Bollywood is fast emerging as a force to reckon with. B-town is diverting from the regular song and dance routine to an industry that is churning out films based on real life incidents. These days many talented Bollywood filmmakers are investing their money and time in making movies that are inspired from true stories. Here is a list of 12 best Bollywood movies based on true stories.
Paan Singh Tomar
Year of release: 2012
Cast: Irrfan Khan, Mahi Gill, Vipin Sharma
Based on: Athelete Paan singh tomar
Directed by the renowned Bollywood director Tigmanshu Dhulia, Paan Singh Tomar is a biographical film based on the true story of national level athlete Paan Singh Tomar. Paan Singh was an Indian Army official, who won a gold medal at National Games. Circumstances at his native village forced him to become a notorious bandit . Irrfan plays the role of Paan Singh Tomar.
Buddha In A Traffic Jam
Year of release: End of 2012
Cast: Mahie Gill, Viveck Vaswani, Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher
Based on: Arundhati Roy
Produced by Friday Night Productions and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, this film is based on the life of Arundhati Roy. Mahie Gill will portray the role of Roy and it is learnt that she is preparing hard to get into the skin of the character. Arunoday Singh and Anupam Kher will also play important characters in the film.
Not A Love Story
Year of release: 2011
Cast: Mahie Gill, Deepak Dhobriyal and Ajay Gehi
Based on: Television executive Neeraj Grover
Directed by Ram Gopal Verma, ‘Not a Love Story’ is based on the brutal murder of the young television executive Neeraj Grover by the aspiring actress Maria Susairaj and Emile Jerome Mathew, her fiancee. Neeraj, 25, was killed in May 2008 by Mathew. Later, Mathew and Maria chopped Neeraj’s body into pieces and burnt them in a forest to destroy evidence.
The Dirty Picture
Year of release: 2011
Cast: Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Tusshar Kapoor, Emraan Hashmi
Based on: Silk Smitha
Directed by Milan Luthria, The Dirty Picture is a biographical film based on the life of seductive South Indian actress Silk Smitha. Vidya Balan has played the role of Silk Smitha, who was famous for portraying erotic roles. Luthria tried to trace Silk Smitha’s journey in this well-written film.
Black Friday
Year of release: 2004
Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Pavan Malhotra, Aditya Srivastava, Imtiaz Ali, Pratima Kazmi, Zakir Hussain
Based on: 1993 Bombay Bomb Blasts
Written and directed by Anurag Kashyap, this hard-hitting film is based on a book named ‘Black Friday – The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts’. This book is based on the 1993 bomb blasts in Mumbai and is written by senior journalist S. Hussain Zaidi. In this film, Anurag has perfectly created the events and situations that unfolded after the blasts.
Chak de India
Year of release: 2007
Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Vidya Malvade, Sagarika Ghatge, Chitrashi Rawat, Shilpa Shukla, Tanya Abrol, Anaitha
Based on: Indian Hockey player, Mir Ranjan Negi
Produced by Yash Raj Films and directed by Shimit Amin, this film stars Shahrukh Khan in the lead role. Shah Rukh plays the role of Kabir Khan, the former captain of the Indian hockey team, who was ostracized after Indian team’s defeat against Pakistan. Kabir Khan, however, returns after seven years to redeem himself and decides to become the coach for Indian women’s hockey team. He guided the team to World Cup victory. The film is all about the trials and tribulations faced by Kabir Khan from his failure to the World Cup victory.
No One Killed Jessica
Year of release: 2011
Cast: Rani Mukerji, Vidya Balan
Based on: Jessica Lall
Directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, this film is based on the murder of bar tender Jessica Lall. Accomplished Bollywood star Vidya Balan, has played the central role of Sabrina Lall, Jessica’s sister. Rani Mukherji plays the role of a TV journalist, which seems to be inspired by well-known journalist Barkha Dutt.
Ragini MMS
Year of release: 2011
Cast: Raj Kumar Yadav, Kainaz Motivala
Based on: Ragini
Produced by Ekta Kappor and directed by Pawan Kripalani, this supernatural horror film is partly based on the real story of a Delhi-based girl. More than half of the film is a work of fiction, with horror element added in it, to make it commercially viable.
Shootout at Lokhandwala
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Vivek Oberoi, Arbaaz Khan, Tusshar Kapoor
Based on: 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout
Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, Shootout at Lokhandwala is based on the shootout that took place in 1991 at Lokhandwala complex between Mumbai Police and gangsters. Sanjay Dutt plays the role of Additional commissioner of police (ACP) A.A. Khan, who led the ATS team that carried on the operation. Vivek Oberoi played the role of a gangster.
Bawandar
Year of release: 2000
Cast: Deepti Naval, Nandita Das
Based on: Bhanwari Devi
Directed by Jag Mundhra, Bawandar or The Sand Storm is based on the true story of a rape victim named Bhanwari Devi. Bhanwari lives in Rajasthan and in this film, Mundhra has depicted the personal hardship, public humiliation and the legal hassles faced by the woman in her quest to find justice.
Jodha Akbar
Year of release: 2008
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonu Sood, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Ila Arun
Based on: Muslim Mughal Emperor, Akbar the Great
Directed by the Academy Award-nominated Ashutosh Gowariker, the film is based on the romanctic encounter between the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great and Rajput Princess Jodhabai, who eventually becomes his wife. Hrithik plays the role of Akbar while Aishwarya Rai Bachchan portrays Jodha Bai’s character.
Rakt Charitra
Year of release: 2010
Cast: Vivek Oberoi, Suriya, Sudeep, Shatrughan Sinha, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Abhimanyu Singh, Priyamani, Radhika Apte
Based on: Paritala Ravindra
Directed by Ram Gopal Verma, Rakta Charitra is a two-part Indian film, based on the life of criminal-turned politician Paritala Ravindra. Vivek Oberoi plays the lead role of Ravindra. In the second part, Suriya plays the role of Ravindra’s antagonist Surya.
