Bollywood has never been shy about “borrowing” from Hollywood—sometimes calling it a tribute, sometimes pretending it was a total coincidence (spoiler: it rarely is). From mafia sagas to sci-fi thrillers, the Hindi film industry has taken inspiration, copied scenes shot-for-shot, and in some cases, even outperformed the original at the box office. But unlike the bootleg DVDs we used to hide in college, these Bollywood movies didn’t just imitate—they often added local flavor, emotion, music, and star power that gave the stories a new life. In this list, we’re not throwing shade—we’re serving facts. Here are 10 times Bollywood got very inspired by Hollywood movies—and occasionally made them more masala-friendly, more dramatic, and, dare we say, more fun.
| Bollywood Film | Hollywood Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sarkar (2005) | The Godfather (1972) | Director Ram Gopal Varma openly credits Coppola—first credits note it’s a tribute. |
| Kaante (2002) | Reservoir Dogs (1992) | Sanjay Gupta’s ensemble thriller echoes Tarantino—Tarantino himself praised it. |
| Ghajini (2008) | Memento (2000) | A.R. Murugadoss adapted the short-memory-concept; Aamir Khan saw the original only after scripting. |
| Partner (2007) | Hitch (2005) | Bollywood spin with Salman Khan + Govinda; confirmed by Multiple Bollywood sources. |
| Salaam-e-Ishq (2007) | Love Actually (2003) | Ensemble romance loosely mirrors Curtis’s structure; director credited inspiration. |
| Murder (2004) | Unfaithful (2002) | Anurag Basu’s thriller based on Adrian Lyne’s work, widely acknowledged. |
| Chachi 420 (1997) | Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) | Kamal Haasan’s remake of Robin Williams’ comedy; confirmed official remake via media. |
| Hum Tum (2004) | When Harry Met Sally (1989) | Romantic comedy with Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji—structure and tone clear echo. |
| Ghulam (1998) | On the Waterfront (1954) | Aamir Khan as boxer with moral journey; reviewers noted strong thematic lift. |
| Laal Singh Chaddha (2022) | Forrest Gump (1994) | Aamir Khan officially purchased remake rights; co-produced with Paramount. |
Why they worked (or didn’t)
- Sarkar and Kaante localized gangster drama brilliantly—sometimes even topping the originals in cultural punch.
- Ghajini took Nolan’s puzzle-box and injected Bollywood emotion; it shattered box-office records.
- Partner, Salaam-e-Ishq, Murder, Hum Tum—some more faithful homages than others—were standout hits.
- Laal Singh Chaddha was a heartfelt, licensed attempt, albeit polarizing.
Also Read: Weekend Watchlist: Top 10 Classic Hollywood Movies for the Perfect Family Movie Night
