During the 2000s, Bollywood featured a lot of drama and comedy films that entertained the audiences. There has been a sudden rise in movies based on true stories. There were movies made on true stories even during earlier times, but recently there has been an increase.
The primary reason for that is the amazing response by the audience towards movies based on true stories. Such movies bring the audience a sense of realism and relatability, emotionally connecting them to the story. Such movies entertain the audience and educate and bring awareness to real-life issues. Here are some Bollywood movies you can watch based on real events.
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9 Best Bollywood Movies Based On True Stories
Neerja
Neerja is based on the life of Neerja Bhanot, an air hostess who lost her life, saving hundreds of passengers during a plane hijacking in 1986. The film starred Sonam Kapoor as Neerja, and her performance was applauded. Even Jim Sarab’s performance as a terrorist received high acclaim.
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Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is inspired by the life of Milkha Singh, a former Indian runner who won a gold medal during the 1958 Asian Games. It is one of the best films based on true stories. The movie showcases the struggles of Milkha Singh, most notably during the time of participation during which he lost his parents, and how he overcame them with the best sprinters in India. The movie started with Farhan Akhtar as Milkha Singh whose performance was applauded. The film was a huge hit.
Talvar
Talvar is one such film that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The film is based on the real-life Aarushi Talwar double murder case in 2008 that shocked the entire nation. What made the case interesting was that the accused girl’s parents were found to be the prime suspects in her murder.
The movie portrays the incident from different perspectives of different people involved, raising questions on the investigation and the verdict of the case. The movie stars Irrfan Khan, Konkana Sen and Neeraj Kabi in lead roles.
The Dirty Picture
The Dirty Picture is based on the life of Silk Smitha, a former South Indian Actress who rose to fame during the 1980s. The film showcases her rise in the industry and the ups and downs of her professional and personal life. The film starred Vidya Balan as Silk Smitha, who gave an excellent performance for which she won a National Award for Best Actress.
URI: The Surgical Strike
Uri is based on the retaliation that the Indian Army carried out in response to the attack on its army camp by a terrorist organization in 2016. The film stars Vicky Kaushal as Major Vihaan Shergill, who leads the covert operation. He was awarded a National Award for his portrayal. The film also stars Yami Gautam and Paresh Rawal in prominent roles.
Kesari
Kesari is based on the Battle of Saragarhi in 1897, in which 21 Sikh soldiers fought bravely against 10,000 Afghani Pashtuns. The film stars Akshay Kumar as Havildar Ishar Singh, who leads the soldiers. His performance was appreciated by the critics. The film was also appreciated for its action sequences.
Omerta
Omerta is a true story of the British-born terrorist Ahmed Omar Sheikh of Pakistani descent. He had killed a Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. The film also showcases his involvement in kidnapping Western tourists in India in 1994. The film also shows his involvement during the 2008 attacks in Mumbai. The film stars Rajkumar Rao as Omar Shaikh. It is known as one of his best roles.
Special 26
Special 26 is based on the real-life Opera House Heist in 1987, wherein a group of con artists posed as CBI officers who conducted raids on businessmen and politicians’ houses and stole their black money. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, Manoj Bajpayee and Kajal Agarwal.
Airlift
Airlift is based on the evacuation of Indians in Kuwait in 1999 after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein. The film stars Akshay Kumar as Ranjit Katyal, a businessman who takes the responsibility of carrying out the evacuation. It was considered as one of his best performances. The film also fe Nimrat Kaur, Purab Kohli and Kumud Mishra in important roles.
These films are a great watch to get to know some real-life incidents one may not have heard about. Which is your favourite movie based on real events? Do let us know in the comments.
