Bollywood movies have often been accused of copying from Hollywood and other world cinemas. Interestingly, this copycat syndrome has been existent right from the time films started being made in India. The pioneers of copying foreign films were of course, Salim-Javed and Gulzar. Although, the dialogue and the songs can always give them fodder for argument that the films are original but the fact remains that there definitely was an inspired thought process while making some landmark films like Sholay and Masoom. The films that we filmies have grown up on and swear by like Sholay, Masoom or even recent films like Black and Munnabhai MBBS. Though one can argue that the makers have done a good job of 'Indianizing' the Hollywood films. But...but...but...a story is a story...a scene is a scene... once you use it without giving credit, it will always mean stealing or in a more decent language, copying. A thief who steals a loaf of bread from a bakery and the one who steals a full jewelry store are both still thieves. It does make you wonder why we Indians are so hell bent on curbing piracy when what we really need to do is look inward and stop the corruption within in the first place.
Here is a list of Bollywood movies lifted, inspired or copied from Hollywood films.
| YEAR | NAME OF HINDI FILM | WRITER/ DIRECTOR | ‘COPIED/ INSPIRED FROM’ SOURCE | YEAR |
| 1969 | Aradhana | To Each His Own | 1946 | |
| 1973 | Abhimaan | A Star Is Born | 1954 | |
| 1973 | Khotey Sikkay | The Magnificent Seven | 1960 | |
| 1975 | Dharmatma | The Godfather | 1972 | |
| 1975 | Rafoo Chakkar | Some Like It Hot | 1959 | |
| 1975 | Sholay | Salim- Javed/ Ramesh Sippy | Magnificent Seven/ Seven Samurai | 1960 |
| 1980 | Karz | Subhash Ghai | The Reincarnation of Peter Proud | 1975 |
| 2008 | Karzzzz | Satish Kaushik | Karz (Hindi) | 1980 |
| 1980 | The Burning Train | BR Chopra | Shinkansen Daibakuha | 1975 |
| 1981 | Shaukeen | Boys' Night Out | 1962 | |
| Janbaaz | Feroz Khan | Duel in the Sun | 1946 | |
| 1982 | Satte Pe Satta | Seven Brides For Seven Brothers | 1954 | |
| 1986 | Ek Ruka Hua Faisla | 12 Angry Men | 1957 | |
| 1988 | Khoon Bhari Maang | RakeshRoshan | Return to Eden | 1983 |
| 1988 | Tezaab | N. Chandra | Streets of fire | 1984 |
| 1990 | Agneepath | MukulAnand | Scarface | 1983 |
| 1991 | Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin | Mahesh Bhatt | It Happened One Night | 1934 |
| 1992 | Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar | Mansoor Khan | Breaking Away | 1979 |
| 1992 | Chamatkar | Blackbeard's Ghost | 1968 | |
| 1992 | Ek Ladka Ek Ladki | Overboard | 1987 | |
| 1993 | Baazigar | Abbas Mustan | A Kiss Before Dying | 1991 |
| 1993 | Khal-Naaikaa | The Hand That Rocks The Cradle | 1992 | |
| 1994 | Yeh Dillagi | Sabrina | 1954 | |
| 1994 | Main Khiladi Tu Anari | The Hard Way | 1991 | |
| 1995 | Akele Hum Akele Tum | Mansoor Khan | Kramer vs. Kramer | 1979 |
| 1995 | Yaraana | Sleeping with the Enemy | 1991 | |
| 1995 | Criminal | Mahesh Bhatt | The Fugitive | 1993 |
| 1996 | Daraar | Sleeping with the Enemy | 1991 | |
| 1996 | Agni Sakshi | Sleeping with the Enemy | 1991 | |
| 1996 | Papi Gudia | Child's Play | 1988 | |
| 1997 | Deewana Mastana | David Dhavan | What About Bob? | 1991 |
| 1997 | Judwaa | David Dhavan | Twin Dragons | 1992 |
| 1997 | Chor machaye shor | Blue Streak | ||
| 1998 | Chachi 420 | Kamal Hasan | Mrs. Doubtfire | 1993 |
| 1998 | Ghulam | Vikram Bhatt | On the Waterfront | 1954 |
| 1998 | Pyar To Hona Hi Tha | Anees Bazmee | French Kiss | 1995 |
| 1998 | Dushman | Eye for an Eye | 1996 | |
| 1999 | Sangharsh | The Silence of the Lambs | 1991 | |
| 2000 | Mohabbatein | Adi Chopra | Dead Poets Society (inspired) | 1989 |
| 2000 | Josh | Mansoor Khan | West Side Story | 1961 |
| 2000 | Bichhoo | Abbas Mustan | Leon: The Professional | 1994 |
| 2000 | Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega | While You Were Sleeping | 1995 | |
| 2000 | Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke | A Walk in the Clouds | 1995 | |
| 2000 | Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye | The Wedding Singer | 1998 |
Well, all this was in the last century. Things were still a bit okay then but the turn of the century saw a drastic change in the world as far as technology is concerned. What with the attention spans of people going down, films and movies too began to change. Not that our Desi Bollywood changed much though. In fact, things became worse. With the multiplexes came in more demand for films and the demand gave rise to a whole breed of copycat writers whose careers started to depend upon the local DVD/CD rental shop. Pick up a DVD, translate it into Hindi and voila! you have a Hindi film ready.
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Hi guys, please correct the above list of films if you feel some mistakes have been committed. Thank you. Also awaiting more such revelations from readers. If you have any information about Hindi films which have been copied which may have been missed here, please feel free to add your own two bits.