From ‘Satuluj’ to ‘Parzaniya’ and ‘Kesari 2’: Bollywood films inspired by real-life incidents |

Apart from Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Satluj’, there have been many Bollywood films inspired by historical events, including the Gujarat riots and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. (Instagram)

While Bollywood films are often seen as entertainment and larger than life fictional stories, there are some that are made to inspire and retell events from history to the masses. As ‘Satluj’ takes center stage online amid its ongoing controversy, here’s a list of some of the best Bollywood films that were inspired by real-life events in history.

Honey Trehan’s ‘Satluj’ (2026)

The film which has taken the internet by storm due to the controversy surrounding it tells the true story of human rights activist Jasbant Singh Khalra. The film explores how he investigates illegal cremations and their corrupt political connections in the 1990s in insurgency-era Punjab. The film stars Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role and recently released on ZEE5. However, the image has been removed from the platform for now.

Rahul Dholakia’s Parzania (2007)

‘Parzania’ is based on the real-life Gujarat riots that took place in 2002. Shot in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, the film is based on Roopa Modi, a Parsi woman, whose son, Azhar Modi (Parjan Pithawala) goes missing during the riots, particularly after the Gulberg Society massacre. The movie is based on a family’s journey to find their son amid the political unrest and violence happening around. The image is available on JioHotstar.

‘Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh’ Karan Singh Tyagi (2025)

‘Keshari Chapter 2’ is another retelling of the historical events related to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, starring Akshay Kumar in the lead role. Specifically it revolves around the life of Indian politician Sir C Sankaran Nair, who was formerly a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council. However, after the massacre in 1919, he resigned his post and even fought a case against Michael O’Dwyer, the main perpetrator of the massacre in London. The image is available on JioHotstar.

Shujit Sarkar’s ‘Sardar Udham’ (2021)

Sujith Sarkar’s film was a fictional retelling of Indian revolutionary Udham Singh. The film follows his story spanning nearly two decades to seek revenge against Michael O’Dwyer, who supported the Jallianwala Bagh massacre that took place on April 13, 1919. The film dips between two timelines, one set in 1940s London, where Udham Singh plans his assassination and the other plans to kill Michael. Life as a Youth in British India. Vicky Kaushal plays the revolutionary role. The film is available for streaming on Prime Video.

Hansal Mehta’s ‘Shahid’ (2012)

Starring Rajkummar Rao in the lead role, ‘Shahid’ was based on the real life of lawyer and human rights activist Shahid Azmi. He was once an ordinary citizen; However, once he sees the brutality that some people face after being falsely accused, he becomes a lawyer to fight on behalf of those falsely accused of terrorism. Until his murder in 2010, he helped countless people get justice. The film is available on Prime Video.