Bollywood, the heart of India’s film industry, is filled with glamour, drama, and a legacy spanning over a century. While millions of fans adore the movies, there are some deep and lesser-known facts that even the most die-hard Bollywood lovers may not be aware of. Let's dive into the hidden side of Bollywood with these 10 fascinating facts.
1. Bollywood is Older Than Hollywood ????
The Indian film industry started in 1913 with the silent film Raja Harishchandra by Dadasaheb Phalke, making it over 110 years old. Hollywood, on the other hand, released its first feature film, The Squaw Man, in 1914. This makes Bollywood one of the oldest film industries in the world.
2. The Longest Running Movie in Bollywood ????️
Bollywood’s biggest blockbuster, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), holds the record for the longest-running Indian film. The movie has been playing continuously at Maratha Mandir theater in Mumbai for over 25 years!
3. The First Bollywood Movie With Sound ????
The first Indian talkie film was Alam Ara (1931), which introduced sound to Indian cinema. Interestingly, due to the absence of dubbing technology, actors had to directly record dialogues while shooting.
4. The Film That Almost Got India’s First Oscar Nomination ????
In 1957, Mother India became India’s first-ever submission for the Oscars and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. It lost by just one vote to the Italian film Nights of Cabiria.
5. Bollywood Produces the Most Movies in the World ????
India is the largest film-producing country in the world, making over 1,800 movies annually. This number surpasses Hollywood, which produces about 600–800 films per year.
6. Amitabh Bachchan’s Voice Was Once Rejected ????️
Before becoming a superstar, Amitabh Bachchan auditioned for All India Radio as a radio presenter, but he was rejected because of his deep voice. Ironically, today his voice is one of the most iconic and recognizable in India!
7. Bollywood’s Highest-Grossing Film Ever ????
As of now, Jawan (2023) and Pathaan (2023) hold the record for Bollywood’s highest-grossing films, both earning over ₹1,000 crore worldwide. Bollywood films are now making their mark internationally, especially in China, UAE, and the USA.
8. The Secret Behind 100 Crore Club Films ????️
Many Bollywood movies enter the 100-crore club, but did you know not all tickets are sold at theaters? Producers often buy bulk tickets of their own movies to artificially inflate box office numbers in the first week, creating hype and attracting more audiences.
9. A Bollywood Actor Who Lived Like His Movie Character ????
For the film Trapped (2017), actor Rajkummar Rao survived on carrots and black coffee for days to understand the pain of starvation. Similarly, Irrfan Khan spent time with dabbawalas in Mumbai before playing a common man in The Lunchbox (2013). Bollywood has seen playbazaar many method actors who go beyond the script to bring realism to their play bajar roles.
10. The Hidden Truth About Bollywood Awards ????
Bollywood award shows are often scripted, and many actors have refused awards because they knew they were being given to the highest bidder. Aamir Khan has never attended Filmfare Awards because he believes in play bazaar honest recognition, not politics.
Conclusion: The Other Side of Bollywood
Bollywood is more than just glitz, glamour, and blockbuster films. It has a rich history, hidden secrets, and deep realities that many don’t know about. Whether it's Oscar-worthy films, behind-the-scenes tricks, or award show politics, Bollywood is an industry full of surprises.
???? Which fact amazed you the most? Let us know in the comments! ????✨