'Shashank' to 'House of Gucci': Movies based on high-profile death cases

Headline-making incidents make detectives out of most of us and get us sniffing out evidence and solve crimes to bring the bad guys to justice. At a time when the Delhi HC has junked Sushant Singh Rajput's family plea to bar anyone from making movies and shows about the late actor without their consent, we've rounded up a list of some other high-profile death cases that inspired films. With great plotlines and engaging storylines, packed with suspense and devious characters, these crime dramas, based on true stories will keep you glued to the screen. Take a look:

Aarya Babbar surprised everyone when he unveiled the poster of his next film titled ‘Shashank’ that raised a lot of objection. While Sushant's sister Shweta Singh Kirti went ahead and called for a boycott of the film, and even went the legal route to prevent any other filmmakers from making movies based on her brother's life, the Delhi High Court dismissed the family's petition and refused a stay on films, including 'Shashank', 'Nyay: The Justice' and 'Suicide or Murder: A star Was Lost' purportedly based on SSR's tragic story.

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After a smashing performance in 'A Star Is Born', Lady Gaga will aim for Oscar glory once again with the upcoming biographical crime film 'House of Gucci', directed by Hollywood legend Ridley Scott. The movie will see Gaga take on the role of Patrizia Reggiani, the ex-wife of Maurizio Gucci (played by Adam Driver), the grandson of the Gucci fashion house founder Guccio Gucci. As tabloids state, Reggiani was abandoned after 12 years of marriage by Maurizio Gucci in 1985 for a younger woman. She was tried and convicted of orchestrating Gucci's assassination on the steps of his office in Italy in 1995. She got the nickname the Black Widow during the trial and served 18 years before being released from prison in 2016.

Pic: Lady Gaga Instagram

'Sridevi Bungalow' was mired in controversy for obvious reasons. If it wasn't the use of late actress Sridevi's name in the title, then it would have to be a certain bathtub scene that seemed to irk everyone. Despite repeated assurance from producers and actors that the film had no connection whatsoever to the late actress and her shocking demise, nor the stories revolved around her "accidental drowning" the audience seemed determined to steer clear of this one. The film follows the story of an actress (played by Priya Varrier), who goes to London for a shooting where an event occurs that changes her life.

The critically acclaimed film 'The Dirty Picture' starring Vidya Balan as Silk Smitha is one exceptional Bollywood film in this genre. Chronicling the rise of the Indian actress from being an extra on the sets to becoming the leading lady, captivating the fancies of all her viewers. However, her time under the spotlight was short-lived when she was found dead on her bed in what was later declared to be an apparent suicide. Whether it was a suicide or a romance gone sour, financial troubles or murder--doubts continue to cast a shadow over the case.

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There are more than just two sides to a story, and director Meghna Gulzar put it out all too well in her 2015 film 'Talvar'. The thriller was based on the double murder of Arushi Talvar and domestic help Hemraj Banjade that gripped the nation in 2008. Although the character names were changed, the film won critical acclaim for its "authentic" cinematic portrayal of the grisly crimes. Not just that, it turned the tables on the authorities dealing with the case that is to date one of the most infamous unsolved mysteries.

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Nothing makes for a good crime story than an exceptional cover-up. The Raj Kumar Gupta film 'No One Killed Jessica' brought to the big screen the horrors of a cover-up of murdered model Jessica Lal. The film had Rani Mukerji and Vidya Balan play a journalist and a grieving sister respectively as they go up against the rich and mighty while seeking justice for Jessica. The film was both a commercial and critical success thanks to its chilling and very twisted plot.

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Director Hansal Mehta is credited for bringing to the big screen one of the most genuine and authentic films ever made in Hindi cinema, based on real-life murders. Starring Rajkummar Rao in the lead role, 'Shahid' told the story of activist-lawyer Shahid Azmi, who was assassinated in 2010. Besides the arresting story, gripping plot, it was Rao's epic performance that won this film critical acclaim and even fetched the leading man a National Award for his performance.

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America may have its 'The Ted Bundy Files', but Hindi cinema found the perfect crime story in the Prawaal Raman directorial starring Randeep Hooda and Richa Chadha--'Main Aur Charles'. The film was based on the true story of the ‘bikini killer’ Charles Sobhraj. Viewed from a single perspective, the film follows the trail of bodies left behind by the French serial killer.

Pic: Movie Still