Top 10 Historically Inaccurate Bollywood Movies

India has tons of content in the history books that haven’t been explored yet. But makers today understand the potential of movies in Indian history, and many historical films are made today. However, it is not always the case that the facts and figures portrayed in the film are accurate. Many times creators take “creative liberty” and bend the facts as they please to make the film more cinematically satisfying. Today, we look at some of the Bollywood movies that weren’t wholly accurate.

1. Padmaavat (2018)

The film became subject to many controversies due to its historical inaccuracies. The Karni Sena members protested and vandalized the sets claiming that the film portrays Queen Padmavati, a Rajput queen, in a bad light.

Many Muslim leaders also protested against the misrepresentation of Ala-ud-din Khilji as an evil Muslim leader and called for a ban. There were many instances of violence and protests in the country. Padmaavat also got banned in Malaysia for negatively portraying a Muslim ruler.

2. Airlift (2016)

Airlift follows Ranjit Katyal, a man who risked his life to save the stranded Indians in Kuwait when Iraq invaded the country. The return of more than 1.5 lakh Indians from Kuwait was nothing short of an achievement, but the makers took artistic liberties with the actual events.

It is shown that the Indian embassy was evacuated moments after the entry of Iraqi troops and that Ranjit was left alone to negotiate with the Iraqis. But Indian diplomats have claimed that the Indian Mission wasn’t closed in Kuwait.

3. Mohenjo Daro (2016)

Based on the ancient Indus Valley civilization and its town Mohenjo Daro, the movie follows Sarman, a farmer who goes to the town and falls for the priest’s daughter. He also has to fight against overwhelming odds to save his civilization.

The movie couldn’t impress historians and critics as it was full of historical inaccuracies. They claimed that the makers distorted facts from the Harappan culture and were unclear about the Vedic Age and Indus Valley civilization.

4. Asoka (2001)

This Shah Rukh Khan film about emperor Ashoka was not free of historical inaccuracies. Some historians claimed that the film lacked research on Kalinga and the war that changed the course of Ashoka’s life.

Historians also claimed that the film took too many cinematic liberties and that it would hurt the historical and cultural heritage of Odisha. Some historians and politicians took to the Chief Minister to ban the film’s release in the state.

5. Bajirao Mastani (2015)

In another film by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Bajirao Mastani faced objections from the descendants of Peshwa Bajirao 1, who claimed that the film distorted facts and misrepresented characters.

One inaccuracy is that Mastani and Bajirao did not die on the same day as shown. She died several months later. Moreover, the songs Pingaa and Malhari and their dance numbers also came under scrutiny.

6. Jodhaa Akbar (2008)

This Ashutosh Gowariker film had some historical inaccuracies and faced the wrath of Rajput Karni Sena. They claimed the film depicts history inaccurately and distorted facts. Following protests, the film got banned in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan.

The film did not fit well with the Rajput community, and some groups even claimed that Jodhaa was married to Jehangir, Akbar’s son, and not him.

7. Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005)

Mangal Pandey came under scrutiny and faced a lot of controversies. The descendants of the freedom fighter filed a petition in the Delhi High Court and claimed that the movie portrayed him in a bad light.

The movie also shows that Mangal Pandey was very close with a sex worker, which raised many objections and criticisms. Many political parties and Pandey’s native village protested and demanded a ban on the film.

8. The Legend Of Bhagat Singh (2002)

This Ajay Devgn starring film on the life of the Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh faced criticisms due to its historical inaccuracies. The film was criticized to show the freedom fighter glorifying Russia in a scene where he reads a book on Lenin.

Several scenes revolving around the hanging of the titular character were cut, and the movie also received criticism for its portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi as weak and meek.

9. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2004)

The movie was neck-deep in controversies right from the title, where people objected to ‘The Forgotten Hero’ as they didn’t feel that people had forgotten about Bose. The movie presented a controversial view of the life of Bose, which included showing that Bose secretly married an Austrian woman.

The Forward Bloc party fiercely opposed that. Some researchers also filed a PIL in Calcutta High Court who raised objections to the romantic scenes in the film. Due to protests, the director also had to cancel the Calcutta premiere of the film.

10. 23^rd March 1931: Shaheed (2002)

Another film on the life of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh was this Bobby Deol starring film released in 2002. The movie faced some controversies due to its historical inaccuracies. Bhagat Singh’s family objected to showing him engaged to a girl from Manawalegaon in the film.

Some scenes were cut by the order of the CBFC, where Bhagat Singh’s followers are criticizing Mahatma Gandhi and called him a liar. CBFC defended its decision to cut scenes by saying that Gandhi was portrayed meekly in the film.