Controversy Erupts as Kiran Rao’s ‘Laapata Ladies’ Faces Plagiarism Allegations

‘Laapataa Ladies’ (2023), Kiran Rao’s critically acclaimed film has come under intense scrutiny. This comes after a viral video on social media sparked plagiarism claims. Following which the social media users started pointing out the striking similarities between both the films.

According to netizens, the Indian film ‘Laapataa Ladies’ and the 2019 Arabic short film, ‘Burqa City’ have a similar storyline. The film was produced by Aamir Khan, it hit theaters on March 1, 2024. Following its release it was lauded for its unique narrative, characters and storyline.

Kiran Rao’s Lapata Ladies, India’s official entry to the Oscars and projected as an original work, actually seems heavily inspired by a 2019 short film titled Burqa City.

Set in Middle East, the 19 min film follows a newlywed man whose wife gets exchanged due to identical… pic.twitter.com/b7GcHN2MmI

— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) March 31, 2025

 ‘Laapataa Ladies’ was also selected as India’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars. However, now the online controversy has erupted following a comparison between the two films. The netizens once in awe with the film are now questioning the originality of Laapataa Ladies.

The Plot Similarities

According to media reports, both films revolve around a similar plot line. Both films involve a newlywed man who mistakenly brings home the wrong woman mistaking her as his wife. This happens after she is swapped with someone else wearing the same burqa in ‘Burqa City’ and Ghunghat in ‘Laapataa ladies’.

The short film ‘Burqa City’

Burqa City, the short film was directed by Fabrice Bracq. The film portrays a newlywed man embarking on a frantic search for his wife after she is swapped with another woman in a burqa. The 19-minute satirical short film critiques patriarchal societies, gender-based restrictions, and the erasure of women’s identities in villages.

A similar Storyline in ‘Laapataa Ladies’

Similarly, in the movie Laapataa Ladies, two Indian brides are accidentally swapped during a train journey. Later their husbands track them down, leading to a series of unexpected twists and turns of events. The plot structure in both films involves the mix-up of women. This has led many viewers to question whether Rao’s film was “inspired” or “copied” from Burqa City.

Social Media Reactions

All this began, after a viral video comparing the two films ignited debates on social media. Some users started accusing Laapataa Ladies of plagiarism. Meanwhile others argued that it was simply inspired and not copied by the earlier film.

Previous Plagiarism Claims

However, this is not the first time ‘Laapataa Ladies’ has been accused of plagiarism. Filmmaker Ananth Mahadevan in July 2024, claimed the film’s premise bore a striking resemblance to his 1999 TV movie ‘Ghunghat Ke Pat Khol’. He stated that his movie also featured a storyline about brides being swapped at a railway station.

Meanwhile, despite the growing controversy, Laapataa Ladies garnered attention for its rural Indian setting in 2001, its engaging narrative, and its eventual success on Netflix.