‘Laapataa Ladies’ Writer Denies Plagiarism Allegations, Calls Story “100% Original
Biplab Goswami, the writer behind Kiran Rao’s critically-acclaimed film Laapataa Ladies, has strongly refuted recent allegations of plagiarism surrounding the film’s storyline. The controversy erupted after a clip from the 2019 Arabic short film Burqa City went viral on social media, prompting users to point out similarities between the two narratives.

In Burqa City, the plot centers around a newlywed man searching for his wife after she is mistakenly swapped with another woman wearing a burqa—an element that some viewers claim resembles the premise of Laapataa Ladies.

Responding to the online chatter, Goswami issued a firm denial, stating that the film’s plot and characters are entirely original.

“Our story and characters are 100 percent original. Any similarities are purely coincidental,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

Directed by Kiran Rao and backed by Aamir Khan Productions, Laapataa Ladies has been widely praised for its unique storytelling, rural backdrop, and social commentary. The film follows the journey of two young brides who get separated during a train journey, leading to a humorous and heartfelt exploration of identity, freedom, and womanhood in rural India.

While Laapataa Ladies continues to garner acclaim from both critics and audiences, the filmmakers maintain that the story is rooted in original thought and has no connection to Burqa City or any other pre-existing work.

As the debate unfolds online, the makers have chosen to let the film speak for itself, confident in the authenticity of their creation.