9 Best Bollywood Historical Movies to Relive the Past: Jodhaa Akbar, Bajirao Mastani, Kesari

In this article, we bring you a hand-picked list of 10 must-watch Bollywood historical movies, including Jodhaa Akbar, Asoka, Parmanu, and Ghazi Raid. This selection caters to all types of audiences. Join us on a cinematic journey through India’s vibrant history and explore the masterpieces that Bollywood has masterfully woven over the years.

Top 9 Indian historical movies you must watch

1. Jodhaa Akbar (2008)

• Execution time: 3 hours 33 minutes
• IMDB rating: 7.5/10
• Movie genre: war/romance
• Movie star cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonu Sood
• director: Ashutosh Gowariker
• Writer: KP Saxena
• Release year: 2008
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: Netflix

Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, Jodhaa Akbar is one of the best historical films in India, depicting an epic romance inspired by the life of Mughal emperor Akbar and his wife Jodhaa Bai. With a generous running time, breathtaking visuals, exquisite costumes, and stunning performances, this is one of the best historically-based films that Bollywood has produced, and truly embodies the essence of an epic. doing.

2. Bajirao Mastani (2015)

• Execution time: 2 hours 38 minutes
• IMDB rating: 7.2/10
• Movie genre: action/romance
• Movie star cast: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra
• director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
• Writer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
• Release year: 2015
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: amazon prime

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s masterpiece ‘Bajirao Mastani’ stands out as an epic historical romance in the field of Hindi historical films. The story is intricately woven around Peshwa Bajirao of the Maratha empire and his deep love for Mastani, the daughter of a Hindu ruler and a Muslim queen.

Bajirao Mastani may take liberties with historical details, but he makes up for it by delving into the emotional landscape. This Indian historical film unfolds as a compelling and tragic love story, with the essence of the story transcending historical constraints and deeply resonating with matters of the heart.

3. Ahsoka (2001)

• Execution time: 2 hours 56 minutes
• IMDB rating: 6.4 /10
• Movie genre: action/war
• Movie star cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ajith Kumar
• director: Santosh Sivan
• Release year: 2001
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: Netflix

Emperor Ashoka’s transformation from a formidable ruler to a devout Buddhist devotee unfolds in Santosh Sivan’s Ashoka, a notable entry on the list of Bollywood historical films. The film takes artistic liberties but captivates with its grand scale, musical sequences and Shah Rukh Khan’s convincing performance. “Ashoka” brilliantly depicts the pivotal change in the life of Emperor Maurya after witnessing the devastation of the Kalinga War, and received acclaim as a cinematic exploration of ancient Indian history.

4. Ghazi Attack (2017)

• Execution time: 2 hours 3 minutes
• IMDB rating: 7.5 /10
• Movie genre: action/war
• Movie star cast: Kay Kay Menon, Rana Daggubati, Taapsee Pannu, Atul Kulkarni
• director: Sankalp Reddy
• Writer: Azad Alam, Gangaraju Gunnam
• Release year: 2017
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: amazon prime

Ghazi Attack is a fascinating piece of historical Bollywood cinema that vividly depicts the acts of bravery of Indian naval officers during the 1971 war. The film chronicles the sinking of the Pakistani submarine ‘PNS Ghazi’ off the coast of Visakhapatnam. As the Indian Navy intercepts an important message, a submarine led by Captain Rannvijay Singh, accompanied by Commander Arjun Verma, engages in intense underwater combat.

5. Parmanu: The Story of Pokharan (2018)

• Execution time: 2 hours 9 minutes
• IMDB rating: 7.6/10
• Movie genre: Thriller/Action
• Movie star cast: John Abraham, Diana Penty, Boman Irani
• director: Abhishek Sharma
• Writer: Saiwin Quadras, Abhishek Sharma, Sanyukta Chawla, Shaikh
• Release year: 2018
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: G5

Parmanu: The Story of Pokharan vividly depicts the historic secret nuclear test that took place in 1998 under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. The film is a notable addition to the history-based slate of Bollywood films, delving into the challenges encountered when India’s first nuclear test was carefully conducted under the watchful eye of the CIA and Pakistan’s spy agency. Without a doubt, He is one of the best Indian historical films that is a must-see.

6. Padmaavat (2018)

• Execution time: 2 hours 44 minutes
• IMDB rating: 7/10
• Movie genre: romance/action
• Movie star cast: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
• director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
• Release year: 2018
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: amazon prime

Padmaavat is undoubtedly one of the best historical films of all time in Bollywood. The film is inspired by Malik Muhammad Jayasi’s 1540 poem and features Bhansali’s signature grand visual design. Historians debate the existence of Queen Padmavati, but the historical context of the film is supported by confirmed figures.

7. Tanhaji: The Unsung Hero (2020)

• Execution time: 2 hours 15 minutes
• IMDB rating: 7.5/10
• Movie genre: war/action
• Movie star cast: Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Saif Ali Khan, Neha Sharma
• director: Om Raut
• Writer:Prakash Kapadia
• Release year: 2020
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: Disney+Hotstar

Tanhaji: The Unsung Hero is one of the best historical films in Bollywood, immersing viewers in the story of Tanaji’s 17th century adventure to reclaim the Kondana Fort. The film cleverly depicts the historical events surrounding the transfer of power to Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and his trusted bodyguard Udaybhan Singh Rathore.

8. Mughal-e-Azam (1960)

• Execution time: 2 hours 57 minutes
• IMDB rating: 8.1 /10
• Movie genre: romance/war
• Movie star cast: Madhubala, Dilip Kumar, Prithviraj Kapoor
• director: K. Asif
• Writer: Aman, Kamal Amrohi, K. Asif, Ehsan Rizvi, Wajahat Mirza.
• Release year: 1960
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: G5

One of the most famous old historical films that Bollywood has ever produced is Mughal-e-Azam. Released in 1960, this epic drama depicts the timeless legend of Mughal Prince Salim and his love affair with courtesan Anarkali. Starring Dilip Kumar as Prince Salim, Prithviraj Kapoor as Emperor Akbar and Madhubala as Anarkali, the film is a masterpiece of cinema.

9. Kesari (2019)

• Execution time: 2 hours 30 minutes
• IMDB rating: 7.4 /10
• Movie genre: action/war
• Movie star cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra
• director: Anurag Singh
• Writer: Anurag Singh, Girish Kohli
• Release year: 2019
• Where to watch / OTT platforms: amazon prime

‘Kesari’ focuses on the historic Battle of Saragarhi in 1897 and has established itself as one of the best historical-based Bollywood films. The film’s story chronicles the incredible courage of his 21 Sikh warriors, played by Akshay Kumar, as they brave the invasion of his 10,000 formidable Pashtuns. . The film resonated strongly with the audience’s patriotism and received widespread praise for its engaging storytelling and excellent performances.