Although Bollywood films are often considered entertainment and larger than life fictional tales, there are some that have been made to inspire and explain historical events to the audience. As ‘Satluj’ takes center stage online amid its ongoing controversy, here’s a list of some of the best Bollywood movies that were inspired by real-life events in history.
‘Satluj’ by Honey Trehan (2026)
The film which has taken the internet by storm due to its controversy tells the true story of human rights activist activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film explores how he investigated the illegal cremations and their corrupt political connections that took place in 1990s Punjab during the insurgency era. The film stars Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role and was recently released on ZEE5. However, for now the film has been removed from the platform.
Rahul Dholakia’s ‘Parzania’ (2007)
‘Parzania’ is based on the real-life Gujrat riots that took place in 2002. Shot in Ahemdabad and Hyderabad, the film is based on Rupa Mody, a Parsi woman, whose son Azhar Mody (Parzaan Pithawala) goes missing during the riots, specifically after the Gulbarg Society massacre. The film is based on the family’s journey to find their son while embracing the political turmoil and violent events that were happening all around. The movie is available on JioHotstar.
“Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh” by Karan Singh Tyagi (2025)
‘Kesari Chapter 2’, starring Akshay Kumar in the lead role, is another retelling of historical events related to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Specifically, it revolves around the life of Indian statesman Sir C. Sankaran Nair, who was formerly a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council. However, after the 1919 massacre, he resigned from his post, and even fought a case in London against the main perpetrator of the massacre, Michael O’Dwyer. The movie is available on JioHotstar.
Shoojit Sircar’s Sardar Udham (2021)
Shoojit Sircar’s film was a fictional account of Indian revolutionary Udham Singh. The film follows his story spanning nearly two decades to take revenge on Michael O’Dwyer, the man who supported the Jallianwala Bagh massacre that took place on 13 April 1919. The film is torn between two timelines, one set in 1940s London, where Udham Singh hatches a plan to assassinate Michael O’D and return to his life as a massacre. young in British India. Vicky Kaushal leads the role of the revolutionary. The film is available for streaming on Prime Video.
‘Shahid’ by Hansal Mehta (2012)
Starring Rajkumar Rao in the lead role, ‘Shahid’ is based on the real life of lawyer and human rights activist Shahid Azmi. He was once an ordinary citizen; however, once he sees the atrocities that some people suffer after being falsely accused, he becomes a lawyer to fight for those who have been falsely accused of terrorism. He helped countless people get justice until his murder in 2010. The film is available on Prime Video.