Sports drama has evolved to become a significant and popular genre over the years in Indian cinema. With gripping narration and emotionally-packed storylines, Bollywood has offered some of the best sports movies that every cinema junkie will love.

Much like their documentary counterparts, good fictional sports-based movies also keep you on the edge of your seats with their story. Over the years, the genre has seen many great additions including sports movies like Shabaash Mithu, Rashmi Rocket, Saina and more on inspiring female athletes. However, only a few became memorable.

One of the biggest trademarks of a successful sports drama in Bollywood is its evergreen music. From Chak De! India‘s title track to Lagaan‘s “Chale Chalo”, the music from these movies has become fixtures at every patriotic gathering, stirring up a profound sense of patriotism and sportsmanship.

While we await the release of upcoming sports movies in Bollywood like Anushka Sharma-led Chakda ‘Xpress, inspired by the journey of Jhulan Goswami, take a look at our list of the 11 best sports movies in Bollywood.

The ranking evaluates the emotional depth of the movie, the authenticity in the depiction of the sport, the storyline, music and performances.

Here’s a ranking of the 11 best sports movies in Bollywood

1. Chak De! India (2007)

IMDb rating: 8.1
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Vidya Malvade and Shilpa Shukla
Director: Shimit Amin
Runtime: 2 hours and 33 minutes
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube

First on the list of the best sports movies in Bollywood is Chak De! India. The film was ahead of its time with its subtle exploration of women’s empowerment while ticking off all the boxes of a pure sports movie with the right amount of Bollywood spice.

Chak De! India follows the story of Kabir Khan (Shah Rukh Khan), once-celebrated captain of India’s Hockey team, who is now labelled a traitor by the media and disgraced by the nation. Determined to clear his name years later, he agrees to coach the Indian women’s hockey team. Kabir not only coaches them on the field but also teaches them several life lessons on patriotism, teamwork and friendship along the way.

The film is a thrilling attempt at breaking stereotypes against female athletes and successfully made a cultural impact in the country. SRK’s sincerity in playing Kabir intensifies the fast-paced narration of the movie. The hockey games are exhilarating to watch, thanks to the beautifully executed cinematography and direction.

Not to mention the A+ soundtrack composed by Salim–Sulaiman. From the electrifying title track “Chak De! India” to the melancholic track “Maula Mere Le Le Meri Jaan”, the evergreen music will give you goosebumps. The thrilling matches, emotional depth, top-notch soundtrack as well as well-written characters make Chak De! India the best sports movie in Bollywood of all time.

2. Lagaan (2001)

IMDb rating: 8.1
Cast: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh and Rachel Shelley
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Runtime: 3 hours 44 minutes

This is one of the most iconic films in Bollywood for many reasons. Apart from its inspiring theme of patriotism, the Aamir Khan-starrer also adds entertaining elements of music, comedy and emotional depth.

Set in the British Raj, a small village called Champaner is facing the cruelty of the British Empire due to the heavy taxes imposed on them. Captain Andrew Russel (Paul Blackthorne) challenges Bhuvan (Aamir Khan) and his friends to a match of cricket. If the villagers win, the British will waive their taxes for the next three years. However, losing the match will result in taxes increasing threefold.

Lagaan is a cinematic gem in Bollywood that tells an inspiring story of underdogs hitting it out of the park. The vibrant characters, gripping narration, and evergreen music by A.R. Rahman along with the masterfully captured essence of cricket make the film the perfect sporting saga.

Lagaan, the maiden project of Aamir Khan Productions, also put India on the global map by becoming the third film from the country to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film after Mother India (1957) and Salaam Bombay! (1988).

3. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)

IMDb rating: 8.2
Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor and Pavan Malhotra
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Runtime: 3 hours 6 minutes
Where to watch: Prime Video

Farhan Akhtar shouldered Bhaag Milkha Bhaag‘s excellence in cinema like the legendary Milkha Singh single-handedly shouldered India’s glory as a track athlete.

The Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra directorial is a biographical sports drama that sprints through the challenging yet inspiring life of the Flying Sikh. Filled with triumphs, failures and struggles, the life of the legendary sprinter is nothing short of exceptional.

From getting separated from his family during the India-Pakistan partition to winning international accolades for his country, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag manages to capture every exhilarating essence of Singh’s life. Akhtar, who plays the titular role, delivers his career-best performance in the movie.

