There has been a lot of discussion about how Bollywood lacks originality. Bollywood has been under a lot of fire for the continuous and endless remakes of successful movies from South India or Hollywood.
Now, Aamir Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha is about to be released soon, which seems to be inspired by the famous Hollywood movie – Forrest Gump. But, this isn’t the first time, Hollywood has inspired Bollywood. Here are 20 Bollywood super-hit movies that were inspired or adapted from Hollywood movies.
Bollywood Hit Movies Inspired By Hollywood Movies
1. Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992) – Breaking Away (1979)
Breaking Away was released in 1979, and formed the premise of Aamir Khan’s super hit movie Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. Who can forget the great cycle race climax of the movie?
2. Judwaa (1997) – Twin Dragons (1992)
Judwaa has been made twice in Bollywood. And you would be surprised to know, that it is based on the 1992 movie – Twin Dragons. Twins get separated at birth, and bump into each other years later – and comedy ensues.
3. Baazigar (1993) – A Kiss Before Dying (1991)
A poor man whose family was wronged takes revenge on a rich man by getting involved with his daughters. Well, Baazigar wasn’t the first movie with the plot.
4. Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994) – The Hard Way (1991)
One can safely say that quite a lot of 90s Bollywood hits were ‘inspired’ by Hollywood. Just like Main Khiladi Tu Anari, the Hard Way has a movie star shadowing a hard policeman to research a character.
5. Pyar To Hona Hi Tha (1998) – French Kiss (1995)
A girl goes to another country to confront her straying fiancé and gets pulled into a smuggling racket. French Kiss and Pyar To Hona Hi Tha, are like movie-twins.
6. Dushman (1998) – Eye for an Eye (1996)
American psychological Eye for an Eye inspired the Bollywood movie – Dushman. The story is about a woman seeking justice for her daughter/sister who was raped by a man. This man was able to fool the justice system and stay out of prison.
7. Ghulam (1998) – On the Waterfront (1954)
Did you know the hit and acclaimed movie – Ghulam is a remake of the Hollywood movie On the Waterfront which was released in 1954. This Hollywood also ‘inspired’ Sanjay Dutt starrer 1988 movie – Kabzaa.
8. Mohabbatein (2000) – Dead Poets Society (1989)
SRK’s Mohabbatein was loosely based on the classic movie, Dead Poets Society. While the similarities are not too many, it is impossible to miss the inspiration in the first half.
9. 3 Deewarein (2003)- The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
While Deewarein does not seem like an inspiration from The Shawshank Redemption. However, the jail-break sequence and relationships in the movie make us remember The Shawshank Redemption.
10. Munnabhai MBBS (2003) – Patch Adams (1998)
The hero of the movie, a goon ends up as a student at medical school – all with the help of his sidekicks. Yes, Patch Adams was the first ‘Munnabhai’.
11. Jism (2003) – Body Heat (1981)
A woman convinces her lover to murder her rich husband. The erotic thriller, Jism, was based on the 1981 release Body Heat.
12. Murder (2004) – Unfaithful (2002)
Another erotic thriller, Murder is a close remake of the Hollywood movie Unfaithful. Both movies are about a couple whose marriage goes awry when the wife indulges in an affair.
13. Aitraaz (2004) – Disclosure (1994)
Based on the topic of sexual harassment at the workplace, Disclosure formed the inspiration behind Priyanka Chopra’s Aitraaz.
14. Rock On (2008) – The Happy Life (2007)
A story about the reunion of a rock band which broke up years ago, Rock On is loosely based on the South Korean film, The Happy Life.
15. Bunty Aur Babli (2005) – Bonnie & Clyde (1967)
Not just the plot, but even the name of Bunty Aur Babli, is inspired by the 1967 classic Bonnie & Clyde. In the movie, the couple goes around looting people and in turn, makes the audience laugh as well.
16. Kyon Ki (2005) – One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher’s One Flew Over Cuckoo’s Nest had eerie similarities to Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor starrer Kyon Ki. It seems not much has changed in the plot over 30 years.
17. Krrish (2006) – Paycheck (2003)
The science-fiction movie Paycheck seems to have been the underlying storyline behind Krrish.
18. Phir Hera Pheri (2006) – Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Phir Hera Pheri is definitely based on the British comedy film, Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998). Eddy persuades his three pals to pool money for a vital poker game against a powerful local mobster, Hatchet Harry. Eddy loses, after which Harry gives him a week to pay back 500,000 pounds. Can you see the similarities now?
19. Partner (2007) – Hitch (2005)
Even at the time of release, Partner movie was called out for blatantly copying the hit movie Hitch. Its story revolves around an intelligent man who teaches another man about dating the woman of their dreams.
20. Dostana (2008) – I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry had two straight, single men pretend to be a gay couple in order to receive domestic partner benefits. Well, Dostana had a similar premise where two men are trying to impress a girl.
Did we miss any of the ‘inspired’ movies of Bollywood?
(Images: IMDb)