Bollywood Stars Who Played Real-Life Heroes And Icons In Films
Discover the Bollywood actors who nailed biographical roles. We analyse the career-defining performances of Ajay Devgn, Vicky Kaushal, Sonam Kapoor and more.
Biopics have become one of Bollywood’s most dependable ways of celebrating greatness, grief, courage and public memory. But what really makes these films land is not just the subject – it is the actor who steps into that life and convinces the audience they are watching a person, not a performance. Over the years, Hindi cinema has seen major stars play soldiers, athletes, reformers, politicians and national icons, often carrying the emotional weight of an entire legacy on their shoulders. Every gesture, accent, pause and physical transformation is judged against memory. That is exactly why Hindi cinema’s most memorable biographical performances stand out – they are not just star turns, but acts of interpretation, tribute and reinvention.
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Some of these films were mounted as big-screen spectacles, others were more intimate character studies, but all of them asked their leads to do the same thing: disappear into someone the audience already knew.
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Here is a look at Bollywood stars who brought real-life heroes and icons to the silver screen:
1. Ajay Devgn: From Revolutionaries To Sports Legends
Ajay Devgn has a unique knack for portraying men of immense internal strength and conviction. He has immortalized three very different Indian icons. In 2002, Ajay Devgn featured as Bhagat Singh in ‘The Legend of Bhagat Singh’. Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, Ajay Devgn won a National Award for this portrayal. The film followed the revolutionary's journey from a disillusioned youth to a martyr who shook the British Empire. The plot centred on the assembly bombing and his eventual execution alongside Sukhdev (Sushant Singh) and Rajguru (D. Santosh). Ajay Devgn then delivered another career-high performance as the legendary Maratha warrior Tanaji Malusare. Directed by Om Raut and released on January 10, 2020, the film featured an impressive cast including Saif Ali Khan (as the antagonist Udaybhan Singh Rathore), Kajol (as Savitribai Malusare), and Sharad Kelkar (as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj). The plot centred on the historic Battle of Sinhagad in 1670. Most recently, Ajay Devgn featured as Syed Abdul Rahim in 2024 film ‘Maidaan’. Directed by Amit Sharma, Ajay Devgn played the legendary football coach who revolutionized the sport in India. Set between 1952 and 1962, the film focused on Rahim’s struggle to build a world-class team amidst internal politics and failing health, leading to the historic gold medal win at the 1962 Asian Games.
2. Farhan Akhtar As Milkha Singh In ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’
Farhan Akhtar delivered one of modern Hindi cinema’s most admired biographical performances when he played legendary sprinter Milkha Singh in ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’. Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and released on July 12, 2013, the film also featured Divya Dutta, Sonam Kapoor, Pavan Malhotra, Yograj Singh and Prakash Raj. Based on Milkha Singh’s life, the film followed his traumatic Partition childhood, his rise through the Indian Army and his emergence as one of India’s greatest athletes.
3. Vicky Kaushal In ‘Sardar Udham’, ‘Sam Bahadur’ And ‘Chhaava’
Vicky Kaushal delivered one of the most restrained and haunting performances of his career in ‘Sardar Udham’, where he played revolutionary Udham Singh. Directed by Shoojit Sircar and released on Amazon Prime Video on October 16, 2021, the film also featured Banita Sandhu, Amol Parashar, Shaun Scott and Stephen Hogan. Rather than leaning on easy rhetoric, the film patiently built the emotional and political weight of Udham Singh’s mission to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Vicky returned to biographical storytelling with ‘Sam Bahadur’, playing India’s first Field Marshal, Sam Manekshaw. Directed by Meghna Gulzar and released on December 1, 2023, the film also starred Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Neeraj Kabi and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub. Spanning military campaigns, political corridors and personal moments, the film focused especially on Manekshaw’s leadership during the 1971 war and the creation of Bangladesh. The film tried to capture the wit, assurance and strategic sharpness that made him a legend.
