz Khan), were caught in the intense gunfire against Gangsters Maya Dolas, Dilip Bua and their accomplices.

The gunfire that lasted for hours turned the suburban area into a war zone.

Let's hear a bit from the men who experienced the actual event.

Aftab Ahmed Khan

The former Indian Police Service officer was very pleased when he heard that Sanjay Dutt was portraying him in the film. However, the icing on the cake for him was his cameo in the film as S Ramamurthy, his former boss and the then police commissioner.

Aftab Ahmed Khan, now retired, says he's comfortable with both roles - police officer and actor.

"It was a great experience to work in a film, which I was closely associated with in real life," he says.

Recalling the shootout, he says, "Maya was abusing me a lot when we went to capture him. I asked him to surrender, yet he abused me nonstop. He had escaped from police custody earlier and had created fear in the minds of people."

Sunil Deshmukh

Sunil Deshmukh, currently attached with the Anti-Terrorist Squad, was one of the first officers to enter the building at Lokhandwala Complex and face Maya Dolas and his gang.

Deshmukh was serving at Dindoshi police station when the event occured. He still remembers how tough things were for his colleagues and what he had to face on the afternoon of November 16, 1991.

"I had a carbine with 20 rounds while officer Abdul Qavi, who was leading the team, had a 9mm pistol with nine bullets. Another officer Z Gharal was seriously injured and I picked up an AK 47 from one of the assault mobile unit constables and started firing back.

"We thought they would retreat once they saw us, but we were wrong. They started firing indiscriminately with no concern whatsoever for the safety of anyone present at the scene. We had no option but to fire back," he recalls.

Regarding Abhishek Bachchan being his reel life counterpart, Deshmukh says, "Abhishek is a good actor and it would be a pleasure to watch him play me on the big screen."

Iqbal Shaikh

Senior Police Inspector Iqbal Shaikh, also a key player in the events, said, "We had got a tip off and we acted upon it without wasting any time. Initially, we retreated for a few moments when the Gangsters started shooting at us. But then we recollected ourselves and started firing back."

Shaikh added that all the police at the scene were very concerned regarding the safety of the residents.

"We were constantly shouting out to the residents to keep their doors closed and lie down on the floor close to a strong wall to avoid any stray bullets. We did not want the Gangsters taking any of them as hostages or human shields," recalls Shaikh.

As the gun battle raged on Shaikh,Armed with a .38 revolver, soon opted for an assortment of weapons. It was a miracle that the only injury he sustained was a bullet that grazed his right ankle.

The inspector says he can't wait for the film to hit theatres.

"Arbaaz is a good actor and cricketer. I know him and vouch for the fact that he will do justice to the role," he concludes.