Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies accused of plagiarising Arabic film Burqa City, netizens say, ‘We send copied film to Oscars and end up with egg on face’

Another striking similarity between the two films is the portrayal of a police officer and a police station scene. In Burqa City, the police officer laughs dismissively without any sign of concern when shown a photograph of the protagonist’s wife, who is unrecognizable due to being fully covered in a burqa. Similarly, in Laapataa Ladies, Ravi Kishan’s character reacts in the same way when Deepak approaches him with a photo of his veiled wife.
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Burqa City’s synopsis read as, “In a city in the Middle East, where the full burqa is imposed on women, a young married couple gets into an argument. When everything seems to be resolved, however, the young man discovers he has come home with the wrong woman.”

Netizens have expressed disappointment upon noticing the similarities between the two films, especially since Laapataa Ladies was held in high regard. One user wrote, “If Rao’s film indeed mirrors key aspects of Burqa City, it raises valid questions about originality and the fine line between inspiration and imitation. While it’s possible that Rao took inspiration from the short film, the core message about patriarchy, societal norms, and the loss of identity is universal and worth exploring. However, recognizing the source of inspiration is essential, especially when it comes to international recognition like the Oscars.”

One more comment read, “He just changed burqa to ghoonghat. Bollywood, particularly the Khans, lacks originality and negatively impacts how Western countries perceive India.” Other comments were also on similar lines, ” I don’t understand why the powers-that-be don’t do their due diligence before sending such plagiarized films to Oscars, where they get rejected and we end up with egg on our faces.”

Apart from being India’s official entry to the Oscars, Laapataa Ladies also won the award for Best Story (Original) at IIFA 2025. Directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Aamir Khan, the film has received widespread praise. However, the makers are yet to address the plagiarism allegations.