Vicky Kaushal then delivered a high-octane performance as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in the historical epic ‘Chhaava’, directed by Laxman Utekar. Released in February 2025, the film featured Rashmika Mandanna as Yesubai and a menacing Akshaye Khanna as Aurangzeb, focusing on the Maratha warrior-king’s unparalleled bravery, his tactical military brilliance, and his legendary defiance against the Mughal Empire.
4. Sidharth Malhotra As Captain Vikram Batra In Shershaah
One of the most widely praised recent war biopics is ‘Shershaah’, in which Sidharth Malhotra played Param Vir Chakra awardee Captain Vikram Batra. Directed by Vishnuvardhan and released on Amazon Prime Video on August 12, 2021, the film also starred Kiara Advani and presented Vikram Batra’s journey from spirited young man to military hero during the Kargil War. The film’s strength lay in balancing patriotism with intimacy, showing both the soldier’s courage and the person behind the uniform.
5. Sonam Kapoor As Neerja Bhanot In ‘Neerja’
In ‘Neerja’, Sonam Kapoor played flight attendant Neerja Bhanot, who became a national symbol of courage after sacrificing her life during the 1986 hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73. Directed by Ram Madhvani and released on February 19, 2016, the film also starred Shabana Azmi, Yogendra Tiku, Shekhar Ravjiani, Kavi Shastri and Jim Sarbh. Rather than treating bravery as something loud and theatrical, the film built its emotional force through fear, split-second decision-making and sacrifice, making Sonam’s turn one of the most acclaimed performances of her career.
6. Kartik Aaryan As Murlikant Petkar In ‘Chandu Champion’
Stepping away from his rom-com image, Kartik Aaryan delivered a career-best performance as Murlikant Petkar in ‘Chandu Champion’. Directed by Kabir Khan and released on June 14, 2024, the film also featured Vijay Raaz, Bhuvan Arora, and Rajpal Yadav. The story traced Murlikant Petkar’s life from a determined young boy to a soldier in the Indian Army and eventually India’s first Paralympic gold medalist. After sustaining nine bullet wounds in the 1965 war that left him paralyzed, Petkar refused to be sidelined by his disability. The film focused on his transition from wrestling to swimming, leading to his historic gold medal win at the 1972 Summer Paralympics in Heidelberg, Germany.
7. Rajkummar Rao As Srikanth Bolla In ‘Srikanth’
Rajkummar Rao added another feather to his cap by playing the visually impaired visionary Srikanth Bolla. Directed by Tushar Hiranandani and released on May 10, 2024, the biopic featured Jyothika, Alaya F, and Sharad Kelkar. The film chronicled Srikanth’s journey from being born into a poor family in Andhra Pradesh, where neighbours suggested his parents get rid of him, to becoming the first international blind student at MIT. The narrative focused on his legal battles to study science and his eventual success in founding Bollant Industries, which provides employment to hundreds of differently-abled individuals.
8. Akshay Kumar: The Biopic Khiladi
Akshay Kumar has virtually pioneered the genre of the unsung hero biopic in modern Bollywood, playing characters ranging from 12th-century kings to modern-day social reformers. The cleanest example is ‘Samrat Prithviraj’ (2022), directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, in which he played Prithviraj Chauhan alongside Manushi Chhillar, Sanjay Dutt, Sonu Sood and Ashutosh Rana. He also starred in ‘Pad Man’ (2018), directed by R. Balki and co-starring Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor, where he played Lakshmikant Chauhan, a fictionalised character based on real-life innovator Arunachalam Muruganantham. More recently, his filmography has also included historically rooted narratives such as ‘Mission Raniganj’, in which he portrayed Jaswant Singh Gill, who rescued 65 miners from a flooded coal mine in 1989. He also featured in ‘Kesari Chapter 2’, in which he played C. Sankaran Nair. Akshay Kumar has also featured as G.R. Gopinath in ‘Sarfira’, Havildar Ishar Singh in ‘Kesari’ and Mylswamy Annadurai in ‘Mission Mangal’. Taken together, these roles show that Akshay has repeatedly turned toward reformist, historical and real-world figures, even when the films are not strict cradle-to-grave biopics.
