Bollywood's Plagiarism Problem: Notable Bollywood Films Accused of Copying

Bollywood has a long-standing issue with getting called out for copying stuff—whether it’s storylines, scenes, or even posters from Hollywood, or other Indian films, or global works. These accusations get people talking about whether it’s just inspiration or straight-up stealing. Here’s a rundown of some Bollywood movies accused of copying, with a no-nonsense take on the problem.

1. Laapataa Ladies (2024)

• Accusation: People on social media said it looked a lot like the Arabic film Burqa City, pointing out similar plots and themes.
• Response: Writer Biplab Goswami and director Kiran Rao got some heat, but there’s no word on any legal action wrapping up. It sparked the usual talk about Bollywood’s originality issues.
• Context: Some say the similarities might just be common story elements, but not giving credit raises red flags.

2. Raabta (2017)

• Accusation: The team behind the Telugu film Magadheera (2009) claimed Raabta jacked its reincarnation love story.
• Outcome: They filed a lawsuit, but it got dropped after the filmmakers showed enough differences. It’s a good example of how similar story ideas can cause a mess.
• Box Office: Made Rs5.61 crore on opening day but took hits for seeming unoriginal.

3. Hindi Medium (2017)

• Accusation: Said to have borrowed heavily from the Bengali film Ramdhanu (2014), which also deals with parents fighting to get their kid into a fancy school.
• Outcome: Filmmakers Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee sued for copyright infringement but later backed off.
• Box Office: Raked in Rs56 crore and got praise for its social message, but the copying claims left a mark.

4. Dear Zindagi (2016)

• Accusation: Got heat for being too close to the Canadian show Being Erica (2009–2011), with a similar coming-of-age story and therapy focus.
• Response: Director Gauri Shinde brushed off the claims, and the movie did well, earning Rs68 crore. No lawsuits happened.
• Note: The accusations might’ve been a stretch, but the parallels got people talking.

5. Manjhi: The Mountain Man (2015)

• Accusation: Filmmaker Ajitpal Singh said director Ketan Mehta stole his idea for a movie about Dashrath Manjhi, which was supposed to be Singh’s big break with Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
• Outcome: No major legal outcome was reported, and the film’s rep took a hit, especially after it leaked online before release.
• Context: This shows how unprotected scripts can get snatched up in Bollywood.

6. Barfi! (2012)

• Accusation: Got slammed for copying scenes from old Hollywood films like Cops, The Adventurer, City Lights, Singin’ in the Rain, Project A, The Notebook, and Benny & Joon. Its background music was also said to be lifted from Amélie.
• Outcome: A trademark case led to a Rs1.5 crore payment to the court to allow its release. Despite critical love and Oscar buzz, the copying claims hurt its rep.
• Box Office: A big hit, but not crediting the originals ticked people off.

7. Ghajini (2008)

• Accusation: Called out for copying Christopher Nolan’s Memento (2000) with its nonlinear story and amnesia plot. Its poster also looked a bit like The Incredible Hulk.
• Response: Aamir Khan said it wasn’t true, but the trailer raised eyebrows. A remake of a Tamil film, it made over Rs100 crore, a huge deal back then.
• Context: Shows how Bollywood sometimes tweaks stories without giving credit, which stirs up trouble.

8. Kaante (2002)

• Accusation: Said to be a near-direct copy of Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs (1998), with a matching bank heist plot and character feel.
• Outcome: Reservoir Dogs’ lawyers noticed but didn’t push hard legally. The film became a cult favorite in India anyway.
• Note: A classic case of Bollywood borrowing from Hollywood without asking.

9. Partner (2007)

• Accusation: Alleged to be a remake of Hitch (2005), with a similar “love guru” helping a guy win over a girl.
• Outcome: A lawsuit was supposedly in the works, but nothing major came of it. The movie did well commercially.
• Context: It was clearly similar but tweaked for Indian audiences, which sparks debates about copying versus adapting.

10. Sholay (1975)

• Accusation: Drew heavily from Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai and westerns like The Magnificent Seven. The song Mehbooba Mehbooba was lifted from Demis Roussos’s Say You Love Me.
• Outcome: No lawsuits, probably because copyright rules were looser back then. Sholay is still a legend, but its borrowed elements are no secret.
• Context: Older Bollywood films often leaned on global cinema without much fuss at the time.