15 South Indian Movies Remade In Bollywood, From ‘Ghajini’ To ‘Drishyam’ Amid 'Haiwaan' Buzz

Written By: Entertainment Desk

Aug 13, 2026 16:09 IST ⓘ

Look back at 15 South Indian films that were adapted into Hindi amid 'Haiwaan' buzz.

Hindi cinema’s long relationship with South Indian films is back in focus following the release of the teaser for ‘Haiwaan’. Directed by Priyadarshan, the psychological crime thriller stars Saif Ali Khan as a visually impaired man facing a dangerous adversary played by Akshay Kumar. The film, scheduled to arrive in cinemas on September 11, 2026, reunites Akshay and Saif 18 years after ‘Tashan’. ‘Haiwaan’ is the official Hindi remake of Priyadarshan’s 2016 Malayalam thriller ‘Oppam’, starring Mohanlal, Samuthirakani and Anusree.

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Released on September 8, 2016, the Malayalam film follows a visually impaired caretaker who is framed for murder and must protect a young girl from a ruthless killer. ‘Oppam’ was a major critical and commercial success, earning more than Rs 52 crore worldwide. With ‘Haiwaan’ gearing up to bring this intense cat-and-mouse chase to Hindi audiences, it’s the perfect time to look back at how Bollywood has historically fared when adapting South Indian cinematic gems.

Here are 15 memorable South Indian films that were remade in Hindi:

1. ‘Ghajini’ - Remake Of Tamil Film ‘Ghajini’

Released on December 25, 2008, ‘Ghajini’ was directed by AR Murugadoss and starred Aamir Khan, Asin, Jiah Khan and Pradeep Rawat. It remade Murugadoss’ 2005 Tamil film of the same name, headlined by Suriya and Asin. Aamir played Sanjay Singhania, a businessman who develops anterograde amnesia after a brutal attack kills the woman he loves. Unable to form new memories for long, Sanjay relies on photographs, notes and tattoos to track down her murderer.

The Hindi version became a historic blockbuster and is widely credited as the first Hindi film to enter the Rs 100-crore net club. It earned approximately Rs 114 crore net in India and Rs 194 crore worldwide. Aamir’s physical transformation, Asin’s performance and the film’s revenge-driven emotional core helped it surpass the success of an already-popular original.

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2. ‘Kabir Singh’ - Remake Of Telugu Film ‘Arjun Reddy’

Sandeep Reddy Vanga remade his own 2017 Telugu film ‘Arjun Reddy’ as ‘Kabir Singh’, which was released on June 21, 2019. Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani played the lead roles, with Arjan Bajwa, Soham Majumdar, Suresh Oberoi and Nikita Dutta appearing in key parts. The story revolves around a gifted but self-destructive surgeon who spirals into alcoholism and substance abuse after being separated from his girlfriend.

Like ‘Arjun Reddy’, the Hindi adaptation sparked intense debates over its depiction of love, anger and toxic behaviour. The controversy, however, did not stop it from becoming a blockbuster. ‘Kabir Singh’ collected Rs 278.24 crore net in India and approximately Rs 377 crore worldwide, becoming one of Shahid Kapoor’s biggest solo successes.

3. ‘Drishyam’ - Remake Of Malayalam Film ‘Drishyam’

Released on July 31, 2015, Nishikant Kamat’s ‘Drishyam’ starred Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta, Mrunal Jadhav and Rajat Kapoor. It was the Hindi adaptation of Jeethu Joseph’s acclaimed 2013 Malayalam thriller starring Mohanlal and Meena. Ajay played Vijay Salgaonkar, a modest cable television operator who uses everything he has learnt from films to protect his family after they become involved in the disappearance of a police officer’s son.

The intelligently constructed thriller grew steadily through word of mouth, earning Rs 67.14 crore net in India and Rs 110 crore worldwide. Its reputation expanded significantly through television and streaming, eventually leading to the hugely successful ‘Drishyam 2’ in 2022.

4. ‘Hera Pheri’ - Remake Of Malayalam Film ‘Ramji Rao Speaking’

Priyadarshan’s ‘Hera Pheri’, released on March 31, 2000, was adapted from the 1989 Malayalam comedy ‘Ramji Rao Speaking’, directed by Siddique and Lal. The Hindi film brought together Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal and Tabu. Its story follows two unemployed men and their financially troubled landlord, whose lives descend into chaos after a ransom call reaches their telephone by mistake.

