Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, which was India’s official entry for the Oscars 2025, has landed in a plagiarism controversy after social media users pointed out its striking resemblance to the Arabic short film Burqa City. A viral video has sparked debate over whether the Bollywood film is an original creation or heavily inspired by the 2019 satire.
The controversy began when a video from Burqa City surfaced online, prompting film enthusiasts to notice stark similarities between the Arabic film and Laapataa Ladies. Directed by Fabrice Bracq, Burqa City is a 19-minute satirical short film set in the Middle East.
It follows the story of a newlywed man who frantically searches for his wife after she is mistakenly swapped with another woman wearing a similar burqa. The film critiques patriarchal societies, gender-based restrictions, and the erasure of women’s identities—key themes that also define Laapataa Ladies.
As netizens drew parallels between the two, many pointed out that Kiran Rao’s film simply replaced burqas with ghoonghats while retaining a similar storyline and social commentary.
As discussions gained momentum, users took to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit to express their disappointment. One post read:
“Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, India’s official entry to the Oscars and projected as an original work, actually seems heavily inspired by a 2019 short film titled Burqa City…. Kiran Rao made Laapataa Ladies, with the same theme, replacing burqas with ghoonghats. The film carried the same message about patriarchy, societal norms, and women’s identity. Even the Ravi Kishan police station scene seems heavily inspired.”
Another user wrote, “There is nothing original about Bollywood anymore.”
The conversation extended to Reddit, where a discussion thread titled “Burqa City, 2019 short film – Replace Burqa with Ghoonghat and you get an original Oscar-nominated Indian movie” gained traction. Users expressed their shock at the revelation, with one commenting, “Wow, never knew this existed before. Thanks OP for the post.” Another added, “Shameful.”
Many also criticized the filmmakers for celebrating the movie’s success despite its alleged lack of originality. A frustrated user remarked, “This is embarrassing… the creators were enjoying the success as if they had made something original.”
Set in the fictional state of Nirmal Pradesh in 2001, Laapataa Ladies revolves around the chaotic mix-up of two brides on a train journey. One bride is mistakenly taken home by the wrong groom, while the other is left stranded at a railway station. A police officer, Kishan (played by Ravi Kishan), takes charge of the case, trying to resolve the confusion.
The film is based on an award-winning story by Biplab Goswami and is produced under the banners of Aamir Khan Productions, Kindling Pictures, and Jio Studios. Starring Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Sparsh Shrivastav, alongside Ravi Kishan, Chhaya Kadam, and Geeta Aggarwal Sharma, the film was released in March 2024 and went on to represent India at the Oscars 2025. However, despite the initial hype, the Kiran Rao directorial failed to make it to the final shortlist.
This controversy has once again reignited the debate over Bollywood’s history of alleged plagiarism. The Indian film industry has often been accused of drawing inspiration—sometimes excessively—from international films.
While neither Kiran Rao nor the makers of Laapataa Ladies have responded to the allegations, the controversy has already cast a shadow over what was once considered a milestone film for Indian cinema. As discussions continue, the question remains: Is Laapataa Ladies a tribute, an adaptation, or an uncredited copy of Burqa City?
