With April 2025 coming to an end, a plethora of movies and web series are lined up that are slated to be released on OTT platforms like Zee5, Netflix, etc. Among the much-awaited movies, Costao will be released on Zee5 on May 1, 2025. Directed by Sejal Shah and Written by Bhavesh Mandalia and Meghna Srivastava, Costao will feature ace actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui playing the role of a Customs Officer named Costao Fernandes. Since you have landed on this page, True Scoop assumes that you have already watched the Costao Trailer and are wondering about real life Costao Fernandes played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the Zee5 movie. Below is all you need to know about Costao Real Story or Costao True Story-
Who is Costao Fernandes?
Produced by Vinod Bhanushali, Kamlesh Bhanushali, etc, Costao is a biographical drama that revolves around real life Goa Customs Officer named Costao Fernandez. As per Mumbai's Customs official website, Costao Fernandez prevented several attempts of smuggling by endangering his own life. Costao Fernandes, who loved football, joined Goa Customs as a Preventive Officer in 1979.
The website further outlined that Costao Fernandes is widely remembered for one of the most courageous and impressive case made by him against Alemao Churchill and his brothers in 1991, while smuggling a large consignment of gold.
Costao Fernandes went unarmed to nab Alvarnaz, brother of Alemao Churchill, who attacked the officer with a knife and wanted to escape. In the ensuing fight, Alvarnaz was injured seriously and later died. After facing numerous hurdles, Costao Fernandes was successful in establishing the smuggling case of gold against Alemao Churchill and his brothers, who were also detained under COFEPOSA. For his act of bravery and valour, he was conferred with the President's Award in 1996.
As per reports, on May 16, 1991, Costao got a tip about a huge gold smuggling operation about to occur at the Fartade Beach. It was so sudden that Costao didn’t have any backup. But he didn’t waste time waiting. He went straight in and intercepted Alvarnaz Alemao, brother of then-Chief Minister Churchill Alemao. The confrontation turned violent, and while defending himself, Costao ended up stabbing Alvarnaz.
It is pertinent to mention here that Alemao Churchill was the Chief Minister of the state of Goa.
As per Bollywood Hungama, Nawazuddin Siddiqui prepared for the role and embodied the real-life character by spending time with Costao Fernandes before the shoot.
Costao on Zee5
In the movie Costao, Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays Costao Fernandes, Priya Bapat plays Maria Fernandes (Costao's wife), Kishore Kumar G plays D’Mello, Hussain Dalal as Peter, Mahika Sharma as Cassandra and more in the leading roles.