Meta Bollywood Movies: 7 Actors Playing Themselves

‘The Shaukeens’  sees a star struck fan girl played by Lisa Haydon, obsessing over the Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar. It’s not an uncommon plot Iin Bollywood. But the best part here, is that Akshay Kumar actually stars in the comedy as an alcoholic version of himself. And reportedly, doesn’t pass up any opportunities to make fun of himself or his career in Bollywood. It wasn’t really one of the first meta Bollywood movies, and probably won’t be the last. So in his honor, here is a list of other meta Bollywood movies that had hilarious results.

Stars In Meta Bollywood Movies:

Juhi Chawla & Govinda in ‘Andaz Apna Apna’ (1994)

Andaz Apna Apna is already one of Bollywood’s funniest cult hits. In one of the funniest scenes from the movie, Amir Khan’s Amar dreams of meeting Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla. Chawla appears in the dream sequence as a sexy and seductive version of herself. And the hilarity continues as even Govinda, (Kill Dil) makes a brief appearance.

Salman Khan in ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’ (2009)

Salman Khan appears in this romantic comedy in a pretty hilarious meta-role in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Khan. When Ranbir Kapoor’s Prem tries to impress a girl saying he’s besties with Salman, the veteran actor shows up in a fun scene. The object of Prem’s affections is Katrina Kaif, and the inside joke of this scene is that Khan and Kaif were actually dating during the making of this movie.

Salman Khan (again) in Phata Poster Nikhla Hero (2013)

This is the 3rd Rajkumar Santoshi movie on this list, and has another Salman Khan appearance. While the other entries in this list are pretty funny, and this one is also meant to be so, it does not age well. Or rather, at all? In Phata Poster Nikla Hero, Shahid Kapoor’s character is dressed as a police officer and follows an SUV occupied by the Khan. Khan rudely awakens in his car and frantically wonders if his chauffeur has broken any traffic laws.

The reference is to the time that Khan allegedly ran over and killed people in an SUV; a crime that he has yet to be held accountable for, till this day. The scene is meant to make light of his situation, and in many ways it is pretty hilarious. That is, until you start thinking about the fact that someone actually died in the real life incident that this mocks.

Alia Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra & Karan Johar in ‘Genius Of The Year’ (2014)

Although not technically movie roles, many Bollywood stars take part in this satirical video based on Alia Bhatt’s perceived dumb-ness after a disastrous appearance on the Talk Show Koffee With Karan. The video further mocks Bhatt, and documents her journey at a ‘brain gym’, which helps her get over her intellectual faux pas. The video is one of the very few self deprecating roles that Bollywood stars to have done. Especially given that it’s based off of an actual incident that’s been tabloid fodder. The other stars also take a few pot shots at themselves. The video was part of the AIB series of parodies that they often do with Bollywood start who can take a joke.

Can you think of any other examples of meta Bollywood movies?

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