It is far from easy to replicate the physique of one of the greatest athletes of all time. Akhtar’s discipline and dedication towards the movie are evident throughout the stunning shots of him on the field. Omprakash Mehra remarkably captures the emotional depth of the film through a compelling narrative.

The soundtrack provided by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy matches the thrilling tempo of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’s gripping narration and compels the viewers to resonate with Singh’s passion and struggles.

4. Dangal (2016)

IMDb rating: 8.3
Cast: Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Sheikh and Sana Malhotra
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
Runtime: 2 hours 21 minutes
Where to watch: Prime Video

The inspiring sports drama strikes the right emotional chord by depicting an unorthodox yet beautiful father-daughter relationship.

The biographical drama is based on the true story of Mahavir Singh Phogat (Aamir Khan), an ex-wrestler who trains his daughters, Geeta (Fatima Sana Sheikh) and Babita (Sanya Malhotra), as wrestlers against all societal norms and stereotypes. From cutting their hair off to extreme training sessions, Mahavir shapes them into international athletes who go on to put India on the global map in the world of wrestling.

The film also focuses on the lives of Geeta and Babita, who not only endure excruciatingly difficult training but also the scrutiny and scepticism of their conservative village. Dangal is a powerful sports drama that tackles themes of gender equality and determination with a finesse of perfectly executed wrestling choreographies.

The invigorating soundtrack, consisting of songs like “Dhaakad”, “Dangal” and “Naina” perfectly captures the essence of a wrestler and their raw power on the mat.

5. Mukkabaaz (2018)

IMDb rating: 8
Cast: Vineet Kumar Singh, Zoya Hussain, Ravi Kishan and Jimmy Shergill
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Runtime: 2 hours 34 minutes
Where to watch: JioCinema

Much like the athlete in the movie, Mukkabaaz (The Brawler) also went through great hurdles before releasing in theatres. The film was rejected by many producers before Aanand L. Rai’s Colour Yellow Productions picked it up.

The adrenaline-pumping sports drama dives deep into the gritty world of boxing as underdog boxer Shravan Kumar Singh (Vineet Kumar Singh) fights against all odds to become the national champion. Meanwhile, he has to dodge vicious jabs from Bhagwan Das Mishra (Jimmy Shergill), a ruthless boxing federation head, who is hell-bent on destroying his career.

Apart from capturing the essence of boxing, the film also sheds light on the corruption, nepotism and casteist politics at the core of games. The romantic element in the film adds to the complete Bollywood package delivered by Mukkabaaz.

The thrilling performances make the hard-hitting blend of sports with socio-political commentary even better. The explosive soundtrack, composed by Nucleya and Rachita Arora, matches the energetic rhythm of the boxers in the ring fighting for the title.

6. Chandu Champion (2024)

IMDb rating: 8.1
Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Vijay Raaz and Bhuvan Arora
Director: Kabir Khan
Runtime: 2 hours 22 minutes
Where to watch: Prime Video

Kartik Aaryan delivers his career-best performance in the biographical drama, Chandu Champion. It is based on the true story of India’s first Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar.

The movie chronicles the life of Murli (Kartik Aaryan) and his journey to earning the moniker of ‘Champion’. Hailing from a small village, Murli battles numerous obstacles in life including financial hardships and lack of support. However, his resilience successfully lands him in a boxing ring where he represents India on international stages.

The film soulfully captures the triumphs and defeats of the athlete who suffers life-threatening injuries but never loses his fighting spirit. Aaryan’s physical transformation is remarkable and a reflection of the years of dedication towards the film. The gripping storyline blended with the emotional depth of an underdog story makes Chandu Champion one of the best sports movies in Bollywood.

7. Mary Kom (2014)

IMDb rating: 6.8
Cast: Priyanka Chopra and Darshan Kumar
Director: Omung Kumar
Runtime: 2 hours 2 minutes
Where to watch: Netflix

Starring Priyanka Chopra in the titular role, Mary Kom is well-crafted and executed with sincerity.

It chronicles the life of six-time World Amateur Boxing Champion, Mangte Chungneijang ‘Mary’ Kom. Hailing from a small village, the athlete went against her family to chase her dream of becoming a boxer. The film perfectly manages to capture her stubborn attitude and relentless pursuit of victory.

