These Bollywood biopics immortalized legends

Shootout at Wadala

Shootout at Wadala is a crime film starring John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Kangna Ranaut, Tusshar Kapoor, Manoj Bajpai and Sonu Sood in lead roles. The film dramatises the first-ever registered encounter by Mumbai police in which gangster Manya Surve was shot dead. It is loosely based on the book Dongri to Dubai by Hussain Zaidi. John Abraham played the role of Manya Surve. The film was quite successful and was declared a "hit" by Box-Office India three weeks after its release.

Once Upon a Time In Mumbaai

Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai is a gangster film based on Haji Mastan's life starring Ajay Devgan, Emraan Hashmi, Prachi Desai, Kangna Ranaut and Randeep Hooda. Actor Ajay Devgn portrayed the character of Haji Mastan as Sultan Mirza in the film while Emraan Hashmi portrays underworld don Dawood Ibrahim as Shoaib Khan.

Mary Kom

Mary Kom is a biographical sports film starring Priyanka Chopra as the eponymous boxer. The film depicts Mary Kom's journey of becoming a boxer to her victory at the 2008 World Boxing Championships in Ningbo City. Priyanka Chopra underwent extensive training for three months to attain a muscular physique. She also trained for the sport and Mary Kom's distinct boxing styles.

Bandit Queen

Bandit Queen is a film based on the life of Phoolan Devi starring Seema Biswas as the title character who managed to carry it very well.

Paan Singh Tomar

Paan Singh Tomar is a biographical film based on the true story of the athlete Paan Singh Tomar. A soldier in the Indian Army, he wins a gold medal at the Indian National Games, but is forced to become a notorious bandit. The movie starred Irrfan Khan who plays the title role with Mahie Gill, Vipin Sharma and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the supporting cast. The film won the Best Feature Film and Best Actor in the 60th National Film Awards 2012.

The Dirty Picture

The Dirty Picture is a biographical drama film inspired by the life of Silk Smitha, a South Indian actress noted for her erotic roles. The filmmakers have clarified that the story is not officially or literally based on Smitha alone, but on many of her Southern contemporaries such as Nylon Nalini and Disco Shanti. It also resembles the personal lives of other women in popular culture, including Hollywood actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. The Dirty Picture grossed ₹1.14 billion worldwide and received several awards, most of which were won by Vidya Balan for her portrayal of Silk.

Gandhi

Gandhi is an epic biographical film which dramatises the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the leader of India's non-violent, non-cooperative independence movement against the United Kingdom's rule of the country during the 20th century. The film won many accolades in the Academy Awards, including one for the best film. Richard Attenborough won for Best Director, and Ben Kingsley won for Best Actor.

Mangal Pandey

Mangal Pandey: The Rising is a biographical historical film based on the life of Mangal Pandey, an Indian soldier who is known for his role in the Indian Mutiny of 1857. This movie marked the comeback of Aamir Khan who went into a hiatus after Dil Chahta Hai released in 2001. The film was declared 'Hit' even though it took a decent start at the Box Office but the collections dipped eventually. Aamir Khan played the lead role of Mangal Pandey very well who was a Sepoy whose actions helped spark the Indian rebellion of 1857.

Jodhaa Akbar

Jodhaa Akbar is a sixteenth-century love story about a political marriage of convenience between a Mughal emperor, Akbar, and a Rajput princess, Jodhaa. The movie starred Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the lead roles where Hrithik Roshan played the role of Akbar and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan played the role of Princess Jodhabai who becomes his wife.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a story based on an Indian athlete who was a national champion runner and an Olympian. Farhan Akhtar achieved success by portraying Milkha Singh. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag performed well at the box office and became the twenty-first film to gross ₹1 billion.