Amish Tripathi calls out Bollywood, says they misrepresent history: 'We think Khilji looks like Ranveer Singh, Akbar like Hrithik Roshan'

Author Amish Tripathi has taken aim at Bollywood for distorting history, arguing that films often glamorize invaders by casting popular stars in their roles. Speaking at the launch of his latest book The Chola Tigers: Avengers of Somnath in Mumbai, he said such portrayals blur the line between foreign rulers and native communities, leaving audiences with a skewed sense of the past.

Misleading depictions of rulers

At the launch, Amish criticised the way history is depicted in textbooks and films, saying Bollywood has fueled misconceptions by portraying rulers like Khilji, Akbar, and Aurangzeb as resembling popular actors. He noted that these figures were from Central Asia and would have looked very different from their on-screen depictions.

Language and identity distortions

Amish also stressed that rulers like Khilji and Akbar never spoke Urdu, which developed much later in India.

Instead, their languages were Turkish or Persian. He argued that unlike the portrayal of British rulers in films, who are shown as distinctly foreign, Bollywood often depicts figures like Khilji speaking Urdu through Indian actors, making them appear more relatable and homegrown — a portrayal he believes is historically misleading.

Impact on perception of invasions

The author argued that such portrayals blur the distinction between invaders and native communities, often leading to invasions being wrongly linked with Indian Muslims instead of foreign rulers.

He emphasized that these figures, like the British, were outsiders — a fact frequently overlooked in history books and popular culture.With The Indic Chronicles — beginning with Legend of Suheldev and now The Chola Tigers — Amish seeks to highlight stories of courage and resistance, which he describes as the greatest resistance in human history. He emphasized the importance of unity, noting that India’s ancestors fought for 1,300 years to preserve their culture, and that their legacy deserves pride rather than neglect.