Bollywood has often made films on real-life stories and events. This is a trend that has caught on strong and it seems to be a formula that works well with the masses. Stories are everywhere and filmmakers just need to look closer. In a case of looking within, storytellers have also turned their their lens at Bollywood and told stories about and from the industry as well. Shows like The Fame Game, Ranjish Hi Sahi to films like Om Shanti Om and Luck By Chance, have allowed the audience to get up, close and personal with the entertainment world.
Here are the top movies that made it to this list:
Heroine
Directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, the film shows what goes on once the cameras are off. In the Kareena Kapoor-starrer Heroine, the director brought to light the cost of stardom.
Luck By Chance
This Zoya Akhtar film starring Farhan Akhtar had a realistic perspective of the Hindi film industry. Rather than a star, this film narrates the story of an aspiring actor while touching upon subjects such as nepotism and the casting couch.
Om Shanti Om
Om Shanti Om followed the oldest formula in the book of “How to make a hit film”. A dramatised outlook on Bollywood, reincarnation (not one but two), a revenge plot, and a melodramatic mother. The movie worked among the viewers.
Kaamyaab
Kaamyaab narrates the journey of an actor who has been on-screen for years but never in the spotlight. Sanjay Mishra essays the role of a side actor, with a desire to accomplish a record of 500 films before his retirement.
The Fame Game
The most recent name on the list is Madhuri Dixit’s The Fame Game. The Netflix show revolves around the life of a film star, Anamika Anand. She lived a life that seemed perfect from the outside but had a different take behind close doors, all of which come to light when she goes missing. The series has multiple revelations lined up one after the other.
Rangeela
The 1995 film starring Urmila Matondkar follows the story of a young girl who aspires to become an actress. Comparatively a light-hearted film, Rangeela is all about the dreams and struggles of the lead, Mili.
Bombay Talkies
Bombay Talkies is an anthology film with a segment titled Star. It is an on-screen adaptation of Satyajit Ray’s short story ‘Patol Babu Film Star’. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, as a struggling actor, finally stumbles upon a role that will allow him to prove himself.
Ranjish Hi Sahi
Another recent addition to the list is Mahesh Bhatt’s web series Ranjish Hi Sahi. Although the show seems to be an ode to actor Parveen Babi, it also gives the audience a sneak peek into the ways of Bollywood, back in the day.
The Dirty Picture
The Vidya Balan and Emraan Hashmi starrer biographical film brought to the screen the story inspired by the life of Silk Smitha. Bringing us a slice of the ’80s film industry, The Dirty picture documents the rise and fall of a superstar who came from nothing.
(Featured Image Credits: Instagram)
