The rich history of India is a vast resource that has allowed Bollywood to make many movies by drawing from it. Some of the best Bollywood movies based on history cover many historical issues and not just one.
Ashutosh Gowariker's historical war movie 'Panipat' is one of the more recent Bollywood movies on Indian history released last year. The movie depicts the battle of Panipat between the Afghan army and the Marathas in the 17th century.
Bollywood movies based on Indian history like 'Panipat' continue to be released, including ones like 'Takht' and 'Prithviraj Chauhan' that are coming soon. At the same time, over the past few years, movies like 'Manikarnika' to 'Padmavat' and 'Bajirao Mastani' have been released that are also great historical flicks.
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Fortunately for us, the recent list of Bollywood movies based on Indian history continues to have a good showing at the box office. The successes of making Bollywood movies based on history mean there will be more of them in the future. But until more are released, let's review the top 10 Bollywood movies based on history we have so far:
Top 10 Best Bollywood Movies Based on History That Make You Feel Proud
Table of Contents
1. Sikandar (1941)
Under the direction of director Sohrab Modi, Prithviraj Kapoor played the role of Sikandar Mahan, or Alexander the Great, in this film. The film depicts the time from 326 BCE when Alexander conquers Persia and Kabul Valley to the Jhelum of the Indian border. When this film was released, the Second World War was raging and the Quit India Movement in the country was at its peak.
2. Jhansi Ki Rani (1953)
This movie based on Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi was also directed by Sohrab Modi. In the film, Rani Lakshmibai was played by Mahatab, the wife of Sohrab Modi. The film was also dubbed in the English language and released in 1956. The story of the movie is based on the revolution of 1857 when Rani Lakshmibai revolted against the British.
At that time, the film was made with a budget of around Rs 60 lakh, although it was not successful at the box office. People blamed it on Modi's wife who portrayed the queen when she was only half the wife's age (35) at the beginning of the movie.
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3. Mughal-e-Azam (1960)
The film is based on the love between Mughal Prince Salim and a court dancer Anarkali. Salim's father Emperor Akbar is against this love. The film was directed by K.M. Asif who gave it all he had The film was released in the year 1960 but work on this film started all the way back in 1944.
The kind of grandeur seen in every scene from the songs of the film brought the Mughal era to life on screen. The film was one of the most expensive films of the time and one of the top Bollywood movies based on history.
4. Razia Sultan (1983)
Starring Hema Malini, Parveen Babi, and Dharmendra, the film was directed and written by Kamal Amrohi. The story of the film is based on the only female Sultan of Delhi, who falls in love with a slave and loses her reign.
5. Ashoka (2001)
The movie is based on the story of Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire, who realized his mistake after seeing the massacres committed in the Kalinga war, after which he accepted Buddhism to spread peace in the world. Shah Rukh Khan played Ashoka in the film.
6. Mangal Pandey (2005)
The movie is based on the great revolutionary Mangal Pandey, known for his key role in starting the 1857 revolution. The film tells the story of the soldier who called for the country's first freedom struggle.
In the film, Aamir Khan played the British East India soldier of Indian origin Mangal Pandey. Rani Mukerji, Amisha Patel, and Om Puri also played important roles. The film was directed by Ketan Mehta.
7. Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai played the lead roles in this historical movie directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. Due to some political circumstances depicted in the movie, a brave Rajput princess Jodha is married off to the Mughal Emperor Akbar.
In the beginning, both of them live far away from each other, however later on they both fall in genuine love over the mutual respect they have for each other. At the same time, politics and conspiracies against Akbar are surfacing.
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8. Bajirao Mastani (2015)
'Bajirao Mastani' is based on Peshwa Bajirao of the Maratha Empire and his second wife Mastani. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film stars Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone as the two lead characters. Priyanka Chopra also played the role of Bajirao's first wife.
It is one of the most expensive Bollywood movies based on history ever made that did not disappoint at the box office.
9. Padmaavat (2018)
There was a lot of controversy with this film that was released in 2018. Initially, the film was named Padmavati. However, in view of the growing controversy, the film's director Sanjay Leela Bhansali changed the film to 'Padmaavat' to not refer to Queen Padmavati herself.
The film featured Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in the lead roles. The story of the film is based on Rani Padmavati who is married to a Rajput ruler and leads a happy married life. However, attracted by the beauty of Padmavati, the tyrannical Sultan, Alauddin Khilji attacks the Rajput kingdom.
The budget of the movie is another one of the most expensive Bollywood movies based on history, which, despite the controversy, performed very well in the cinemas.
10. Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019)
Kangana Ranaut plays Rani Lakshmibai in this film. The film's story revolves around the revolution of 1857 when Manikarnika, the wife of the Jhansi king, refuses to bow down to the East India Company. Her rebellion against the company soon turns into a raging revolution when the company tries to suppress the rebellions.
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