Pratik S
The Bollywood film Lapata Ladies, released in 2024, was widely praised for its unique storytelling and direction. Produced by Aamir Khan and directed by Kiran Rao, the film even made it to India’s selection list for the Oscars. However, a major controversy has now emerged, with claims that Lapata Ladies is not an original story but a direct copy of a foreign film.
Viral Posts Claim “Lapata Ladies” is a Copy of “Burqa City”
Social media platforms, especially Reddit, have been flooded with posts claiming that Lapata Ladies is heavily inspired by a French short film titled Burqa City, directed by Fabrice Bracq. This 19-minute short film tells the story of a newlywed man in the Middle East whose wife is mistakenly swapped with another woman due to their identical burqas. The film explores his struggles as he tries to find his real wife.
According to users who have compared both films, Lapata Ladies follows a nearly identical plotline, with one key difference—the concept of a burqa in Burqa City has been replaced with a ghoonghat (veil) in Lapata Ladies.
Did “Lapata Ladies” Also Copy an Indian Film?
While the Burqa City controversy was still heating up, another shocking revelation surfaced. A second claim emerged stating that Lapata Ladies closely resembles the 1995 film “Ghungat Ke Pat Khol”, directed by Anant Mahadevan. This film also revolves around the mistaken identity of a bride due to her veil, further fueling plagiarism accusations.
In fact, Anant Mahadevan himself had spoken out about the similarities in 2024 through an Instagram post, hinting that Lapata Ladies shared striking similarities with his film. This revelation has left audiences questioning the originality of Kiran Rao’s directorial venture.
Social Media Reactions: Fans Express Disappointment
Following these revelations, social media users expressed their disappointment and outrage. Many called out the filmmakers for allegedly stealing ideas from multiple films while still receiving critical acclaim.
Users took to Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit to share their frustration:
- “This is shameful! How can they call this original when it’s clearly a copy?”
- “And they sent this movie for the Oscars? What a joke!”
- “Did they copy scenes directly or just tweak them a bit?”
- “Bollywood needs to stop stealing stories and give credit to the originals!”
Some even questioned how the makers could celebrate the film’s success despite the plagiarism accusations.
What Will Aamir Khan & Kiran Rao Say?
With the controversy gaining momentum, fans are now eagerly waiting for a response from Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao. Will they deny the allegations or admit to being inspired by these films? As of now, the filmmakers have remained silent, but the debate continues to intensify.
The Bigger Issue: Bollywood and Plagiarism
This is not the first time Bollywood has been accused of plagiarizing foreign films. Over the years, many successful Hindi films have been inspired, adapted, or outright copied from international cinema. Some notable examples include:
- Ghajini (2008) – Inspired by Christopher Nolan’s Memento
- Zinda (2006) – A near-exact copy of Korean film Oldboy
- Baazigar (1993) – Loosely based on Hollywood‘s A Kiss Before Dying
- Partner (2007) – A remake of Will Smith’s Hitch
With Lapata Ladies now under scrutiny, it raises questions about Bollywood’s lack of originality and its long history of borrowing ideas from international films without credit.
Will Bollywood Learn?
The Lapata Ladies controversy has once again highlighted the problem of plagiarism in Bollywood. While inspiration is common in filmmaking, outright copying without giving credit is ethically wrong and disappointing for audiences.
If the allegations are true, this could damage the credibility of the film and its makers, especially since Lapata Ladies was considered an Oscar-worthy film. Now, the ball is in Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao’s court.
Will they address these accusations, or will this controversy fade away like many others before it? Only time will tell!
Watch Burqa City short film –
A Controversy That Won’t Die Down Soon
The debate surrounding Lapata Ladies and its alleged plagiarism is not just about one film—it’s about Bollywood’s larger issue with originality. As fans demand answers, the industry must rethink its approach to storytelling. Until then, this controversy will remain a hot topic in the entertainment world!
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