Must read!Exploring real life: 10 must-see Bollywood biopics

mumbai: Bollywood has consistently brought true stories to the silver screen through biopics, highlighting the triumphs and tribulations of diverse personalities. Below is a hand-picked list of 10 top-notch biopics from Bollywood that have had a lasting impact on their audiences.

Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Starring: Alia Bhatt, Shantanu Maheshwari, Ajay Devgn, Vijay Raaz, Seema Pahwa, Jim Sarbh, Indira Tiwari

Running time: 2 hours 34 minutes IMDb rating: 7.8/10 | Genre: Biography/Crime/Drama

Gangubai Kathiawadi unfolds the compelling journey of Gangubai Harjeevandas, who rises from his life in a brothel to claim world domination. Praised for her direction, cinematography and outstanding performance, Alia Bhatt won her first National Award.

Sardar Udham (2021)

Director: Shoojit Sarkar

Starring: Vicky Kaushal, Sean Scott, Amol Parashar, Vanita Sandhu

Running time: 2 hours 42 minutes IMDb rating: 8.4/10 | Genre: Biography/Drama/History

Sardar Udham delves into the life of Udham Singh, an Indian revolutionary who sought justice for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The film was highly praised for its shocking portrayal of historical events.

Shershah (2021)

Director: Vishnuvardhan

Cast: Siddharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani, Shiv Pandit, Sahil Vaid, Nikitin Dhir

Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes | IMDb rating: 8.3/10 | Genre: Biography/War/Drama

Shershah narrates the emotional journey of Captain Vikram Batra during the Kargil War and provides a heartfelt portrayal of a true hero.

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020)

Director: Sharan Sharma

Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Angad Bedi

Running time: 1 hour 52 minutes IMDb rating: 5.5/10 | Genre: Biography/Drama/Action

‘Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl’ highlights the determination of Indian Air Force pilot Gunjan Saxena to serve the country during the Kargil War and has won praise for its story and performances.

Sanju (2018)

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala, Vicky Kaushal, Dia Mirza, Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor

Running time: 2 hours 35 minutes | IMDb rating: 7.6/10 | Genre: Biography/Comedy/Drama

Sanju centers on the life of actor Sanjay Dutt, exploring his conflicts, relationships and acting career, achieving both commercial success and critical acclaim.

Also read: After a biopic and a remake, will Akshay Kumar steer towards a sequel?

Dangal (2016)

Director: Nitesh Tiwari

Cast: Aamir Khan, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sakshi Tanwar, Zaira Wasim, Aparshakti Khurrana

Running time: 2 hours 41 minutes IMDb rating: 8.3/10 | Genre: Biography/Sports/Drama

Where to watch: Apple TV

Dangal tells the story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, who trained his daughters to be world-class wrestlers, achieved remarkable success at the box office, and became one of the best biopics in Bollywood.

MS Dhoni: The untold story (2016)

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Starring: Sushant Singh Rajput, Disha Patani, Kiara Advani, Anupam Kher

Running time: 3 hours 10 minutes | IMDb rating: 8/10 | Genre: Biography/Sports/Drama

Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar

‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story’ offers a glimpse into the life of Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, from his early years to his iconic moment in the 2011 World Cup final, making it one of the best biopics in Bollywood It is rated as one of the

Neerja (2016)

Director: Ram Madhvani

Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Ravjiani, Jim Sarbh

Running time: 2 hours 2 minutes IMDb rating: 7.6/10 | Genre: Biography/Thriller

Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar

Neerja resonated with critics and viewers as it told the courageous story of Neerja Bhanot, a flight attendant who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect passengers during a hijacking.

Berg Milha Berg (2013)

Director: Rakesh Omprakash Mehra

Starring: Farhan Akhtar, Divya Dutta, Sonam Kapoor

Running time: 3 hours 6 minutes IMDb rating: 8.2/10 | Genre: Biography/Sports/Drama

‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ showcases the remarkable journey of Indian athlete Milkha Singh, who overcame obstacles to become an iconic sportsperson.

Dirty Picture (2011)

Director: Milan Luthria

Starring: Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Tushar Kapoor

Running time: 2 hours 24 minutes IMDb rating: 6.6/10 | Genre: Biography/Comedy/Drama

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Inspired by the life of Indian actress Silk Smitha, The Dirty Picture offers a gripping story and has received critical acclaim, especially for Vidya Balan’s stellar performance.

Also read: Biopic throws Bollywood into chaos

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Credit: Pinkvilla