Legendary British author Jeffrey Archer, renowned globally for his gripping bestselling novels, enjoyed immense popularity in India, where his books found millions of readers. However, despite his deep appreciation for Indian culture and literature, his experience with the Hindi film industry—Bollywood—was riddled with friction. There was a time when the acclaimed author openly labeled parts of Bollywood as a "gang of thieves."
Direct Accusations Against Bollywood Filmmakers
During an interview in 2015, Jeffrey Archer expressed deep frustration with Bollywood, alleging that studios had lifted several of his books without seeking his permission or acquiring official rights. He specifically highlighted the 2011 romantic comedy 'Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl' and Rakesh Roshan's 1987 drama 'Khudgarz'.
Archer claimed that Maneesh Sharma's directorial 'Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl'—starring Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma—was heavily inspired by his 1976 novel 'Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less'. In his book, the victims who band together to trick a con artist were male, whereas the film adapted them into female characters. Similarly, he asserted that 'Khudgarz' drew its core inspiration from his iconic 1979 novel 'Kane and Abel'.
A Complex Bond with India Despite Industry Frustrations
Despite his grievances against certain elements within the Indian film fraternity, Archer's profound affection for India and its readership never waned. Over the years, several Indian producers approached him for official screen adaptations. Producer Sheetal Talwar acquired the rights for Archer's 1984 novel 'First Among Equals' and the short story collection 'A Twist in the Tale', while filmmaker Hansal Mehta explored rights for 'Kane and Abel'.
Archer's fascination with India ran so deep that in 2015 he even contemplated writing an eight-chapter book centered around a Bollywood actress. Although that project did not materialize, his massive readership and widespread book piracy cemented his legacy in India as the ultimate 'Lord of the Paperbacks'.
'The Freelance' does not independently verify the historical claims made in past interviews regarding literary adaptations. This report summarizes archived statements and public discussions regarding the author's legacy. Image/Content Credit: Respective archival media sources.
