Bollywood biopics outshine the conventional Hindi Cinema filmmaking and remind us all that storytelling is not always about— and never been about— normalising violence, deadbeat comedy, impractical story, etc.
Moviegoers are moving away from unrealistic movies, whose sole purpose is entertainment. The success of films like 3 idiots, Mary Kom, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Taare Zameen Par, and many more, bespeak the movie watchers’ hankerings for socially-oriented real-to-life films, and biopic movies.
In this article, we have gathered a must-watch Bollywood biopics list, that will leave you inspired, motivated, and optimistic about life.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
From inspiration to patriotism, and everything in between, the film elicits exclusive vehemence, achievable solely by watching and rewatching the movie. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is one of those rare must-watch Bollywood biopics that always succeeds in inspiring viewers, no matter how many times it is watched.
Based on the life and career of the legendary Indian athlete, Milkha Singh, who was a Commonwealth Champion, Asian Games champion, and an Olympian, this fine piece of masterpiece directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, takes the audience through an enticing journey of endurance, hardship, success…
Farrah Akthar’s impeccable performance as Milkha Singh elevates the movie to the next level. Starring alongside him is Sonam Kapoor, Divya Dutta, Pavan Malhotra, Meesha Shafi, Prakash Raj, and Yograj Singh in supporting roles.
Sanju
Unlike most Bollywood biopic movies, which greatly exaggerate a major portion of the plot to meet the expectations of the mass audience, Sanju does no such thing, at least with regards to the story. From the starting point till the end, the movie precisely depicts the rise and fall, fortitude and resilience of the Hindi Cinema actor, Sanjay Dutt.
The movie causes the viewers to sympathise with Sanjay Dutt and urges the former to reconsider the terrorist remarks made against the actor and the false image painted about him during his unfortunate times.
Ranbir Kapoor’s transformation into the role of Sanjay Dutt is spot on and so is his acting. All in all, Sanju is an emotional rollercoaster at the same time entertaining, and not to mention subtly inspiring. The film is directed by none other than Rajkumar Hirani.
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story is a Bollywood biographical sports drama directed by Neeraj Pandey and based on the life of celebrated Indian cricket player, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, aka Mr. Captain Cool.
Starring the late Sushant Singh Rajput in the lead role, the biopic movie gives a glimpse into the life of M.S. Dhoni, his journey from being a ticket collector at Indian Railways to a renowned cricketer. In addition, the plot sheds light on his love life: how he lost his first love in a car accident and finds love again in Sakshi (played by Kiara Advani), his wife.
The cricket technicalities and terminologies included in the movie are next to nothing, which makes the film watchable for even a non-cricket enthusiast. Sushant Singh Rajput delivers an excellent performance in the film and enacts the iconic Helicopter shot close to perfection.
Whether a cricket fan or not, the movie will definitely leave you in awe and cheering throughout!
Pad Man
Pad Man is one of the rare and important biopic movies that ought to be watched by everyone here and everywhere. The film addresses centuries-old beliefs and social stigma about women’s health and menstrual hygiene, which is a taboo discussion to this day for some unfortunate groundless reasons.
The movie is based on Arunachalam Muruganantham, a social entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu, who had to endure a great deal of humiliation to invent low-cost sanitary pads for women. Though the director of the movie, R Balki, moves the plot to Madhya Pradesh, he undoubtedly conveys the intentions and message through the film.
With star casts like Akshay Kumar and Radhika Apte, Pad Man is one of the must-watch Bollywood biopic movies that questions society’s acceptance of things like men smoking cigarettes in public and refusal to give sufficient heed to women’s menstrual hygiene. The movie reinforces social movements that advocate women’s issues.
Shakuntala Devi
Shakuntala Devi is more of a making-the-unknown-known kind of a movie that familiarises the Indian audience to the little-known mathematical genuineness of a woman, namely Shakuntala Devi. Through the biopic movie, Anu Menon tells the story of the latter, who is renounced globally as the “human computer”.
