In the world of cinema, inspiration often transcends geographical boundaries, and Bollywood stands testament to this by recreating Hollywood stories with an Indian essence. Here, we delve into five Bollywood films that ingeniously adapted storylines from Hollywood, adding their own cultural flair and creative genius.
Dil Chahta Hai: Inspired by ‘The Big Chill’, Farhan Akhtar’s directorial debut in 2001, ‘Dil Chahta Hai,’ resonated with audiences for its portrayal of friendship dynamics. Drawing inspiration from ‘The Big Chill,’ it beautifully captured the essence of evolving friendships among three distinct characters.
Sarkar: Based on ‘The Godfather’, Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Sarkar,’ starring Amitabh Bachchan, found its roots in Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic saga, ‘The Godfather.’ With Bachchan in the lead, the film skillfully reinterpreted the themes of power, family, and underworld dynamics against an Indian political backdrop.
A Wednesday: Inspired by ‘A Common Man’, Neeraj Pandey’s gripping thriller, ‘A Wednesday!’, starring Naseeruddin Shah, took inspiration from the movie ‘A Common Man.’ It explored a common man’s audacious stand against a flawed system, striking a chord with audiences through its intense narrative.
Partner: Based on ‘Hitch’, this 2007 comedy starring Salman Khan and Govinda borrowed its storyline from Will Smith’s ‘Hitch.’ Retaining the essence of the original, ‘Partner’ weaved the tale of a love guru helping hopeless romantics, tailored for Indian audiences.
Kaante: Inspired by ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and Heat’, Sanjay Gupta’s Kaante’ intricately wove elements from Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and Michael Mann’s ‘Heat.’ The film, set against a backdrop of heists and double-crossings, blended Hollywood inspiration with Bollywood’s trademark style.