‘Laapataa Ladies’ Faces Copying Remark With 2018 Arabic Flim ‘Burqa City’
Kiran Rao’s acclaimed film Laapataa Ladies, India’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars, has landed in a copying controversy after netizens pointed out striking similarities with the 2019 Arabic short film Burqa City. A viral video from the latter has sparked debates online, with many questioning the originality of Rao’s Bollywood directorial.
The controversy erupted when a clip from Burqa City surfaced on social media, showing a newlywed man searching for his wife after she is mistakenly swapped with another woman in a burqa. This plot mirrors Laapataa Ladies, where two brides are exchanged during a train journey in rural India, prompting a similar quest.
Social media users quickly reacted to the parallels. One wrote, “Nothing that Bollywood produces seems to be an original work of art. They are all brazenly copy-pasted from somewhere else, shamelessly billed as original work.” Another added, “Copying in India. Not a new concept.”
While some criticized the alleged copying, others expressed mixed feelings. A user commented, “Abhi kuch nahi ho sakta..I was under the impression that it was original..good that this movie gave one beautiful song Sajni re by Arijit,” reflecting disappointment tempered by appreciation for the film’s music.
Released on March 1, 2024, Laapataa Ladies stars Sparsh Shrivastava, Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goel, and Ravi Kishan. Set in rural India in 2001, the film follows the chaos that ensues when two brides are swapped on a train. It marked Kiran Rao’s return to directing after Dhobi Ghat.
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Before its theatrical release, Laapataa Ladies premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2023, earning a standing ovation. Celebrities like Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra praised its storytelling. Later, it was selected as India’s Oscar submission for 2025.
The film was produced under Aamir Khan Productions and Kindling Productions, with Rao at the helm. It gained widespread acclaim for its fresh narrative and strong performances, making the current allegations a surprising twist in its celebrated run.
As of now, neither Kiran Rao nor the production team has addressed the copying claims. The similarities between Laapataa Ladies and Burqa City—a 19-minute satirical short by French filmmaker Fabrice Bracq—continue to fuel discussions online.