9. Vikrant Massey As Manoj Kumar Sharma In ‘12th Fail’
In a performance that redefined underdog stories, Vikrant Massey portrayed IPS Officer Manoj Kumar Sharma in the 2023 biographical drama ‘12th Fail’. Directed by the legendary Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the film was released on October 27, 2023, and featured a breakthrough performance by Medha Shankr as Shraddha Joshi, alongside Anant V Joshi and Anshumaan Pushkar. The narrative captured the soul-stirring journey of Manoj, a young man from Chambal who, despite failing his Class 12 exams and facing crippling poverty, moved to Delhi to pursue the UPSC dream. The film meticulously detailed his years of struggle – working in a flour mill and cleaning toilets – while maintaining a restart mindset. It served as a raw, emotional look at how grit and honesty can overcome a rigged system, culminating in his eventual success as an IPS officer.
10. Diljit Dosanjh as Amar Singh Chamkila In ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’
Diljit Dosanjh breathed life into the ‘Elvis of Punjab’ Amar Singh Chamkila in this Netflix original directed by Imtiaz Ali. Released on April 12, 2024, the film saw Parineeti Chopra playing Chamkila’s wife and collaborator, Amarjot Kaur. The plot explored the meteoric rise of a man from the grassroots of Punjab who became a folk sensation with his raw, provocative lyrics that reflected the reality of rural life. Set against the backdrop of the insurgency in Punjab during the 1980s, the film delved into the obsession and controversy surrounding his music, culminating in the tragic and unsolved assassination of the couple just as they were set to perform in Mehsampur.
11. Alia Bhatt As Gangubai In ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’
Alia Bhatt anchored Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s visual spectacle as Gangubai. Released on February 25, 2022, the film co-starred Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz, and Ajay Devgn in a powerful cameo. The story followed Ganga, a young woman sold into a brothel in Kamathipura. Rather than letting life break her, she became a powerful matriarch and a voice for the marginalized. The plot focused on her advocacy for the rights of sex workers and her historic fight to ensure education and dignity for the children of the red-light district.
12. Aamir Khan As Mahavir Singh Phogat In ‘Dangal’
In one of the biggest global hits of Indian cinema, Aamir Khan played Mahavir Singh Phogat, an amateur wrestler who trained his daughters to be world champions. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and released on December 23, 2016, the film featured Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, and Sakshi Tanwar. The narrative focused on Mahavir’s relentless pursuit of a gold medal for India – a dream he transferred to his daughters, Geeta and Babita. The plot navigated the social prejudices of rural Haryana and the rigorous training the girls endured, culminating in Geeta Phogat's historic gold medal win at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
13. Ranveer Singh As Kapil Dev In ‘83’
Ranveer Singh delivered an uncanny portrayal of the Haryana Hurricane, Kapil Dev, in the 2021 film ‘83’. Directed by Kabir Khan, the film featured Deepika Padukone, Pankaj Tripathi, and a host of actors playing the 1983 World Cup squad. The film meticulously recreated the 1983 Cricket World Cup in England, where a team of no-hopers led by a charismatic young captain defied the odds. The plot highlighted Kapil's legendary 175-run knock against Zimbabwe and the final victory against the West Indies at Lord's, a moment that turned cricket into a religion in India.
14. Priyanka Chopra As Mary Kom In ‘Mary Kom’
Priyanka Chopra stepped into the ring to portray the legendary boxer Mary Kom in this 2014 biopic directed by Omung Kumar. The film featured Darshan Kumar and Sunil Thapa. The plot tracked Mary’s journey from the fields of Manipur to the world stage. It highlighted her battle against her father's disapproval, her struggle to balance motherhood with an elite sports career, and her triumphant return to win her fifth world championship in 2008, proving that age and societal expectations are no bar for a true champion.
