While Bollywood films are generally viewed as entertainment and larger-than-life fictional stories, there are also films made to inspire and retell historical events to the public. As ‘Satluj’ continues to stir controversy and dominate the internet, here is a list of some of the best Bollywood movies inspired by real-life events in history.
Satluj by Honey Trehan (2026)
The film, which took the internet by storm because of the controversy surrounding it, tells the true story of radical human rights activist Jaswant Singh Kalra. The film explores how he investigated illegal cremations and their corrupt political connections during the insurgency-era Punjab state of the 1990s. The film stars Diljit Dosanjh and was recently released on ZEE5. However, the film has now been removed from the platform.
“Parzania” by Rahul Dholakia (2007)
“Parzania” is based on the real-life riots that occurred in Gujarat in 2002. The film, shot in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, is based on Rupa Mody, a Parsi woman whose son Parzaan Pithawala went missing during the riots, especially after the Gulbarg massacre. The film follows one family’s journey to find their son, acknowledging the political unrest and violence happening around them. The film is available to watch on JioHotstar.
“Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh” by Karan Singh Tyagi (2025)
Kesari Chapter 2 starring Akshay Kumar once again recounts the historical events related to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Specifically, it revolves around the life of Indian politician Sir C. Sankaran Nair, who served as a member of the Governor General’s Executive Council. However, after the 1919 massacre, he resigned from his post and even launched a legal battle in London against Michael O’Dwyer, the mastermind of the massacre. The film is available to watch on JioHotstar.
Sardar Udham by Shoojit Sircar (2021)
Shoojit Sircar’s film is a fictional retelling of Indian revolutionary Udham Singh. The film tells his story spanning nearly two decades to seek revenge against Michael O’Dwyer, who supported the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919. The film spans two timelines, one set in 1940s London as Udham Singh hatches his plan to assassinate Michael O’Dwyer, while the other traces back to the Holocaust and his teenage years in British India. Vicky Kaushal plays the role of a revolutionary. The film is available on Prime Video.
Shaheed by Hansal Mehta (2012)
Shahid, starring Rajkumar Rao, is based on the real life of lawyer and human rights activist Shahid Azmi. He was once a private citizen; however, when he saw the brutality some people faced after being falsely accused, he went on to become a lawyer and fight for those falsely accused of terrorism. Before his assassination in 2010, he helped countless people seek justice. The film is available on Prime Video.
