Bollywood has a history of remaking both South Indian and Hollywood films. While many of these remakes didn’t live up to the original, there are some that were equally good or even better. From the iconic film Sholay to Drishyam, here is a list of Bollywood films that were remakes and were quite better than the original film.
Nine Bollywood remakes better than the original films
1. Mili – 2022
Stars: Janhvi Kapoor, Manoj Pahwa, Sunny Kaushal
Created by: Mathukutty Xavier
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Writer: Mathukutty Xavier
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Netflix
Mili is the Hindi version of the critically acclaimed Malayalam movie, Helen, directed by Mathukutty Xavier. Helen drew inspiration from a real incident, and both films share more or less a similar storyline. The survival-thriller revolves around Janhvi Kapoor, and she gives a genuine performance as Mili, portraying her as a sweet and straightforward girl who is determined about her future and shares a beautiful bond with her father. She portrays the character quite naturally and with conviction, particularly in the scenes inside the freezer as her skin gets damaged, bringing goosebumps to the audience.
2. Kabir Singh – 2019
Stars: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Nikita Dutta
Created by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Genre: Action, Drama, Romance
Writer: Wajid Shaikh, Siddharth-Garima, Siddharth Singh
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Netflix
Kabir Singh is the remake of the Telugu film Arjun Reddy which closely mirrors the film, almost identically, with some small modifications. The location has been changed from Hyderabad to Delhi. Despite the resemblances, there are some instances where you can clearly see the differences between the two movies. Shahid Kapoor effectively portrays the hero’s transformation from intense anger to revealing his vulnerable side. It’s a moment where he truly excels. The film’s songs were a huge success too.
3. Drishyam – 2015
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran, Tabu
Created by: Nishikant Kamat
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Writer: Jeethu Joseph, Upendra Sidhaye
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix, Voot
The film was a remake of the Malaylam film with the same title as Drishyam. Ajay Devgn as Vijay Salgaonkar did a quite impressive job as a middle-class man who cares about his family above everything else. His natural acting and the storyline which is a bit different from the original one and full of unexpected twists and turns, is what made the audience hooked till the end. The film didn’t had unnecessary garnishings and was also very well received by the audience.
4. OMG- Oh My God! – 2012
Stars: Paresh Rawal, Akshay Kumar, Mithun Chakraborty
Created by: Umesh Shukla
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Writer: Alok Jha, Saumya Joshi, Bhavesh Mandalia
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video
This film is a remake of the 2001 Australian comedy film, The Man Who Sued God. Because of substantial cultural distinctions, the Hindi adaptation of the film has noticeable distinctions. In the Hindi version, the protagonist, Kanji played by Paresh Rawal, has a shop filled with Hindu idols that gets ruined in an earthquake. Ultimately, it’s disclosed that the shop’s destruction was a purposeful act by Krishna, and Kanji comes to accept religion. The movie received a lot of appreciation for the way it addressed crucial social matters with care and made its way to a sequel released this year.
5. Bhool Bhulaiyaa – 2007
Stars: Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Shiney Ahuja
Created by: Priyadarshan
Genre: Comedy, Horror, Mystery
Writer: Neeraj Vora, Manisha Korde, Madhu Muttam
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Disney+ Hotstar
The Akshay Kumar starrer Bhool Bhulaiyaa is a remake of the Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu. The film is one of the best remakes ever made in Bollywood. Bhool Bhulaiya contains all the necessary elements for a hit movie. It offers a good balance of humor, mystery, and excitement, ensuring that you stay engrossed and on the edge of your seat. The acting in the movie is excellent. In the second half, Vidya Balan shines the most. She has truly delivered a powerful performance, especially in the last 20 minutes, which is undoubtedly her best work to date.
6. Munna Bhai M.B.B.S – 2003
Stars: Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Gracy Singh
Created by: Rajkumar Hirani
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Writer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani, Lajan Joseph
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video
This film is a remake of the American biographical comedy-drama film, Patch Adams, which is based on the true story of Dr. Hunter Adams. While there are some differences between Munna Bhai M.B.B.S and Patch Adams, both movies share a common theme of a medical student using humor and compassion to care for patients. Notably, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S starring Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi was more popular and successful than Patch Adams, leading to sequels and winning numerous awards.
7. Baazigar – 1993
Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Shilpa Shetty, Dalip Tahil
Created by: Abbas Alibhai Burmawalla, Mastan Alibhai Burmawalla
Genre: Crime, Drama, Musical
Writer: Robin Bhatt, Akash Khurana, Javed Siddiqui
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video
A Kiss Before Dying is a thriller movie from 1991 adapted from a novel written in 1953 by Ira Levin. Unfortunately, the film didn’t do well in theaters and received mostly unfavorable reviews. In 1993, there was a Hindi remake titled Baazigar, which did things differently. Unlike the original, this movie was a huge hit at the box office. It ranked as the fourth most successful film of that year and later became a beloved classic, largely due to the debut of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol as an on-screen couple.
8. Sholay – 1975
Stars: Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar
Created by: Ramesh Sippy
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Writer: Javed Akhtar, Salim Khan
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video
The Magnificent Seven is an iconic Western film from the 1960s. It tells the story of a team of men hired to defend a Mexican town against bandits. Sholay is an Indian version of the film. While there are variations in the storyline, such as the number of main characters, Sholay focuses on a pair hired to apprehend a notorious bandit, unlike the original with seven protagonists. The film was a big hit and is still among the top-earning Indian movies. It has received numerous accolades and has become a significant part of Indian heritage.
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