Bollywood movies based on books? As bizarre it may sound, it’s true. There are all kinds of Bollywood movies out there and some are based on some of the best books ever written. Just so you know, some completely butchered the book and put it to shame. Still, if you are to know more, keep reading.
- Bride and Prejudice
I want to begin with my first watch from the list of Bollywood movies based on books. Also, it’s technically NOT a bollywood movie. But still, as it has Aishwarya Rai in it, I am going to include it in the list. Because, I can and I want to.
Primarily, shot in English, the movie is a hollywood-style adaptation of the very famous romantic classic – Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
2. Satyajit Ray’s Movies
Did you know Satyajit Ray, one of the country’s greatest filmmakers, was also a writer and almost all his movies were based on his own books. His Hindi movie – Shatranj ke Khiladi was based on a novel written by Munshi Premchand.
3. Movies Based on Chetan Bhagat Books
One of the most famous and hated by ‘intellectuals’ authors in India has had most of his books made into movies. Which are the movies? 3 idiots, one of the most successful movies in the Bollywood in recent times, was based on Bhagat’s Five Point Someone. Kai Po Che, starring very talented Sushant Singh Rajput and Rajkumar Rao, is based on Bhagat’s Three Mistakes Of My Life. 2 states, starring Alia Bhat and Arjun Kapoor, is based on 2 states book. Movie Hello is based on One Night at The Call Centre by Chetan Bhagat.
4. Ruskin Bond Adaptations
One of the most loved authors of the country, Ruskin Bond, has had his two books adapted into movies. Priyanka Chopra starrer, 7 Khoon Maaf, was based on Susanna’s Seven Husbands by the author. The Blue Umbrella is also based on the book with same name. His novella, A Flight of Pigeons, was made into movie Janoon.
5. The Namesake
The movie is based on one of the must-read books by Indian Authors (NRI) – Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri.
6. The Mistress of Spices
The Aishwarya Rai starrer, The Mistress of Spices, is actually a movie adaptation of the novel by same name written by the Palace of Illusions author – Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.
7. Aisha
There’s another Jane Austen novel adaptation we have had in Bollywood. Looks like most of the bollywood movies based on books are sticking to the relatively safer choices. No? Anyway, Aisha was based on the book Emma by Jane Austen.
8. Shakespeare Adaptations in Bollywood
How could Shakespeare be left behind? So, Omkara is movie adaptation based on Othello by Shakespeare. Maqbool movie was based on Macbeth by Shakespeare. Shahid Kapoor and Tabu starrer, Haider, was based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. An oldie, Angoor, was based on Shakespeare’s play – Comedy of errors.
9. Bollywood movies based on books by Indian authors.
Movie Sahib Bibi aur ghulam was based on a Bengali novel of same name written by Bimal Mitra. I am so glad that we have so many talented Indian authors whose books are being made into movies. Parineeta is based on the novel by same name written by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. Even the movie Devdas has been based on the novel by same name written by the same author, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The movie Guide was based on R.K. Narayan’s The Guide. One of the best performances of Urmila Matondkar was in movie Pinjar, which if you don’t know, was based on the novel Pinjar by Punjabi author – Amrita Preetam.
11. Other Bollywood Movies Based on Books by Foreign Authors
Did you know Amitabh Bachchan starrer, Sarkar, was based on The Godfather by Mario Puzo? Lootera, starring Sonakshi Sinha and Ranveer Singh, was partly based on an American short story called The Last Leaf. Tere Mere Sapne, starring Dev Anand, is based on The citadel by A.J. Cronin. The movie Kohra, starring the legendary actress Waheeda Rehman, was based on a novel called Rebecca by Dhapne du Maurier. The movie, Saawariya, was based on a short story called White Nights by F. Dostoyevsky. Movie Noor was based on the novel ‘Karachi You’re Killing Me’ by Saba Imtiaz, only the setting was changed to Mumbai instead of Karachi.
Bollywood Movies Based On Books: In The Making
Thank god! Bollywood is finally catching up with relying on books for great stories. There are so many books that are being made into movies.
- One of my favourite Indian authors, Anuja Chauhan, and her book The Zoya Factor is being the ray of hope with a different banner after Shah Rukh Khan’s company Red Chillies Entertainment decided to do nothing with it after buying the rights.
- Alia Bhatt’s movie Raazi is based on a novel called Calling Sehmat by Harinder Sikka
- Vishal Bharadwaj is making a movie adaption of the book Mafia Queens of Mumbai by Hussain Zaidi.
- Sanjay Baru’s accidental prime minister is also currently in the making, the first look from the set, triggered me to do this post.
I know that the trend is on the rise and I am hopeful this list keeps icnreasing. Which of these bollywood movies based on books have you watched?
i like chetan bhagat book the most . 2 state was the best movie
Good to know that. Have you read the book?
like chetan bhagat book the most . 2 state was the best movie
Watched Aisha few weeks ago – really interesting movie!