15. Kangana Ranaut In ‘Thalaivii’ And ‘Emergency’
Kangana Ranaut took on one of Indian public life’s most larger-than-life figures in ‘Thalaivii’, where she played J. Jayalalithaa. Directed by A. L. Vijay and released on September 10, 2021, the film also featured Arvind Swamy, Nassar and Raj Arjun. The story tracked Jayalalithaa’s arc from film stardom to political power, making it a sweeping portrait of reinvention, charisma and authority. Kangana also featured in ‘Emergency’, the historical biographical drama in which she played former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Directed by Kangana Ranaut herself and released on January 17, 2025, the film also starred Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Mahima Chaudhry and Milind Soman. Set around the Emergency period of 1975 to 1977, it focused on one of the most controversial chapters in Indian political history.
16. Sushant Singh Rajput As MS Dhoni In ‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story’
Late Sushant Singh Rajput took on one of the most visible modern Indian icons when he played Mahendra Singh Dhoni in ‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story’. Directed by Neeraj Pandey and released on September 30, 2016, the film also featured Disha Patani, Kiara Advani, Anupam Kher and Bhumika Chawla. The story charted Dhoni’s early years in Ranchi, his railway job, his long climb into professional cricket and his eventual rise to captaincy.
17. Irrfan Khan As Paan Singh Tomar In ‘Paan Singh Tomar’
Late Irrfan Khan’s ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ remains one of the sharpest and least conventional Hindi biopics ever made. Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia and released theatrically on March 2, 2012, the film co-starred Mahie Gill, Vipin Sharma and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. It followed the extraordinary life of Paan Singh Tomar – an Indian Army man and seven-time national steeplechase champion who later turned into an outlaw after being failed by the system. What made the film so striking is that it began as a sports drama and slowly became an indictment of institutional neglect and social violence.
18. Janhvi Kapoor As Gunjan Saxena In ‘Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl’
Janhvi Kapoor played Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena in ‘Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl’, directed by Sharan Sharma and released on Netflix on August 12, 2020. The film also starred Pankaj Tripathi and Angad Bedi and followed Gunjan Saxena’s struggle to become one of the first Indian women to fly in a combat zone during the Kargil War. Its emotional spine lay in her insistence on belonging to a space that repeatedly told her she did not. That made the film as much about institutional sexism as it was about military heroism.
19. Pankaj Tripathi As Atal Bihari Vajpayee In Main Atal Hoon
Pankaj Tripathi stepped into the shoes of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in ‘Main Atal Hoon’. Directed by Ravi Jadhav and released on January 19, 2024, the film centred on Vajpayee’s life in politics, public service and poetry. The role was notable because it asked Pankaj Tripathi to channel not just a public figure’s politics, but also his oratorical rhythm and literary aura. It showed how the Hindi biopic has expanded beyond athletes and soldiers into portraits of statesmen as well.
20. Hrithik Roshan As Anand Kumar In ‘Super 30’
Rounding off the list strongly is Hrithik Roshan. The Bollywood heartthrob entered biographical territory with ‘Super 30’, where he played mathematician and educator Anand Kumar. Directed by Vikas Bahl and released on July 12, 2019, the film also starred Mrunal Thakur, Virendra Saxena, Nandish Sandhu, Pankaj Tripathi and Aditya Srivastava. Centred on Anand Kumar’s educational initiative for underprivileged IIT aspirants, the film presented him as a teacher fighting a system that reserved opportunity for the privileged. It gave the genre a different kind of hero: a man whose battlefield was the classroom.
What makes these performances so compelling is not just imitation, but interpretation. The best biopic turns do more than recreate a haircut, a gait or a famous speech – they make the audience feel the private cost of public greatness. Whether it was Farhan Akhtar carrying Milkha Singh’s trauma, Sonam Kapoor capturing Neerja Bhanot’s quiet courage, Vicky Kaushal embodying both Udham Singh’s grief and Sam Manekshaw’s swagger, or Alia Bhatt turning Gangubai into a formidable screen presence, these films show how Bollywood uses stardom to preserve memory.
Some of these icons were national heroes, some were controversial power figures, and some were reformers who changed lives in less glamorous ways. But together, they prove one thing: when Bollywood gets the biopic form right, it does not just tell a life story – it gives that life a second cultural afterlife.
