DHAKA: A judge has ordered Leonardo DiCaprio to testify in court in the case brought by an ex-stockbroker who alleges ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ depicted him as a ‘depraved’ drug-fuelled criminal.

Andrew Greene claims the character Nicky ‘Rugrat’ Koskoff is based on him.

Greene worked at Stratton Oakmont, the brokerage house founded by Jordan Belfort, played by DiCaprio.

The judge granted Greene’s motion to compel a deposition in New York on Thursday, Hollywood Reporter said, according to the BBC.

‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, directed by Martin Scorsese, saw DiCaprio play real-life swindling stockbroker Belfort and was based on his memoirs.

Greene is suing producers including Paramount Pictures, Red Granite Pictures, DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions and Sikelia Productions.

The character of Nicky ‘Rugrat’ Koskoff wore a toupee and was the subject of the movie line ‘swear to God, I want to choke him to death’. He was played by PJ Byrne.

Green said the film changed his nickname from ‘Wigwam’ to ‘Rugrat’, adding it spread untruths about him and that damages to his reputation were worth $15m.

The claims were rejected, but a judge allowed the claimant to assert instead that the filmmakers maliciously libeled him.

Thursday’s hearing, chaired by magistrate judge Steven Locke, overruled arguments that DiCaprio’s testimony only serves as harassment and coercion.

BDST: 1349 HRS, JUN 18, 2016
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