Top 10 Bollywood Movies That Were Remade from Hollywood Movies
#10: “Kaante” (2002)
One of the best action-thrillers produced by Bollywood, “Kaante” features a stellar ensemble cast that included Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Lucky Ali, and many others. The heist drama is set in Los Angeles, and has plenty of similarities to filmmaker Quentin Tarantino’s very own “Reservoir Dogs”. “Kaante’s” director Sanjay Gupta chose to call it his “homage” to Tarantino, as opposed to a traditional remake. Nonetheless, the man behind “Reservoir Dogs” was a fan of the Hindi version. He shared how he was amazed that Kaante dove deeper into the backstories of the main characters — something that didn’t make the final cut in the original Hollywood film.
#9: “Baazigar” (1993)
“Baazigar” marked a turning point in actor Shah Rukh Khan’s career, making him an instant sensation among the audience despite playing the anti-hero. The movie’s gripping script, suspense and performances turned it into a cult classic. However, its makers may have to thank the writers of the 1991’s “A Kiss Before Dying” for the plot. There’s an impersonation, murders, and investigations that’ll have you on the edge of your seat. The Hollywood film release was in itself an adaptation of a novel, but it gave it its own twist. The Bollywood version, in turn, followed the movie’s influence while adding new elements. Interestingly though, Khan’s part in “Baazigar” was reportedly first offered to actor Anil Kapoor! We wonder how that would’ve turned out!
#8: “Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar” (1992)
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“Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar” won a Filmfare award for Best Film and another for Best Editing. It’s easy to see why, as the coming-of-age drama makes college life of the ‘90s look so fun. The story about a poor boy falling in love with a wealthy girl gets more interesting with a filthy rich nemesis and a cycle race! While the movie blends romance, friendship, brotherhood, sports drama, and action quite well, the premise has a lot in common with the 1979 film, “Breaking Away.” Just as bicycle racing plays a pivotal role in that movie, the inter-college sports championship with a cycle race is one of the highlights of “Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar”!
#7: “Sarkar” (2005)
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has given Bollywood some remarkable gangster dramas. One of them is the political thriller “Sarkar,” an Indian adaptation of “The Godfather.” The film was the one of three in a series, similar to “The Godfather” trilogy. “Sarkar” clicks with Indian audiences because it’s set against the cultural and political scheme of Mumbai city. Amitabh Bachchan plays the role of Subhash Nagre, aka Sarkar, the city’s Godfather with an immense following. Actors such as Abhishek Bachchan, Kay Kay Menon, Kota Srinivasa Rao and Anupam Kher also lend their talents to the project, and the result is brilliant. Abhishek Bachchan’s take on the character of Michael Corleone is actually considered one of his best performances.
#6: “Heyy Babyy” (2007)
A family flick with three men and a little baby as the main characters, “Heyy Babyy” made audiences laugh a lot upon release. Starring Akshay Kumar, Fardeen Khan and Riteish Deshmukh, it takes some cues from the hit Hollywood film, “Three Men and a Baby.” The latter project was remade from a 1985 French comedy, “Three Men and a Cradle.” The Bollywood version more than delivers, with star Shah Rukh Khan even making a special appearance. And then there’s the title song featuring numerous actresses, which is executed flawlessly. Although “Heyy Babyy” is a comedy, it also features a few emotional scenes, striking just the right balance.
#5: “Laal Singh Chaddha” (2022)
The official Hindi adaptation of the Oscar-winning film “Forrest Gump,” “Laal Singh Chaddha” sees Aamir Khan playing Tom Hanks’ character. The Hollywood film walks through America’s political challenges through an apolitical protagonist. But the Hindi version mostly passes commentary on the pivotal events of Indian history. Yet the heartwarming, romantic comedy stays faithful to its roots, telling the extraordinary journey of an ordinary man. Even the iconic “Life was like a box of chocolates” line gets a nod, becoming “life was like a golgappa.” “Laal Singh Chaddha” grossed more than any other Hindi film of 2022 internationally. Is it any wonder why?
#4: “Chachi 420” (1997)
Indian cinema’s legendary actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan created a winner with “Chachi 420.” The project bears many similarities to Hollywood’s iconic comedy, “Mrs. Doubtfire.” Haasan became one of the first actors to play a character that dresses in the opposite sex’s clothing in a Bollywood film. His transformation and performance in the movie is so convincing that sometimes you forget you’re watching the same person portraying both Jai Prakash and Lakshmi! The comedy-drama earned him many fans in the Hindi audience who had mostly known him as a Tamil actor. Though it was released decades ago, “Chachi 420” remains a comfort flick for many.
#3: “Dil Bechara” (2020)
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“Dil Bechara” raised a lot of excitement among fans when it was announced that it was an adaptation of “The Fault in our Stars,” the much-loved novel and Hollywood film. It didn’t disappoint, hitting all the necessary emotional points. Although a Hindi film, the Tamil expression ‘Seri’ was the movie’s equivalent of the iconic ‘Okay’ in the original work, with the choice being woven into the plot in an affecting way. The movie’s message of positivity, hope and love, coupled with the performances of the lead actors was well-received. Author John Green, who wrote the novel, also complimented “Dil Bechara.” The story was made all the more emotional by the fact that actor Sushant Singh Rajput passed prior to its release.
#2: “Hum Tum” (2004)
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Actors Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherji charmed the audience in this apparent take on “When Harry Met Sally...” While boy-meets-girl is one of the most common Bollywood tropes, Hum Tum was ahead of its time in the way it portrayed relationships. Like the original movie, the remake reiterated that friendship is the bedrock of love. It poetically emphasized how some romantic stories take time to bloom. Considering how beloved the 1989 Hollywood movie is, “Hum Tum” had big shoes to fill, but it did a great job. The proof is in the fact that Khan received the Best Actor award at India’s National Film Awards while Mukherji earned the Best Actress award at the Filmfare Awards.
#1: “Ghajini” (2008)
“Ghajini,” the action thriller starring Aamir Khan, is iconic for being the first Indian film to make over 100 crores at the Indian box office. The story follows a protagonist with short-term memory loss avenging the death of his lover. As far as plots go, that’s a pretty exciting one. Even for those who’d seen Christopher Nolan’s “Memento,” the indirect inspiration for “Ghajini,” there was plenty to enjoy in and love about the Bollywood film. And isn’t that one of the marks of a successful remake?! During one of his trips to India, Nolan reportedly said he was “honored” that his work served as inspiration for the film. That’s pretty high praise.
