Best 5 Bollywood Remakes That Are Better Than the Original
A list by Advait Joshi
While remakes are often criticized, these five Hindi films took the core of their source material and elevated it with iconic performances, masterful direction, and cultural resonance, creating classics that outshone the originals.
The Definitive Five
Agneepath (2012)
Remake of: 1990's *Agneepath*. While the original was a cult classic with Amitabh Bachchan's unique portrayal, the 2012 version directed by Karan Malhotra is a superior cinematic experience. Sanjay Dutt's terrifying villain Kancha Cheena and Rishi Kapoor's chilling Rauf Lala became legends. Hrithik Roshan's raw, vengeful Vijay Dinanath Chauhan, coupled with iconic dialogues and a thunderous background score, created a more cohesive and emotionally charged epic.
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Don (2006)
Remake of: 1978's *Don* starring Amitabh Bachchan. Farhan Akhtar didn't just remake; he reimagined. He swapped the 70s camp for sleek, international espionage thriller aesthetics. Shah Rukh Khan made the role his own with a cooler, more sinister charm, and the brilliant twist ending (different from the original) is now iconic. The techno-driven soundtrack by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, especially 'Khaike Paan Banaraswala', gave it a contemporary edge the original lacked.
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Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007)
Remake of: Malayalam film *Manichitrathazhu* (1993). Priyadarshan's adaptation masterfully translated a complex psychological thriller about split personality and folklore into a North Indian cultural context. While the original is a masterpiece, the Bollywood version gained a pan-India blockbuster status. Vidya Balan's dual role was phenomenal, Akshay Kumar provided perfect comic relief, and the music ('Hare Ram Hare Krishna') became a cultural phenomenon, making the story accessible to a much wider audience.
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Woh 7 Din (1983)
Remake of: Tamil film *Andha 7 Naatkal* (1981). This film launched Anil Kapoor and established Naseeruddin Shah as a serious actor. While the original was successful, the Hindi version, directed by Bapu, became a landmark. Its sensitive handling of a married woman's past, the unforgettable chemistry between the leads, and the soulful music by R.D. Burman ('Ae Zindagi Gale Laga Le') gave it an emotional depth and melodic richness that surpassed the source material.
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Zanjeer (1973)
Remake of: The 1969 Tamil film *Naan* and inspired by Hollywood's *Dirty Harry*. While not a direct frame-by-frame remake, the core plot is shared. However, Prakash Mehra's *Zanjeer* created the 'Angry Young Man' archetype with Amitabh Bachchan, changing Bollywood forever. Jaya Bachchan's quiet strength as Mala, Pran's iconic role as Sher Khan, and the legendary dialogue ('Yeh haath mujhe de de Thakur') transformed a good thriller into a socio-cultural milestone, far eclipsing the original's impact.
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Honorable Mentions (Great Adaptations)
Chachi 420 (1997)
Remake of: Hollywood's *Mrs. Doubtfire*. Kamal Haasan's brilliant adaptation infused the cross-dressing comedy with Indian familial dynamics, hilarious situational comedy, and heartwarming moments that perfectly resonated with the domestic audience.
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Kaante (2002)
Remake of: *Reservoir Dogs*. Sanjay Gupta's film took Tarantino's premise and executed it with a slick, stylish, all-star Bollywood cast (Amitabh, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty). Its technical prowess and 'cool factor' made it a cult classic in its own right.
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Murder 2 (2011)
Remake of: Korean film *The Chaser*. While the original is a relentless thriller, the Bollywood version, starring Emraan Hashmi, successfully Indianized the plot, added a commercially viable romantic track, and delivered a gripping, gritty experience for its audience.
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