There is a long history of Bollywood adapting literature into films in ways that feel inventive, contemporary, and thoroughly local. These reveal how a timeless narrative — whether global or Indian — can be recast into modern culture, fashion, relationships, and social hierarchies.
'Aisha', loosely inspired by Jane Austen's 'Emma', whisks Regency-era matchmaking into South Delhi brunches, couture wardrobes, and modern romance codes. What was once a 19th-century English novel becomes playful, relatable, and distinctly Indian. Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol, Lisa Haydon, and the rest of the ensemble cast, convey the central theme of Austen's 'Emma' in a fresh new setting.
Credit: Anil Kapoor Films Company
On the other hand, 'Devdas', an adaptation from Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's timeless classic, stays true to its original timeline and hence, narrates a sweeping tragedy of love, ego, and societal constriction in pre-Independence India. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, and Jackie Shroff, the film maintains the emotional intensity of the book.
Taking the setting to the underbelly of Mumbai, Vishal Bhardwaj's film 'Maqbool' transposes 'Macbeth', the Shakespearean classic, magnificently. Featuring stellar performances by Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, and Piyish Mishra, the movie changes the setting whilst adopting the central theme of Shakespeare's play. The way that the ambitions, betrayal, and moral decline get reinterpreted as crime, power struggle, and gritty urban drama, speaks to the ability of literary adaptations to be contemporary and reach out effectively to audiences.
Varun Dhawan's 'Badlapur', inspired by Massimo Carlotto’s 'Death’s Dark Abyss', transposes Italian noir onto a Hindi revenge thriller. Its dark, atmospheric storytelling marries global literary influences with Bollywood sensibilities, creating a narrative that feels both familiar and fresh.
Credit: Maddock Films
These films show how Bollywood quietly localizes literature by rewriting the terms on which language, fashion, class, and desire exist. The subtlety is part of their genius. Viewers often enjoy a story without realizing it finds its origin in a novel, proving that literature and cinema can cross over into each other with ease to entertain, bring an emotional experience, and even endure.