‘Hera Pheri’ was initially an average theatrical performer, collecting approximately Rs 12.36 crore net in India and Rs 21 crore globally. Its true success came later through television, home video and repeat viewing. Baburao, Raju and Shyam became some of Hindi cinema’s most recognisable comedy characters, turning the film into a cult classic and the foundation of a major franchise.

5. ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ - Remake Of Malayalam Film ‘Manichitrathazhu’

Released on October 12, 2007, Priyadarshan’s ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ was adapted from Fazil’s landmark 1993 Malayalam psychological thriller ‘Manichitrathazhu’. Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Shiney Ahuja, Ameesha Patel, Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav led the Hindi cast. The film follows Siddharth and Avni, a couple who move into an ancestral palace believed to be haunted, forcing psychiatrist Aditya Shrivastav to investigate whether the disturbance is supernatural or psychological.

Vidya Balan’s performance as Avni and Manjulika became the film’s defining feature, while its blend of horror, humour and music gave it lasting popularity. ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ was a commercial success, collecting Rs 49.11 crore net in India and Rs 82.35 crore worldwide. It subsequently inspired a Hindi franchise.

6. ‘Wanted’ - Remake Of Telugu Film ‘Pokiri’

Prabhu Deva’s ‘Wanted’, released on September 18, 2009, remade Puri Jagannadh’s 2006 Telugu blockbuster ‘Pokiri’, starring Mahesh Babu. The Hindi adaptation featured Salman Khan, Ayesha Takia, Prakash Raj, Vinod Khanna and Mahesh Manjrekar. Salman played Radhe, an apparently mercenary gangster who infiltrates Mumbai’s criminal underworld while concealing his real identity and mission.

‘Wanted’ became a turning point in Salman Khan’s career, re-establishing him as a larger-than-life action star and beginning an extraordinary run of commercial entertainers. The film earned around Rs 60.65 crore net in India and Rs 87.44 crore worldwide. Its dialogues, action scenes and songs also acquired enduring popular appeal.

7. ‘Singham’ - Remake Of Tamil Film ‘Singam’

Released on July 22, 2011, Rohit Shetty’s ‘Singham’ was based on Hari’s 2010 Tamil action film ‘Singam’, starring Suriya. Ajay Devgn, Kajal Aggarwal and Prakash Raj led the Hindi version, which follows Bajirao Singham, an honest police officer who finds himself pitted against politically connected criminal Jaikant Shikre.

The remake retained the original’s broad moral conflict while adding Rohit Shetty’s signature action, and humour. It collected Rs 100.50 crore net in India and approximately Rs 151 crore worldwide. Its success turned ‘Singham’ into one of Ajay Devgn’s defining characters and eventually launched Rohit Shetty’s interconnected cop universe.

8. ‘Rowdy Rathore’ - Remake Of Telugu Film ‘Vikramarkudu’

Prabhu Deva’s ‘Rowdy Rathore’ arrived in theatres on June 1, 2012. Starring Akshay Kumar in a double role alongside Sonakshi Sinha, Nassar and Paresh Ganatra, it was a remake of SS Rajamouli’s 2006 Telugu hit ‘Vikramarkudu’, headlined by Ravi Teja and Anushka Shetty. The story begins with a petty thief who discovers that he looks exactly like an upright police officer targeted by a powerful criminal empire.

The unapologetically loud action entertainer became a major hit, earning Rs 133.25 crore net in India and Rs 198 crore worldwide. Its success gave Akshay one of his most popular mass-action roles and turned the line “Don’t angry me” into a widely quoted catchphrase.

9. ‘Bodyguard’ - Remake Of Malayalam Film ‘Bodyguard’

Released on August 31, 2011, ‘Bodyguard’ was directed by Siddique, who also helmed the 2010 Malayalam original starring Dileep and Nayanthara. The Hindi version featured Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan. Salman played Lovely Singh, a devoted bodyguard assigned to protect Divya, who creates a secret identity to distract him but gradually falls in love with him.

The film recorded a then-historic opening and became a super-hit. It collected Rs 148.52 crore net in India and approximately Rs 230 crore worldwide. Although critical reactions were divided, Salman and Kareena’s star power, the romantic twist and the soundtrack made it one of 2011’s biggest Hindi releases.

