We come across all kinds of Bollywood movies from time to time. They’re based on different stories, screenplays, and target a particular audience.
Out of a plethora of categories, there are some movies based on true stories of the person concerned.
But do you think such films prosper and even reach to their target audiences? Yes, but not in all cases.
In general, if we try and explore some of the most successful movies based on real stories, then a handful of names goes hand in hand:
• Hitler
• Serpico
• I Shot Andy Warhol
• Born on the Fourth of July
Table of Contents
Bollywood’s Super Hit Movies Based on True Stories
Well, these films are termed as biopics: biographical movies in the sub-genre of epic or drama films.
Now, a few Bollywood films of the genre that are worth to mention here would be
• Jodhaa Akbar
• The Legand of Bhagat Singh
• Gandhi, My Father
• Hawaizaada
• Guru
Now, have a look at the some of the most successful movies based on real stories (biopics) that are recently released
M.S Dhoni: The Untold Story (All time collection- 125 Crores)
Genre: Drama
Release Date: September 30, 2016 (worldwide)
Directed By: Neeraj Pandey
Written By: Neeraj Pandey, Sreerag Nambiar
Duration: 100 minutes
Casts: Sushant Singh Rajput, Anupam Kher, Kiara Advani, Bhumika Chawla
Neeraj Pandey’s film released on the life of famous cricketer M.S. Dhoni is still leading the charts.
The biopic shows the untold journey of Dhoni as how he became a “trophy collector” from the “ticket collector”.
People were already suspecting a grand success of the Dhoni biopic, even before it released last Friday.
However, if we try and analyse it in terms of box office collection, then it becomes hard to believe it crossing a mammoth Rs.100 Crore figure.
The film will be remembered to become one of the greatest biopics in the entire entertainment industry.
One of the root causes responsible for the huge success of the film is that it’s created on the true life of the person in question.
Dhoni biopic therefore is one of the movies based on real stories.
The film proved such a mega hit that it earned a whopping Rs. 60 Crore in its very opening week.
If the trend goes like this, it would earn as much as double the amount.
Bhag Milkha Bhag (box office collection – 110 Crores)
Genre: Drama
Release Date: July 11, 2013 (worldwide)
Directed By: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Written By: Prasoon Joshi
Duration: 188 minutes
Casts: Dalip Tahil (Jawaharlal N), Farhan Akhtar
The movie stars “Farhan Akhtar”. It released in the year 2013 to become another biopic based on the life of famous sports star “Milkha Singh”.
The film not only proved a major hit, but also stood among movies on the real life stories, by slashing all the previous records at the box office.
The Dirty Picture (Box Office Collection: Rs 80 crores)
Genre: Drama , Musical & Performing Arts
Release Date: December 01, 2011
Directed By: Milan Luthria
Written By: Rajat Arora
Duration: 153 minutes
Casts: Naseeruddin Shah, Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi, Tusshar Kapoor
It was also ranked among some of the leading biopics ever made in the history of Indian cinema and fine arts.
Neerja (Box Office Collection: Rs 75.65 crores)
Genre: Drama , Musical & Performing Arts
Release Date: Feb 18, 2016
Directed By: Ram Madhvani
Written By: Sanyuktha Chawla Sheikh, Saiwyn Quadras
Duration: 122 minutes
Casts: Shabana Azmi (Rama Bhanot), Sonam Kapoor (Neerja Bhanot)
The movie featured Sonam Kapoor. It was also among the most successful movies based on real stories.
It was much appreciated, especially the lead character played by Sonam. The film shows how well she plays the tragic end of Neerja.
Mary Kom (Box Office Collection: Rs 75.65 crores)
Genre: Drama
Release Date: September 04, 2014
Directed By: Omung Kumar
Written By: Saiwyn Quadras
Duration: 124 minutes
Casts: Priyanka Chopra, Danny Denzongpa, Zachary Coffin, Shishir Sharma
Can you imagine movies based on real stories become successful in real time and especially when it’s based on the life of a female boxer? Well, it actually happened in the history of the Indian cinema.
Ever since the role was offered to Priyanka, she exclaimed with joy and managed to perform the ways everybody was looking forward to.
There was a bit challenge for her to play the act of a Manipuri girl (being a Punjabi), but she did well to impress the audience.
film but later was convinced by Priyanka as soon as he read the story.It finally proved a mega hit at the box office with an ever mounting collection of over 75 Crores.
Paan Singh Tomar (Box Office Collection: Rs 15.0 crores)
Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure
Release Date: March 01, 2012
Directed By: Tigmanshu Dhulia
Duration: 135 minutes
Casts: Zakir Hussain, Vipin Sharma, Mahie Gill, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Paan Singh Tomar was a famous Indian athlete and soldier. He actually served in the Indian Army where his talent was highlighted.
He was successful winning golds for consecutively seven times in a row at the Indian National Games.
Bandit Queen: lists among movies based on true stories (Box Office Collection: Rs 15.0 crores)
Genre: Drama, Art House & International , Documentary
Release Date: June 29, 1995
Directed By: Shekhar Kapur
Written By: Mala Sen
Duration: 121 minutes
Casts: Raghuvir Yadav, Seema Biswas (Phoolan Devi), Manoj Bajpai (Man Singh)
Bandit Queen was a well known name in relation to the infamous decoit “Phoolan Devi”.
Do you know that the film was under much speculation to be screened or not (due to a major controversy) that happened at the time of its release in the year 1996?
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