Korean films are known for their diversity, high production value, and consummate storytelling. From multi-layered characters to nail-biting plotlines, their influence is apparent in music, fashion, film, and culture, setting a benchmark for inspiration, from Oscar wins to OTT dominance. Bollywood isn’t far behind either. Whether officially or loosely inspired, they package these foreign movies with added masala (spice) to cater to the Indian audience’s palate.
While imitation may be a sincere form of flattery, there have been instances where Indian fans have identified similarities between their favorite South Korean and Indian films, despite them not being official remakes.
A classic example is YRF’s musical smash Saiyaara (2025) directed by Mohit Suri. The plot chronicles Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), a brash musician who forms a deep connection with Vaani (Aneet Padda), a demure poet. The film is said to be loosely based on John H. Lee’s hit South Korean film A Moment to Remember (2004), starring protagonists Chul-Soo (Jung Woo-sung) and Sujin (Son Ye-Jin). While the plotline, character development, and story ending are not identical, what caught viewers’ eyes was how both films had a common point of conflict—early-onset Alzheimer’s. Both films see the female lead developing the disease.
Even though Saiyaara’s approach and treatment differ story-wise from the Korean classic, fans on platforms such as Reddit have been actively calling out the duplicity of scenes, which received polarizing responses. A user commented, “Why can’t the makers promote it as a remake instead of insulting the audience’s intelligence?” While another pointed out, “I checked the Korean movie’s synopsis in Wikipedia and found it to be different from Saiyaara except for the Alzheimer’s plot.”
In fact, according to NDTV, Director Mohit Suri has also been previously taken cues from Korean films and tailored them for an Indian audience. Even his film Ek Villain (2014) is loosely based on neo-noir action thriller A Bittersweet Life (2005), with both films revolving around a morally ambiguous protagonist whose personal choices pit him against his own crime syndicate. It makes you wonder whether Suri was a K-content enthusiast before it became a global phenomenon.
It also raises the question: where does one draw the line between inspiration and plagiarism? While you let that thought marinate, here’s a list of Bollywood films adapted from their Korean counterparts, though mostly unofficially.
Radhe (2021)
Unofficial remake of: Outlaws (2017)
Inspired by the movie Outlaws, a critically acclaimed R-rated thriller, Radhe is an action film directed by Prabhudeva. Both films are about cops taking on drug-peddling miscreants. Salman Khan plays the eponymous Radhe, a heroic cop working towards cleaning up the deteriorating drug scene in Mumbai. An Indianized version of the gritty Korean original, Radhe received a mixed reception from audiences, particularly criticizing the over-the-top characterization of the Indian police, which was more believable in Outlaws thanks to Ma Dong-seok’s (Don Lee) portrayal. The supporting cast was akin to caricatures, and the dated dialogue didn’t help. Radhe relied heavily on Salman’s star power, leading to poor pacing and unrealistic plotlines.
Zinda (2006)
Unofficial adaptation of: Oldboy (2003)
Winner of the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and one of the greatest films of all time, Oldboy by Park Chan-wook is one of the first films that kick-started the unofficial Bollywood remake pipeline. Based on the Japanese manga of the same name, the film also had an American remake (2013). The lesser-known, unauthorized Hindi adaptation is Zinda, helmed by Sanjay Gupta in 2006. The story follows Balajeet Roy (Sanjay Dutt), who is imprisoned in a hotel room for 15 years without knowing the identity and motive of his captor. While Oldboy has a blend of mystery, crime, and a kick-ass martial arts sequence, Zinda fails to impress, despite following Oldboy’s narrative trajectory.
Dhamaka (2021)
Official remake of: The Terror Live (2013)
Dhamaka is the Hindi version of The Terror Live (2013). The adapted plotline follows the harrowing journey of Arjun Pathak (Kartik Aryan), a radio jockey and ex-journalist, who tries to make a deal with a terrorist threatening to blow up the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. While the Indian remake brought a fresh take on directorial grounds, it failed to capture the exhilaration, believability, and suspense generated by the ambitious news anchor Yoon Young-hwa (Ha Jung-woo) in the Korean counterpart’s one-room setup.
Barfi (2012)
Loosely inspired by: Oasis (2002)
This bittersweet romance drama has been popularly compared to Director Lee Chang-dong’s masterpiece Oasis (2002), which traces the blossoming relationship between Jong-du (Sol Kyung-gu), a man with a criminal past, and Gong-ju (Moon So-ri), a woman with cerebral palsy who faces societal ostracism. Despite this, they create their own versions of happiness and their very own love story. Their Indian equivalents are Murphy (Ranbir Kapoor), a deaf and mute man, and Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra), an autistic woman in the period rom-com Barfi, which achieved rave reviews for its engaging narrative, memorable OST, and standout performances.
Te3n (2016)
Official remake of: Montage (2013)
Focusing on a layered kidnapping and murder mystery set 15 years apart, T3en, helmed by Director Ribhu Dasgupta, is the official remake of the gripping Montage (2013), starring Uhm Jung-hwa, Kim Sang-kyung, and Song Young-chang, and directed by Jeong Keun-seob. Centered around a grandfather, a priest, and a police officer, the Hindi adaptation stars Amitabh Bachchan, Vidya Balan, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The source material follows a mother who, driven by her child’s tragic past, teams up with detectives to crack a new kidnapping case. Compared to the original movie—which got several accolades and awards, including the 50th Grand Bell Awards, where Uhm Jung-hwa won the Best Actress award—T3en garnered attention for its plot and performances but ultimately failed to gain the same level of traction and critical acclaim.
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