The long-standing affair between Bollywood and biopic movies is known to all. It seems like the industry is earning well by portraying the real-life success stories on the silver screen. The reason why the biopics are always such commercial success is that it not just talks about the life of an achiever but also motivates us in many other ways. While the industry has already witnessed a dozen of box-office breaking biopics many interesting biopics lined up for release. However, there are many biopics that are not just financially successful but also a benchmark for the biopic genre in Hindi cinema. Here is the list of the top 10 most iconic biopic movies ever produced by Bollywood.
1. M. S. Dhoni – The Untold Story: Based on the life of former Indian Cricket gem Mahindra Singh Dhoni, this was one of the highest-grossing Bollywood movies on the Box Office. Helmed by Neeraj Pandey and starring Sushant Singh Rajput, this movie delivered spine-chilling cinema.
2. Paan Singh Tomar: Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, the movie shed light on the life of an athlete turned bandit Paan Singh Tomar. With the critically acclaimed acting of late Bollywood star Irfan Khan, this was a sleeper hit.
3. Chaapak: This movie is less a commercial product but more a lesson for society. This movie picked the topic of acid attack in India and showed the struggle of an acid attack survivor Lakshmi. This movie left an indelible mark on the audience’s heart.
4. Dangal: This movie was not just a commercial hit but also a sure-shot masterpiece. Filled with emotions, drama, thrill this movie portrays the life of two Indian female wrestlers Geeta Singh Phogat and Babita Singh Phogat who crushed society norms and garnered gold medals for the nation.
5. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag: Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the film is based on the life of former sprinter Milkha Singh. Farhan Akhtar plays the title role in it and gets into the skin of the Flying Sikh, with his accent, mannerism, and body language, completely transforming the role.
6. Neerja: This movie portrays the life of a real-life superwoman, who said the life of saves 359 of the 379 passengers when Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi, Pakistan was hijacked in 1986. Directed by Ram Madhvani and starring Sonam Kapoor in the lead this movie is based on the Neeraj Banot.
7. Manto: The way Writers are often a lonely lot who find solace in their fictional stories and characters that strangely mirror reality. This movie took the life of Manto and weaved it into a script just like late writer Manto used to do.
8. Mary Kom: This biopic on boxer Mary Kom landed in hot water soon after visuals of PC playing the lead role were released. Many believed that an actor of Manipuri descent should have been cast in the role and not someone who did not look like the protagonist at all.
9. Sarabjit: This movie is the perfect example of what the real bond of brother and sister is. This 2016 flick is based on the life of Sarabjit Singh who was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1991 and who consequently spent 22 years in prison for alleged terrorism and spying.
10. Shahid: One of the most brutally honest biopics of recent times, this 2013 Hansal Mehta directed film is based on the life of lawyer and human rights activist Shahid Azmi who was assassinated in 2010.
