Exclusive: REEL imitates REAL!

There is nothing more inspiring than reality. And so, it's no surprise when filmmakers opt to model their protagonists around the sometimes ambivalent but mostly fascinating lives of real-life personalities.

As opposed to bio-epics like Sarkar or Bandit Queen, which are considerably forthcoming and arguably factual in their tributes or study, these roles simply, bear a strong resemblance to the concerned individual in character.

If director Shyam Benegal's Smita Patil-starrer Bhumika was adapted from the memoirs of Marathi actress Hansa Wadkar, his later outing, Zubeidaa is said to be inspired from the life of its writer Khalid Mohammad's mother.

Tinnu Anand's influential politician act in Mani Ratnam's Bombay as well as Ram Gopal Varma's charismatic creation Subhash Nagre in Sarkar, and now Sarkar Raj, are also rumoured to be to be modelled around Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

While RGV denies it, speculation continues if Enron's former Vice-Chairman, Rebecca Mark-Jusbasche is the inspiration for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Anita Rajan in recent release Sarkar Raj. Let's take a look at other such alleged recent films :

Guru

Even as Mani Ratnam maintained a 'No, it is not based on Ambani's life.

It could be based on any businessman,' stance, it is widely believed that Guru is a fictional account of legendary industrialist and Reliance tycoon's Dhirubhai Ambani's rag-to-riches story.

Here, Abhishek Bachchan plays the infectiously enthusiastic and single-mindedly resolute Gurukant 'Gurubhai' Desai who believes in dreaming big and realising them too. While some junta find his modus operandi questionable, he goes by his own logic.

Chak De! India

Inspired by the real life incidents in hockey player turned coach Mir Ranjan Negi's life, Shimit Amin's Chak De! India was hailed by one and all.

After India's loss to Pakistan at the 1982 Asian Games, the goal-keeper was accused of accepting bribe to lose, and had to bear a great deal of humiliation.

His later success as coach of a girl's hockey team, which led them to grab a gold medal in 2003 Afro-Asian Games, came as much-needed vindication.

Shah Rukh Khan's critically and commercially acclaimed Kabir Khan in Chak De! India was modeled around Negi, who was actively involved in its making.

Shooutout at Lokhandwala

'Based on true rumours,' cried the tag-line of Apoorva Lakhia's Shootout at Lokhandwala.

The star-studded real-to-reel action saga recounts the events of November 1991 that led to an exchange of fire, between the cops and crooks, during broad day-light within suburban Mumbai.

And so while Sanjay Dutt gets under the skin of former Indian Police Service officer Aftab Ahmed Khan (who also does a cameo in the movie), Vivek Oberoi and Tusshar Kapoor become the face of terror as underworld hit-men Maya and Buwa.

Woh Lamhe

Mahesh Bhatt's fixation with former girlfriend, Parveen Babi and her mysterious, bizarre ways, is quite well-known.

Be it the neurotic Kavita (Smita Patil) of Arth, pitiable Pooja (Pooja Bhatt) of Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayi or clearly schizophrenic Sana (Kangana Ranaut) of Woh Lamhe, Babi has been the subject of several of his semi-autobiographical scripts.

In Woh Lamhe, Kangana plays Sana Azim, a successful actress suffering from extreme hallucination and depression whereas Shiney Ahuja pitches in as the sympathetic filmmaker, patterned around Bhatt himself.

Gangster

Anurag Basu's Gangster starring Shiney Ahuja, Kangana Ranaut & Emraan Hashmi revolves around a underworld guy and his unspoken affections for a girl he rescues, is rumoured to be influenced by gangster Abu Salem and starlet Monica Bedi's liason.

True or not, the nifty drama evoked wow responses from critics and audiences alike and turned newcomer Kangana into Bollywood's discovery of 2006.

Ab Tak Chappan

Shimit Amin's penchant for realism is evident in his directorial debut itself.

His sharply helmed, Ab Tak Chappan features Nana Patekar as Crime Branch cop Sadhu Agashe, reportedly structured around encounter specialist Daya Nayak.

Amin, however, is noncommittal about his research, 'We met many encounter specialists.'

Satya, Company

Before distorting beloved screen characters in his re-telling of Shiva and Sholay, Ram Gopal Varma did a commendable job of exploring the dark belly of Mumbai underworld.

The complex, compelling and cheerful temperament of his characters in Satya -- Bhiku and Pyaari Mhatre (played by Manoj Bajpai and Shefali Shah in Satya), is suspected to be role-modelled around gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli and wife Asha.

Company, his sleek follow-up to the visceral Satya, featuring Ajay Devgan and Vivek Oberoi as warring mobsters is reportedly inspired by the rivalry between mafia folk Dawood Ibrahim and his erstwhile aide, Chota Rajan.