Can 'Sanju' beat these 5 Indian biopics?
What's the story
Ranbir Kapoor's 'Sanju' is arguably the most eagerly-awaited biopic in recent times. The buzz for the Rajkumar Hirani directorial is unprecedented and a tsunami is expected at the box office on June 29. Such high expectations from the film on Sanjay Dutt's life remind us of some other biographical dramas that resonated with the audience big time. Here's a look at 5 such biopics.
'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'
Farhan Akhtar as the 'Flying Sikh' left us spellbound
Based on the life of national champion runner and Olympian Milkha Singh, the film 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' was an experience in itself. Farhan Akhtar stepped into the shoes of Singh and set a new benchmark for actors doing biopics. Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and co-starring Sonam Kapoor, Divya Dutta, Meesha Shafi and Pawan Malik, the movie did a business of over Rs. 100 crore.
'Mary Kom'
A film that had ample inspiring life lessons
Priyanka Chopra portrayed the five-time World Amateur Boxing champion in this Omung Kumar directorial that came out in 2014. The film traced Mary Kom's journey of becoming a boxer to her victory at the 2008 World Boxing Championships in Ningbo. It showcased that nothing could come between you and your dreams if you are determined.
'Neerja'
A salute to a 23-year-old girl's valour
Ram Madhvani's 'Neerja' was a lump-in-the-throat account of courage under fire. It starred Sonam Kapoor as air-hostess Neerja Bhanot, who sacrificed her life while helping passengers escape from Palestinian terrorists on a hijacked flight. The nuanced performances by all the actors left a long-lasting impact on the cine-goers. 'Neerja' won Sonam her first ever National Award.
'M.S. Dhoni'
The reel-life story of India's most successful cricket captain
Mahendra Singh Dhoni boasts of an unparalleled fan-following across the globe. His Indian fans went into a frenzy when his biopic came out in 2016. Starring Sushant Singh Rajput in the titular role, 'M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story' depicted Mahi's life from his childhood days to the 2011 World Cup win. The film was directed by Neeraj Pandey and co-starred Disha Patani and Kiara Advani.
'Dangal'
Mr. Perfectionist touched the right chord, once again
Expectations were at an all-time high from 'Dangal' as it was an Aamir Khan film. And being the perfectionist that he is, Aamir exceeded them and left the audience awestruck. Based on the life of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, the film was directed by Nitesh Tiwari and also starred Fatima Sana Sheikh and Sanya Malhotra. It emerged the highest-grossing Bollywood film ever.