Made by an all-woman crew, this upbeat, yet dramatic movie tells an inspiring tale of a woman living her life on her own terms and the adversities she had to overcome to make it in the men-dominated world.
Undoubtedly, Vidya Balan, who plays the role of Shakuntala Devi, delivers her best performance yet again. Sanya Malhotra, who plays the role of the daughter, does it with perfection too. The movie subtly radiates feminism with the story.
Dangal
Based on a former wrestler, Mahavir Singh Phogat, this Aamir Khan starrer certainly empowers women to beat the stereotype and subtly beams gender equality.
With a talented cast like Sakshi Tanwar, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Sheikh, and others, the director, Nitesh Tiwari, tells the story of a father grappling with the narrow-minded society to bring his daughters, Geeta and Babita, in the forefront of wrestling, a sport popularly conjectured as a men’s sport, and honor to India.
The story is so much more than just two rural girls from Haryana achieving international success in wrestling. It is about perseverance, endurance, hard work, sportsmanship, patriotism, and more. The movie’s equal importance to the childhood part and the adulthood part vividly balances the plot to create a steady and interesting story.
Mary Kom
The Bollywood biopics list is incomplete without the mention of the movie, Mary Kom. Starring Priyanka Chopra in the lead role, this biographical sports film is based on a Manipuri farmer’s daughter, who goes on to become a five-time world amateur boxing champion and wins a bronze medal for India in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The movie not only focuses on Mary Kom’s career, aspirations, and hard work leading up to the success but also elucidates the sensitive side of the boxer’s life: her family and children. The director, Omung Kumar, keeps the story very down-to-earth and realistic and doesn’t taint it with fanciful one-knock-punches or typical run-of-the-mill Hindi Cinema fight sequences.
Paan Singh Tomar
Through Paan Singh Tomar, Tigmanshu Dhulia tells the real-life story of Subedar Paan Singh Tomar, an Indian army jawan and a seven-time national champion athlete who tragically becomes a feared outlaw.
The film takes the viewer through a series of events and incidents and jaw-dropping plot twists that lead Tomar to follow in his uncle’s footsteps of dacoit. With a bit of romance and humor touch, the movie is a complete meal with the late Irrfan Khan impersonating the character impeccably. The movie precisely tries to convey the larger social truths as to why the outlaws amalgamate to become bandits.
Manjhi – The Mountain Man
Manjhi – The Mountain Man is a Bollywood biopic movie based on Dashrath Manjhi who is popularly known as India’s Mountain Man for single-handedly making a road through the mountains of Gehlaur when his wife meets with an accident there.
The story of this incredible man redefines love and gives a unique perspective about it too.
Ketan Mehta truly excels in his directional skills with the movie and showcases living standards in rural areas and daily adversities faced by the locals. The inspiring narrative and extraordinary performances by Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte make for an incredible movie experience.
Mangal Pandey: The Rising
Mangal Pandey: The Rising is a historical biographical drama film based on the life of Mangal Pandey, a freedom fighter and soldier who played a pivotal role in the First War of Indian Independence.
Starring Aamir Khan in the lead role, this one of the must-watch Bollywood biopic movies makes every Indian’s head go high with pride and honor and induces a strong feeling of patriotism. The film stars Rani Mukerji, Ameesha Patel, Toby Stephens, and Kirron Kher as supporting characters.
Despite exaggerations in the plot of the story, the movie succeeds in entertaining, inspiring, and exercising viewers’ intellect from start to end. Moreover, Ketan Mehta succeeds in taking the viewers back in time to the oppressive British rule and every Indian’s desire for freedom. The movie is an absolute masterpiece in almost all aspects: drama, romance, action, musical, etc.
If you think we missed out on any must-watch Bollywood biopic movie, which you think deserves a place in the list, please let us know the name of the movie in the comment section below.
