We might be an industry known for many things — prolific releases, global superstars, and song and dance numbers — but Bollywood isn’t known for its originality.
Over the next few months, several films are taking their plots directly from Hollywood hits, either officially or unofficially. Here’s a look at what’s coming up:
Milenge Milenge from Serendipity Seeing just how heavily our mainstream cinema constantly relies on coincidence, it seems a bit foolish to remake this romantic comedy about things falling conveniently into place.
Still, Shahid Kapoor and then-girlfriend Kareena seem like a decent fit to take on the roles of nice guy John Cusack and the luscious Kate Beck in sale.
Christopher Nolan’s third film, starring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as rival magicians seeking the best trick of all time, is an intricately layered film, a wonderful piece of cinematic sleight of hand.
If this is indeed what Sanjay Leela Bhansali is basing his film, starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, on, then we’re more than a little scared.
Yashraj Films is finally giving a new guy a shot, with fresh face Ranvir Singh starring in the upcoming Shaadi Mubarak opposite Anushka Sharma.
The film is reportedly borrowed from Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConnaughey starrer Wedding Planner.
The romcom is simple enough to remake and we don’t know this new Ranvir yet, but Anushka isn’t quite J Lo, if you know what we mean.
Mani Shankar, after films like 16 December and Tango Charlie, takes on Joel Schumacher’s 2003 film Phone Booth, about a hostage situation set around a man trapped in a phone booth.
The original starred Colin Farrell and Keifer Sutherland, and the Indian remake has an interesting cast in Sanjay Dutt and Irrfan Khan.
Yes, Pooja Bhatt already starred in a remake of The Bodyguard (conveniently titled Angrakshak) opposite Sunny Deol, but the story — of a diva hiring a bodyguard to save her from a stalker — is being plumbed again, this time by Neeraj Pathak in the upcoming The Man, starring Shilpa Shetty and… Sunny Deol?
Again? Wow, talk about recycling the recycled.
Karan Johar has officially bought the rights to Chris Columbus’ tearjerker Stepmom, with Kareena Kapoor and Kajol stepping into the shoes of Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts.
The original was melodramatic and sweet, and so this should be a good test for two seasoned actresses.
Jonathan Lynn’s fantastic My Cousin Vinny was such a sensation that it won then-obscure actress Marisa Tomei a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, and producer Ravi Chopra’s all set to give it a shot.
Govinda stars in the Joe Pesci role as the smart mouthed yet bumbling lawyer, with Tabu in the Tomei role as the stunning, weirdly accented girlfriend who steals the show.
Aren’t they both too old? Yes, but since when has that stopped Bollywood?
