The 8 Best Bollywood Movies on the Royal Family
Bollywood movies based on the royal family are as common as romantic comedies. Nevertheless, there are some great movies out there that’ll make you relive the old times of Maharajas and Nawabs. Those films are perfect for when you’re feeling down or nervous: Bollywood movies based on the royal family often feature amazing sceneries, great music and dance scenes, a gorgeous cast, and romantic love stories. Plus, you’ll learn a lesson in Indian history! So let’s get started with The Indian Rose’s list of the 8 best Bollywood movies on the royal family.
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Khoobsurat (2014)
The first of the Bollywood movies based on the royal family is Khoobsurat. The movie is a contemporary romantic comedy settled in modern-day Rajasthan. It stars beautiful Sonam Kapoor and handsome Fawad Khan, and it is perfect for lifting your mood on a gloomy night. The plot revolves around a physical therapist who is offered a job by a Rajasthan’s royal. Her job is to get the king’s health back to normal. While working, she falls in love with the young prince, and of course his arrogant mother tries to sabotage their relationship.
Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
This Bollywood movie on the royal family is not only aesthetically beautiful, but also historically relevant. Settled during the Mughal Empire, particularly during Emperor Akbar’s rule, Jodhaa Akbar is a romantic movie about a marriage of convenience that turned into love between a Mughal king and a Rajput princess. Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan are the leading actors and everything, from the actors to the locations and the costumes, are dream-like. The movie gained international fame and recognition.
Bajirao Mastani (2015)
Bajirao Mastani narrates the 18th century love story between Peshwa Bajirao I of the Maratha Empire and his second wife, Mastani – the daughter of a Rajput king. The peshwa is already married to his first wife Kashibai when he meets Mastani. The love triangle forces Bajirao to fight against his own family. The love story is intertwined with several battles and intricate power struggles. The movie is one of the most expensive in Bollywood history, and one of the most detailed Bollywood movies based on the royal family.
Padmaavat (2018)
Another historical Bollywood movie on royal family, Padmaavat is based on the 1540 Sufi epic poem by Malik Muhammad Jayasi. The movie tells the story of 13th century Sinhala Queen Padmaavat who is married to the noble King of Mewar, in present-day Rajasthan, and lives a happy life. When ambitious Sultan Jalaluddin Khalji hears about the queen’s beauty, he tries to undermine her marriage, as well as the stability of the kingdom of Mewar. Deepika Padukone is the star of the movie, and her clothes are just gorgeous.
Mughal-e-Azam (1960)
Mghal-e-Azam is an oldie, but it aged well. The movie revolves around the famous 16th century love story between Mughal Prince Saleem (son of Emperor Akbar) and the beautiful court dancer Anaarkali, which results in a battle between the prince and his father, the Emperor Akbar. The soundtrack by Lata Mangeshkar is one of the best in Bollywood, and draws a lot from Indian classical music. The movie was, and still is, one of the most successful movies in India: it has to be watched! If you like old movies, check out our guide on Sharmila Tagore style.
Baahubali 1 and 2 (2015-2017)
These two movies tell the story of a fearless man, Shivudu, who had a modest upbringing, and later in life becomes involved with prominent figures in the kingdom of Mahishmati in South India. Because of his courage and curiosity, he adventures into unfamiliar territory where he not only finds his true love but also uncovers the truth about his life and his relationship to the royal family. This is definitely the best Bollywood movie based on the royal family of South India.
Manikarnika (2019)
Manikarnika is the story of the legendary Queen of Jhansi, Lakshmi Bai, a legendarily brave woman who led a rebellion against the British rulers in 1857. The story goes like this: when the British discover that the kingdom of Jhansi doesn’t have a male ruler, they decide to attack it, only to be welcomed with fierce resistance by the queen. Watch the movie if you are curious about one of the most loved figueres in Indian history.
Razia Sultan (1983)
Razia Sultan is a historical drama about Razia Sultan, who became the first woman to rule the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th century. The movie also centres on the love story between the queen and an African slave, Jamaluddin Yakut. It stars Hema Malini and Parveen Babi. The song Ay Dil-e-Nadaan is particularly beautiful. If you are interested in this story, you can also watch the TV series with the same name. This Bollywood movie based on the royal family sheds light on a little known era of Indian history.
Conclusion
As you can see, Bollywood movies on the royal family help us recall the Indian past, and why not, awaken romantic and nostalgic feelings. These movies are not only famous for their storyline, but also for the beautiful settings and costumes. If you enjoy watching historical movies, then these 8 best Bollywood movies on royal family are great picks for you.