Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies Accused of Plagiarism: Is It Inspired by Arabic Film Burqa City?
Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies is accused of copying the 2019 Arabic film Burqa City. Netizens question Bollywood’s originality. Is the film truly original?
Laapataa Ladies Faces Plagiarism Allegations: Is Kiran Rao’s Film Inspired by Arabic Movie Burqa City?
Kiran Rao shooting the last directing shot of Laapataa Ladies very recently found itself in controversy for the outright lift from the 2019 Arabic movie, Burqa City. The debate started soon after the video clip from the Arabic movie found its way to social media, showing an almost identical premise to Laapataa Ladies. In Burqa City, a newlywed man runs around frantically searching for his wife after what can only be described as a freak accident when his actual wife is confused with another woman, both of them clad in burqas. This apparent resemblance has left the cyberspace crowd with doubts about the originality of Kiran Rao’s project.
Social media platforms were soon flooded with reactions from disappointed viewers. “Bollywood barely makes original films anymore. Everything is copied and marketed as an ‘original masterpiece’,” wrote one user. Another user added similar thoughts, “Plagiarism in Bollywood is not a new thing, but this is too obvious.” Nevertheless, not all reactions were negative, as some hailed the movie’s music, particularly the song Sajni Re by Arijit Singh.
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Laapataa Ladies, which was released theatrically on March 1, 2024, takes the audience to rural India in 2001; the film’s story set in motion by two brides, who are alternatingly exchanged during a train journey, resulting in an emotional and engagingly complicated search for the true bride. Starring Sparsh Shrivastava, Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goel, and Ravi Kishan, the film was produced by Aamir Khan Productions and Kindling Productions.
Prior to its release, the film also had a screening at the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) 2023 and got a standing ovation. Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt, and Vijay Varma from Bollywood showered praises for the engaging storyline and performances. However, despite the accolades, any further success on the film now stands shadowed by its plagiarism accusations.
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In another feather in its cap, selected as India’s official submission for the International Feature Film category for the 2025 Oscars; however, with the growing popularity of the plagiarism accusation, many now question whether the film rightfully deserves it. As this whole issue continues to unfold, an official statement from Kiran Rao on the allegations is being eagerly awaited by her Bollywood fans.
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