The script not only focuses on her journey to the top but also the hurdles she faced by going against the corrupted federation. It also highlighted one of the biggest battles a female athlete faces — maintaining her family life with her boxing career. The inspiring sports drama packs an emotional punch as we resonate with Mary Kom‘s struggle to bounce back into the world of boxing after becoming a mother.

The thrilling soundtrack like “Ziddi Dil”, “Sukoon Mila” and “Salaam India” composed by duo Shashi Suman and Shivamm Pathak, perfectly matches the ups and downs depicted in the film.

8. Iqbal (2005)

IMDb rating: 8.1
Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Girish Karnad and Shreyas Talpade
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor
Runtime: 2 hours 12 minutes
Where to watch: Prime Video, YouTube

Iqbal is one of the most underrated sports dramas in Bollywood. The cinematic excellence paired with soul-stirring performances by the actors makes it a remarkable watch.

Directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, the inspiring drama centres around the life of a young, deaf-mute boy named Iqbal (Shreyas Talpade). He has a peculiar wish to play for the Indian national cricket team. Iqbal not only has to overcome the obstacle of being differently abled but also goes against his father who believes cricket is nothing more than a waste of time.

His life takes a turn when he meets Mohit (Naseeruddin Shah), a former cricketer-turned-alcoholic. He agrees to coach Iqbal after witnessing his raw talent and potential. The film then highlights the unique training methods Mohit uses for Iqbal. The duo also face hurdles from corrupt federations who play dirty politics to break Iqbal’s dreams.

Iqbal is a cinematic gem that beautifully blends the thrill of the sport with the resilience of the human spirit. The strategic narration adds to the emotional depth of the movie, facilitating the audience to resonate with Iqbal’s journey.

9. M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016)

IMDb rating: 8
Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Disha Patani and Kiara Advani
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Runtime: 3 hours 10 minutes
Where to watch: Disney Plus Hotstar, YouTube

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the best and most loved cricketers in India. Making a biopic on the athlete was a high-stakes bet that Sushant Singh Rajput eventually won.

M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story offers a detailed account of Dhoni’s life — from accidentally starting to play cricket to losing the love of his life to a tragic accident. Dhoni starts his career as a railway ticket collector, as per his father’s wishes. However, he gives it up to chase his dreams of becoming a cricketer.

The movie delves into his triumphs as a cricketer and also sheds light on his challenges. The well-crafted biopic along with Sushant Singh Rajput’s soul-stirring performance won many hearts. It successfully balances the thrill of cricket with the emotional depth of the cricketer’s journey.

10. 83 (2021)

IMDb rating: 7.5
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Pankaj Tripathi, Tahir Raj Bhasin and more
Director: Kabir Khan
Runtime: 2 hours 45 minutes
Where to watch: Disney Plus Hotstar, Netflix

In a country where cricket is worshipped like a religion, not many were aware of the dramatic journey of the OG players who were once underdogs.

The biographical sports drama chronicles the journey of Kapil Dev-led team India leading to the golden day in Indian cricket — the 1983 Cricket World Cup victory. The story highlighted hurdles like inadequate financial support, discouragement and failures faced by the players.

83 blends the elements of emotional depth with charismatic narration to capture the thrilling cricket sequences in the film. There is also remarkable attention to detail while recreating historic matches. The film’s cinematography paired with songs like “Lehra Do” will take you back in time.

11. Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007)

IMDb rating: 5.7
Cast: Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji
Director: Siddharth Anand
Runtime: 2 hours 36 minutes
Where to watch: Prime Video

Adding Ta Ra Rum Pum to our best sports movies in Bollywood list might spark polarising opinions. However, adding the movie about the legendary racer Rajveer Singh is essential.

Ta Ra Rum Pum is a comfort film for many. The hit on-screen pairing of Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji offers an emotionally charged film with a tinge of Bollywood elements.

It follows the story of RV, a successful racer who meets with an accident that brings his career to a standstill. The family then faces dire financial hardships while they deal with the loss of their luxurious lifestyle.

Ta Ra Rum Pum is a heart-warming and entertaining Bollywood movie that blends elements of sports to add depth to the narration.

(Header and feature image courtesy: IMDb/Chak De! India, Mary Kom and Lagaan)