10. Kick - Remake Of Telugu Film ‘Kick’

Sajid Nadiadwala made his directorial debut with the 2014 Eid release ‘Kick’, an official remake of Surender Reddy’s 2009 Telugu film of the same name. While Ravi Teja and Ileana D'Cruz led the original, the Hindi version features Salman Khan alongside Jacqueline Fernandez. The story follows an adrenaline junkie who cannot stick to a normal job and adopts a masked alter-ego to rob corrupt politicians and fund treatments for sick children, all while a sharp police officer is hot on his trail.

‘Kick’ shattered multiple box office records upon its release, achieving blockbuster status. It earned Rs 231 crore in India and over Rs 375 crore globally, becoming one of the defining financial successes of Salman Khan’s career.

11. Simmba - Remake Of Telugu Film ‘Temper’

Rohit Shetty’s 2018 action-drama ‘Simmba’ serves as the Hindi remake of Puri Jagannadh’s 2015 Telugu film ‘Temper’. Jr NTR and Kajal Aggarwal starred in the original, while the Hindi adaptation features Ranveer Singh and Sara Ali Khan. The narrative follows an unabashedly corrupt police officer whose only goal is making money, but he experiences a violent moral awakening when a young woman he treats as his sister is brutally assaulted.

Merging Ranveer Singh's energy with Rohit Shetty's mass appeal, ‘Simmba’ became a blockbuster. Made on a budget of around Rs 90 crore, it crossed the Rs 400 crore mark globally, standing out as one of the most profitable films of 2018.

12. Jersey - Remake Of Telugu Film ‘Jersey’

Gowtam Tinnanuri directed both the 2019 Telugu original and the 2022 Hindi remake of the sports drama ‘Jersey’. Nani and Shraddha Srinath led the original, while Shahid Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur took over for the Hindi adaptation. The emotional plot follows a highly talented but failed ex-cricketer who decides to return to the pitch in his late 30s, driven by a desperate need to buy a team jersey for his son and prove his worth to his skeptical wife.

Even though Shahid Kapoor’s performance received critical praise, the film was a commercial flop. Suffering from multiple pandemic-related delays and audience familiarity with the dubbed original, it grossed only around Rs 30 crore against a Rs 60 crore budget.

13. ‘Tere Naam’ - Remake Of Tamil Film ‘Sethu’

Released on August 15, 2003, Satish Kaushik’s ‘Tere Naam’ was a remake of Bala’s 1999 Tamil tragedy ‘Sethu’, starring Vikram. Salman Khan and Bhumika Chawla led the Hindi adaptation. Salman played Radhe Mohan, an aggressive former college student whose love for the soft-spoken Nirjara changes him, only for violence and a devastating injury to destroy their chance at happiness.

‘Tere Naam’ was a semi-hit during its original run, collecting approximately Rs 15 crore net in India and Rs 24.55 crore worldwide. Its cultural impact far exceeded those numbers. Salman’s hairstyle became a nationwide trend, the soundtrack was enormously successful and Radhe remains one of his most discussed performances.

14. ‘Saathiya’ - Remake Of Tamil Film ‘Alaipayuthey’

Shaad Ali made his directorial debut with ‘Saathiya’, released on December 20, 2002. The Rani Mukerji and Vivek Oberoi-starrer remade Mani Ratnam’s 2000 Tamil romance ‘Alaipayuthey’, featuring R Madhavan and Shalini. The film traces the relationship between Aditya and Suhani, who elope after their families oppose their marriage but soon learn that maintaining a relationship is more difficult than falling in love.

‘Saathiya’ collected approximately Rs 15.26 crore net in India and Rs 28 crore worldwide. Rani and Vivek’s performances, Gulzar’s lyrics and AR Rahman’s music helped the film acquire enduring popularity.

15. ‘Vikram Vedha’ - Remake Of Tamil Film ‘Vikram Vedha’

Pushkar and Gayatri returned to direct the Hindi remake of their acclaimed 2017 Tamil neo-noir thriller ‘Vikram Vedha’. Released on September 30, 2022, the adaptation starred Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Radhika Apte and Rohit Saraf. Saif played principled police officer Vikram, while Hrithik portrayed gangster Vedha, whose morally complicated stories gradually force the officer to question his ideas about right and wrong.

The Hindi version earned positive reviews, particularly for Hrithik’s performance, but could not justify its scale and cost theatrically. Made on a reported budget of Rs 150 crore, it collected Rs 78.90 crore net in India and Rs 135.44 crore worldwide.