It began like a movie fantasy. Two young friends, struggling with money, dreaming of a better life. But unlike the film ‘Bunty Aur Babli’, this story ended with police sirens, not applause.
In Indore, an 18-year-old graphic designer and his woman friend, also 18, were arrested for stealing jewellery worth over ₹16 lakh. The duo, who had known each other since childhood, planned and carried out the theft after watching the popular 2005 con film starring Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji.
According to police, the theft took place on the night of December 22 in the Rau area of Indore. Gold, silver, and diamond jewellery were stolen from a shop with careful planning. After the crime, the pair fled to Bhopal, hoping to lie low.
But their escape did not last long. Police tracked them down and recovered all stolen jewellery.
During questioning, the man shared a story that reflects modern fear: job loss due to artificial intelligence. He told officers that he worked part-time as graphic designer at an IT company. He lost his job when the firm adopted AI tools. With no steady income and rising pressure, he said life became unbearable.
Both accused come from economically weak backgrounds. The film ‘Bunty Aur Babli’ made crime look easy, stylish, and rewarding. In real life, however, the duo soon discovered the harsh truth.
They tried selling the jewellery but failed. Buyers suspected something was wrong and refused to pay a fair price assuming the sellers were too young to own such valuables. Frustrated, the pair decided to wait until after Christmas to try again. Police arrested them before they could make another move.
Hobart Stalking case: When films blur boundaries
In many Bollywood films, persistence in love is shown as romance. The hero follows the woman, calls her repeatedly, refuses to give up, and eventually, she falls in love. But in real life, such behaviour can turn into fear and trauma.
In 2015, a Hobart magistrate court heard the case of Sandesh Baliga, a 32-year-old security guard who stalked two women over long periods, one for 18 months and another for four months.
Baliga, who came to Tasmania from India to study accounting, admitted that Bollywood movies shaped his thinking. He believed that if a man pursued a woman long enough, she would eventually say yes.
The court heard that Baliga sent excessive text messages, made repeated phone calls, and even approached the women in person. Over time, he began calling himself their boyfriend, even though the women had clearly not consented.
His lawyer argued that such behaviour was often shown as “normal” in Indian cinema and that Baliga did not understand the seriousness of his actions in an Australian legal context.
‘Rustom’ and the Nanavati case
Some stories refuse to fade. One such tale is the famous KM Nanavati vs State of Maharashtra, a real-life case from 1959 that continues to inspire films, including Akshay Kumar’s ‘Rustom’.
Kawas Manekshaw Nanavati was a decorated Indian Navy commander, living in Mumbai with his wife Sylvia and their three children. Their seemingly perfect life shattered when Sylvia confessed she was in love with Prem Bhagwan Ahuja, Nanavati’s friend.
According to Nanavati’s testimony, he confronted Ahuja and asked if he planned to marry Sylvia. Ahuja’s alleged reply, “Am I to marry every woman I sleep with?” enraged him.
Nanavati took his service revolver and fired three shots at Ahuja, killing him instantly. After the shooting, he did something that stunned the nation. He walked straight into a police station and confessed.
What followed was a legal drama like no other. The powerful Parsi community rallied behind Nanavati. Newspapers covered every detail. Public opinion was sharply divided.
Initially, a sessions court declared Nanavati not guilty. Bombay High Court overturned the verdict and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Supreme Court later upheld this decision.
Drishyam (2015): When the “perfect crime” turns deadly in Pune
In ‘Drishyam’, a man goes to extreme lengths to protect his family after a crime. But in Pune, one man used the movie not as entertainment but as manual.
In November 2025, Pune resident Samir Jadhav was arrested for allegedly murdering his wife Anjali.
Also Read: Drishyam 3: Tabu drives the drama, Rajat Kapoor confesses his role ‘has no arc’
Samir had first reported Anjali missing on October 28, claiming she had left home two days earlier to meet a friend. But CCTV footage told a different story. It showed Samir accompanying her during the same period.
During interrogation, Samir confessed.
Police revealed that Samir had been having an extra-marital affair. He also suspected Anjali of being involved with another man, leading to constant fights and jealousy.
What shocked investigators most was the level of planning. About a month before the murder, Samir rented a godown near Shindewadi. He installed a fabrication kiln there and quietly collected wood and fuel.
On October 26, he took Anjali out under the excuse of an outing. While they sat together eating bhel, he strangled her inside the godown.
He then burned her body in the kiln using the materials he had prepared weeks in advance. Afterward, he threw the ashes into a river and dismantled the kiln. The crime scene was washed carefully to destroy all evidence.
Police registered a case under Section 103 (murder) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Officers openly stated that Samir appeared inspired by ‘Drishyam’ believing he could erase all traces.
Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007): Delhi’s ‘Maya Gang’ dream shattered
For 23-year-old Sagar, cinema did not just inspire, it gave him new identity.
Obsessed with the gangster character Maya Dolas from ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’, Sagar adopted same alias and built his own gang in Delhi. He even named it the “Maya Gang.”
According to police, the influence went deep. Gang members were forced to get tattoos of the gang’s name as part of their initiation. Sagar wanted fear, respect, and a reputation just like his on-screen hero.
Reality caught up with him on a Monday night near the Sarita Vihar flyover.
Police had received a tip-off about Sagar’s movement. He was wanted in an armed robbery case in Amar Colony. Officers laid a trap around 11:45 pm.
When police tried to stop him, Sagar attempted to flee on his scooter. He abandoned it midway and opened fire at the police team. Officers returned fire in self-defence. One bullet struck Sagar in the leg.
He was rushed to Safdarjung Hospital, where doctors declared him out of danger. His dream of being a feared gangster ended not with cinematic slow motion but with handcuffs and hospital beds.
When reel life rewrites real life
These cases share a chilling common thread. Films that entertain millions can also mislead a few into believing crime is clever.
Cinema is powerful. It reflects society but also shapes it. When stories blur line between right and wrong, some viewers mistake fiction for guidance.
Behind every inspired crime lies a harsh truth. Real life does not offer retakes, background music, heroic justifications. It only delivers consequences.
And unlike movies, the ending is never glamorous.