Top 10 Bollywood biopics: From Gangubai Kashiwadi to MS Dhoni: The untold story

Indian cinema has time and again delved into the biographical genre to dramatize the life journey of non-fiction individuals. Biopics serve as a window into the lives of influential and overlooked figures, from freedom fighters and war heroes to sports luminaries and actors. These films capture the remarkable deeds of people, big and small, and highlight their stories to the public.

Bollywood has also produced some fascinating biopics over the years. Some are inspirational and motivational, while others foster a sense of connection with the person depicted. Here’s a list of notable Hindi biopics that will leave an impression on you.

10 Bollywood biopics that tell unique stories:

1. Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)

• Execution time: 2 hours 34 minutes
• IMDb rating: 7.8/10
• Movie genre: Biography/Crime/Drama
• Movie star cast: Alia Bhatt, Shantanu Maheshwari, Ajay Devgn, Vijay Raaz, Seema Pahwa, Jim Sarbh, Indira Tiwari
• director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
• Writer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Utkarshini Vasishtha
• Release year: 2022
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: Netflix

One of India’s best biopics, Gangubai Kathiawadi revolves around the life of Gangubai Harjeevandas, who is forced to live in a brothel. The story unfolds as a young woman finally takes control of her world that once confined her. The film garnered widespread praise for its direction, cinematography and stellar performances, winning Alia Bhatt’s first National Award in particular.

2. Sardar Udham (2021)

• Execution time: 2 hours 42 minutes
• IMDb rating: 8.4/10
• Movie genre: Biography/Drama/History
• Movie star cast: Vicky Kaushal, Sean Scott, Amol Parashar, Vanita Sandhu
• director: Shoojit Sircar
• Writer: Shubendu Bhattacharya, Ritesh Shah
• Release year: 2021
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: Amazon Prime Video

The Hindi biopic Sardar Udham delves into the life of Indian revolutionary Udham Singh, who assassinated Michael O’Dwyer in London in revenge for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919. The film received critical acclaim and numerous awards for its shocking depiction of historical events.

3. Shershah (2021)

• Execution time: 2 hours 15 minutes
• IMDb rating: 8.3/10
• Movie genre: Biography/War/Drama
• Movie star cast: Siddharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani, Shiv Pandit, Sahil Vaid, Nikitin Dia
• director: vishnuvardhan
• Writer: Sandeep Shrivastava
• Release year: 2021
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: Amazon Prime Video

Shershah traces the inspiring journey of Captain Vikram Batra, capturing his desire to become a soldier, his rise through the military ranks, and his pivotal role in India’s victory during the Kargil War. Recognized as one of the best biopics of him that Bollywood has produced, it is a heartfelt portrayal of a true hero.

4. Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020)

• Execution time: 1 hour 52 minutes
• IMDb rating: 5.5/10
• Movie genre: Biography/Drama/Action
• Movie star cast: Janhvi Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Angad Bedi
• director: Sharan Sharma
• Writer: Nikhil Mehrotra, Sharan Sharma
• Release year: 2020
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: Netflix

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl sheds light on the life of Gunjan Saxena, an Indian Air Force pilot who pursues her dreams and serves the nation despite encountering resistance during the Kargil War. The film’s story and performances were highly praised and it ranks as one of the best biopics of her in Bollywood.

5. Sanju (2018)

• Execution time: 2 hours 35 minutes
• IMDb rating: 7.6/10
• Movie genre: Biography/Comedy/Drama
• Movie star cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala, Vicky Kaushal, Dia Mirza, Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor
• director: Rajkumar Hirani
• Writer: Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijat Joshi
• Release year: 2018
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: Netflix

Sanju centers on the life of actor Sanjay Dutt and explores pivotal moments in his journey, including his battle with addiction, his arrest, his bond with his father, and his acting career. The film was not only a huge commercial success but also secured the top spot among biopics in India.

6. Dangal (2016)

• Execution time: 2 hours 41 minutes
• IMDb rating: 8.3/10
• Movie genre: Biography/Sports/Drama
• Movie star cast: Aamir Khan, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sakshi Tanwar, Zaira Wasim, Aparshakti Khurrana
• director: Nitesh Tiwari
• Writer: Nitesh Tiwari, Piyush Gupta, Shreyas Jain, Nikhil Mehrotra.
• Release year: 2016
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: apple tv

Dangal tells the story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, who trained his daughters Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari to become world-class wrestlers and made their dreams of winning gold medals a reality for their exploits. The film was not only a remarkable success at the box office but also stands out as one of the best biopics that Bollywood has made.

7. MS Dhoni: The untold story (2016)

• Execution time: 3 hours 10 minutes
• IMDb rating: 8/10
• Movie genre: Biography/Sports/Drama
• Movie star cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Disha Patani, Kiara Advani, Anupam Kher
• director: Neeraj Pandey
• Writer: Neeraj Pandey, Dilip Jha
• Release year: 2016
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: Disney+ Hotstar

‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story’ offers a glimpse into the life of Indian cricketer and former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The film unfolds his journey from childhood, his experiences in training, his stint in the Indian Railways, his marriage, and culminates with his six iconic scenes at the 2011 World Cup final. . Undoubtedly, this film occupies a top position among the biopics of Bollywood.

8. Neerja (2016)

• Execution time: 2 hours 2 minutes
• IMDb rating: 7.6/10
• Movie genre: biography/thriller
• Movie star cast: Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Ravjiani, Jim Sarbh
• director: Ram Madhvani
• Writer: Saiwin Quadras, Sanyukta Chawla Shaikh
• Release year: 2016
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: Disney+ Hotstar

Neerja tells the courageous story of Neerja Bhanot, a flight attendant who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the passengers of Pan Am Flight 73 during the 1986 terrorist hijacking. This biopic deeply resonated with both critics and audiences.

9. Bagh Milka Bagh (2013)

• Execution time: 3 hours 6 minutes
• IMDb rating: 8.2/10
• Movie genre: Biography/Sports/Drama
• Movie star cast: Farhan Akhtar, Divya Dutta, Sonam Kapoor
• director: Rakesh Omprakash Mehra
• Writer: Prasoon Joshi
• Release year: 2013

‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ charts the remarkable journey of flying Sikh, Indian athlete and Olympian Milkha Singh. The film focuses on how he overcame obstacles to become one of the most iconic Indian athletes. With a compelling story and outstanding performances, the film is known as one of his best biopics in Bollywood.

10. Dirty Picture (2011)

• Execution time: 2 hours 24 minutes
• IMDb rating: 6.6/10
• Movie genre: Biography/Comedy/Drama
• Movie star cast: Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Tushar Kapoor
• director: Milan Luthria
• Writer: rajat arora
• Release year: 2011
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: Amazon Prime Video

The Dirty Picture is inspired by the life of Indian actress Silk Smitha. The film tells the story of Reshma, a woman who dreams of stardom and delves into her journey to become an overnight sensation. The film was widely acclaimed, with particular praise for Vidya Balan’s brilliant performance.