Before Kangana Ranaut In Emergency, Watch Top 5 Onscreen Portrayals Of Indira Gandhi In Bollywood

A Look Back at Actresses Who Played Indira Gandhi on Screen

The upcoming movie Emergency, featuring Kangana Ranaut as former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has sparked a lot of interest. This film takes place during the controversial period of the Indian Emergency (1975-1977). But before Emergency hits theaters, let’s revisit some other actresses who have brought Indira Gandhi to life on screen.

1. Indu Sarkar (2017)

Supriya Vinod’s performance as Indira Gandhi in this movie was a hit with both critics and audiences. Indu Sarkar is set during the Emergency, and tells the story of a couple whose lives are upended by the political situation. The husband, a government worker, uses the Emergency to his advantage, while the wife takes a different path. The film also stars Neil Nitin Mukesh, Kirti Kulhari, and Anupam Kher. You can watch Indu Sarkar on Disney Plus Hotstar or Prime Video.

2. Bell Bottom (2021)

Lara Dutta’s portrayal of Indira Gandhi in the spy thriller Bell Bottom was a major talking point when the movie came out. People were especially interested in how she looked in the role. Bell Bottom itself was a success at the box office, starring Akshay Kumar, Vaani Kapoor, and Huma Qureshi. The movie is available to stream on Prime Video.

3. Sam Bahadur (2021)

Fatima Sana Shaikh played Indira Gandhi in this movie about the 1971 war with Pakistan. While the story resonated with audiences, some viewers felt Shaikh didn’t quite capture Indira Gandhi’s appearance. Sam Bahadur also stars Vicky Kaushal and Sanya Malhotra, and you can watch it on Zee5.

4. Thackeray (2019)

Avantika Akerkar’s performance as Indira Gandhi was praised by audiences in this biographical film about the rise of politician Bal Thackeray. The movie features Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the lead role and is available to watch on YouTube and AppleTV.

5. Bhuj: The Pride of India (2021)

Navni Parihar’s portrayal of Indira Gandhi received positive reviews in this war drama about the 1971 conflict with Pakistan. The film itself was a critical and commercial success, starring Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, and Sonakshi Sinha. Bhuj: The Pride of India is streaming on Disney Plus Hotstar.