Bollywood has been the center of a variety of content that has been fulfilling the entertainment purpose of the common people for more than a century. Heros, heroines, and side characters have played a special role in growing the value of Bollywood and subsequently narrating to us their characters effectively, but the stories have been a significant reason why there exists a Hindi film industry named Bollywood.
Well, digging deep into the stories that Bollywood has presented so far includes an array of genres like romance, thriller, horror, action, comedy, rom-com, masala, and all. Apart from all those, another prominent genre that has been pleasing our eyes and taste for years is biopics.
A biopic can primarily be stated as a mixture of the “biographical” and “picture” words that highlights the life of a real-life person or an incident. And the surprising this is, this particular genre has been consistently going through the rising demand curve. Though films are also made on other genres, Bollywood is currently obsessed with making biopics, as real-life stories tend to attract people on a huge scale and make them relate to their own lives.
And if you’re looking forward to know how much Bollywood cum the common people is obsessed with these genres, let’s have a deeper look at the biopic movies that has made big in the recent times.
Chaava
Chaava will not only come in the list of top recent Bollywood biopics, but it will easily get into the best Bollywood biopics of all time. With Vicky Kaushal as the protagonist in the film, playing the character of the warrior of Sambhaji Maharaj, it has not only become the highest-grossing movie of 2025 with over ₹783–807 crore worldwide but also injected itself among the all-time blockbusters of the Hindi Film industry.
Besides box office collection, it was critically acclaimed too, and the audience, besides having their everlasting love for historical biopics, were also attracted by the unmatched resonance Vicky Kaushal brought to the role. Though questions were there regarding the excessive dramatization and with some quality criticisms, but audience themselves overshadowed all the minor aspects with their hunger for seeing larger-than-life, real-life heroes.
12th Fail
Unlike eminent personalities, this is a story of a common yet extraordinary man. The movie narrates an inspiring story of Manoj Kumar Sharma and Shraddha Joshi, despite being among the odds, who emerged and ended up cracking the UPSC exam. The film had a budget of ₹20 crore, and it gathered a total of ₹66.5 crore at the box office. It also became the most-watched movie of 2023 on Hotstar within a few days of its OTT release.
Thriller doesn’t remain in horror or action movies, and 12th Fail is a prime example of that, as viewers indeed had a sensational experience due to the strong performances of Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankar, the unique grounded narrative, and its theme, highlighting the sense of restarting in life.
Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior
Next in this list comes another historical biopic in the likes of Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior. The Om Raut-directed and Ajay Devgn-starring movie highlights the story of the 17th-century Maratha warrior Tanhaji Malusare’s who went on his quest to reclaim Kondhana fort. Despite the pandemic’s impact in 2020, Tanhaji emerged as a major success, one of the select few films that made it to theaters.
Besides, the film won a ton of Filmfare awards, and Ajay Devgn, for his wonderful performance, also went on to secure the National Award for being the best actor. Audiences strongly identified with the film’s patriotic themes, establishing it as a landmark in the genre of biopics.
Sam Bahadur
Next in this list comes the Meghna Gulzar-directed Sam Bahadur, and once again, Vicky Kaushal has entered the chat. And this time, he represented the life of a field marshal named Sam Manekshaw. Anything related to the military, especially if a military biopic hugely attracts the audience, is evident since the release of the multi-starred Bollywood movie LOC Kargil, released in 2003.
The film earned critical acclaim for its storytelling and authentic military portrayal, and Vicky Kaushal’s performance as Sam Manekshaw was widely praised, complementing its decent box office run.
Gangubai Kathiawadi
If biopics are the topic, historical biopics will come, and when historical biopics are the talk, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movie will definitely be in the list. Here, we are talking about Alia Bhatt featuring in the Gangubai Kathiawadi. It was a success in terms of both box office and the critics’ view, and it primarily deals with the story of a former sex worker turned advocate.
The film’s lavish visuals earned huge praise, and its narrative, inspired by Hussain Zaidi’s “Mafia Queens of Mumbai,” won several Filmfare awards, including Best Film, Director, and Actress, as well as accolades at international festivals.
Shershaah
When discussing modern war biopics, Shershaah naturally comes to mind. Released in 2021, this film tells the valiant story of Captain Vikram Batra, PVC, through compelling performances by Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani. It premiered on Amazon Prime Video on August 12, 2021, and quickly became the platform’s most-watched Indian film, touching viewers across 4,100 towns and 210 countries.
The film received high praise for its emotional depth, gripping battle sequences, and authentic portrayal of camaraderie among soldiers. The film’s substantial impact lies in its balance: it honours a national hero while engaging viewers on a personal level, showcasing Bollywood’s growing prowess in war-based biopics that resonate emotionally and earn massive streaming audiences.
Sardar Udham Singh
It seems like Vicky Kaushal has an expertise in delivering hit movies, especially when they are biopics. Delving deeper into revolutionary historical dramas, Sardar Udham Singh stands tall. Directed by Shoojit Sircar, it chronicles the life of Udham Singh, the revolutionary who avenged the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by assassinating Michael O’Dwyer. Vicky Kaushal’s portrayal earned widespread acclaim.
With 31 wins and 30 nominations, Sardar Udham showcases technical brilliance and cements its status as one of India’s finest historical films. Its success highlights audiences’ growing appreciation for cinema that bravely resurrects powerful, lesser-known figures, affirming Bollywood’s evolving appetite for impactful, socially conscious storytelling.
Maidaan
Though the movie didn’t do well at the box office, critics praised its compelling story. In the sports biopic category, Maidaan aims to revive India’s 1950s–60s football golden era under coach Syed Abdul Rahim. Starring Ajay Devgn and directed by Amit Sharma, critics highly praised their commanding performance, and also the immersive storytelling and high-quality cinematography, with Taran Adarsh dubbing it among India’s “finest sports-based films.”
Other Superhit Biopics
Bollywood filmmakers are embracing real-life stories, and audiences are devouring them, ushering in a fresh cinematic era.
Else, there have been several iconic biopics of Bollywood earlier than which live in the hearts of people relentlessly. Some of them include – Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Super 30, Mary Kom, Bose – The Forgotten Hero, and many more.
In a cinematic landscape often dominated by fiction and fantasy, Bollywood’s growing fascination with biopics signals a powerful shift—one that places real stories, real heroes, and real emotions at the forefront. Whether it’s the courage of a soldier, the resilience of a reformer, or the journey of an underdog, these films are not just entertaining—they’re inspiring, educating, and igniting national pride. As audiences increasingly crave authenticity and depth, biopics have become more than a trend—they’re the heartbeat of a new era in Indian cinema.
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