15 Interesting Facts About Bollywood You Probably Didn’t Know

Bollywood. That’s one word for a multi-million dollar business that rules our hearts. Rarely do we know what goes on behind the camera, and what it takes to make a film- it’s so much more than blood, sweat, and tears. It’s an art.

Here are a few facts about Bollywood you probably didn’t know.

1. In the film ‘Heroine’, Kareena Kapoor wore over 130 different dresses made by designers from all around the globe

Kareena’s wardrobe for the film was one of the most expensive out of all the movies ever made in Bollywood, with one of her dresses costing 1.5 crore.
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2. Lagaan was the first Indian film to be released in China

It was dubbed and premiered in Shanghai, Beijing.
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3. The song ‘Choli Ke Peeche’ was protested against by a large number of political parties

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4. ‘Kaho Naa…Pyar Hai’ was added to the Guinness Book of World Records 2002 edition

The movie won a total of 92 awards, the most number for any Bollywood film in History.
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5. ‘Salaam Bombay’ (1988) won the Golden Camera and Audience Awards at the Cannes Film Festival

This film directed by Mira Nair was also the 2nd Indian film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
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6. The entire film of ‘Ra One’ cost $27 million, making it the most expensive movie ever produced in Bollywood

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7. After ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ was released, there was a 32% increase in Indians visiting Spain

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8. “Mere Khwaboon Mein Jo Aaye” was the first song to be recorded for Dil Wale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge

Aditya Chopra rejected 24 verses by Anand Bakshi before approving the final (current) one.
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9. Until 1990, Amitabh Bachchan was the only star paid in crores

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10. Indian films are screened in over 90 countries

And North America generates 25% of Bollywood’s overseas box office revenue.
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11. K Asif only directed two films in his life, the second being Mughal-e-Azam

The third, Love And God, was left unfinished when he died at age of 48.
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12. Sridevi played Rajnikanth’s stepmother in a film when she was 13 years old

She played the character in a Tamil film called ‘Moondru Mudichu’.

 

13. Ghajini was the first film to have crossed 100 crores in the Box Office

And 3 Idiots was the first film to cross 200 crores in the domestic domain.
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14. Kalki Koechlin’s great-grandfather was the chief engineer for the construction of the Eiffel Tower

His name was Maurice Koechlin, and he was also in charge for the construction of the Statue of Liberty.
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15. Raj Kapoor was a figure of optimism in Russia

During the second world war, Russia was in a terrible state- people dead, starvation was on the rise and the whole country was devastated. When the Russian people saw greater hardships being faced by the poor in a country after watching Awaara, with a smile, it gave them optimism. And hence, he became the face of optimism in Russia.
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For more such amazing facts about India, tune-in to Vital Stats of India every Friday, 9PM on HISTORY TV18.

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