Cinematic Crossroads: Top 5 Bollywood Movies Adapted from Hollywood

Bollywood December 16, 2023

In the world of cinema, inspiration often transcends geographical boundaries, and Bollywood bears witness to this by recreating Hollywood stories with an Indian essence. Here, we delve into five Bollywood films that brilliantly adapted stories from Hollywood, adding their own cultural flair and creative genius.

Dil Chahta Hai: Inspired by The Big Chill, Farhan Akhtar’s 2001 debut, Dil Chahta Hai, resonated with audiences for its depiction of friendship dynamics. Inspired by the movie The Big Chill, it beautifully captures the essence of the evolving friendships between three distinct characters.

Sarkar: Based on the film ‘The Godfather’, ‘Sarkar’, directed by Ram Gopal Varma and starring Amitabh Bachchan, finds its roots in Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic epic ‘The Godfather’. With Bachchan in the lead, the film skillfully reinterprets themes of power, family and underworld dynamics against an Indian political backdrop.

A Wednesday: Inspired by the film A Common Man, director Neeraj Pandey’s thriller, A Wednesday! Starring Naseeruddin Shah, based on the movie A Common Man. He explored the defiant stand of the common man against a flawed system, and struck a chord with audiences with his intense narrative.

Partner: Inspired by ‘Hitch’, this 2007 comedy starring Salman Khan and Govinda borrows its story from Will Smith’s ‘Hitch’. Retaining the essence of the original film, ‘Partner’ weaves the story of a love guru who helps hopeless romantics, and is specially designed for the Indian audience.

Kaante: Inspired by Reservoir Dogs and Heat, Sanjay Gupta’s Kaante weaves together complex elements from Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and Michael Mann’s Heat. The film, set against the backdrop of heists and double-crosses, blended Hollywood inspiration with the trademark style of Bollywood.