Bollywood and Automobiles – Some of the best cars seen in Bollywood films

Cars have been used in movies ever since horseback chases stopped getting people excited and filmmakers haven’t looked back since. Movies today showcase some of the most exciting and fast-paced automobiles in the world and whether you’re watching an action-packed flick or a romance piece, you are almost certainly going to see a new or classic car. While Hollywood was known for introducing cars into their movies before anyone else, Bollywood movies have come a long way over the years and are now competing very closely with all other film industries. Let’s take a look at some of the most iconic cars used in Bollywood films.

Chalti ka Naam Gaadi

The 1958 comedy starring Kishore Kumar and his brothers is one of the most-watched Bollywood films in the world. The fact that “car” is mentioned in the name of the movie should indicate that cars had a critical appearance in the film. In fact, we got to see something quite exquisite – a 1928 Ford Model A. The coupe was seen throughout the movie and it is definitely a collector’s piece right now. Under the vintage hood of the Ford Model A was a 4.4-cylinder, 3.3L petrol engine that was mated to a 3-speed manual transmission system. The engine was capable of generating 40Ps of power which, at that time, was quite impressive.

1928 Ford Model A

Engine	3.3L, 4.4-Cylinder Petrol
Maximum Power	40BHP
Transmission	3-Speed Manual

Kashmir ki Kali

Sharmila Tagore and Shammi Kapoor teamed up for the romance blockbuster Kashmir ki Kali in 1964 and introduced the country to the 1948 Studebaker Commander Convertible in the process. Showcasing the vintage automobile in the popular song “Kahin Na Kahin”, we all got a glimpse of what the American and Canadian automobile industry is all about. The 1948 Studebaker Commander Convertible was powered by an In-Line petrol engine that had 6-cylinders, generated 94BHP, and had a displacement of 3700cc. It was a 5-seater car with 2 doors and a ragtop convertible design.

1948 Studebaker Commander Convertible

Engine	3700cc, 6-Cylinder, In-Line Petrol
Maximum Power	94BHP
Transmission	Manual

Aradhana

In India, the song, “Mera Sapno ki Rani” is widely popular and the actors, Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore were even more so. The film, a romantic drama piece named Aradhana, won Best Film at the 17^th Filmfare Awards. But we are a little more interested in the car that featured in the movie and especially in the song – a 1964 Willys Jeep CJ3B. The sturdy car was powered by a 2.2L “Hurricane” petrol engine with an output of 75Ps of power. The 4-cylinder engine came with 4-Wheel-Drive and was paired to a 3-speed manual transmission system. In India, the Willys Jeep was made by Mahindra – an obvious choice since they sell cars that provide excellent off-road performances.

1964 Willys CJ3B

Engine	2.2L Hurricane Petrol
Maximum Power	75BHP
Transmission	3-Speed Manual

Jewel Thief

While we are familiar with Chevrolet right now, the automobile manufacturer was quite popular in Bollywood dating back to the early ’60s. In fact, Chevrolet Impala was an extremely popular option for the bad guys in Bollywood films. However, in 1967, the movie Jewel Thief showcased the 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. The Tanuja and Dev Anand starred film is one of the classics and one of the songs, “Ye Dil Na Hota Bechara” features the Bel Air convertible. Under the hood, the Bel Air houses a 4.3L V8 petrol engine that was capable of generating 162Ps of power. As you can tell, that number is significantly higher than most of the cars that were available at that time. The 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air quickly became one of the most 2nd hand cars around the world thanks to what it had to offer.

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

Engine	4.3L, 8-Cylinder V8 Petrol
Maximum Power	162BHP
Transmission	Manual

Haathi Mere Saathi

As mentioned earlier, the Chevrolet Impala was one of the most popular cars that were used in Bollywood. Haathi Mere Saathi is by far, one of the biggest movies to come out of the Indian film industry. Rajesh Khanna, the lead actor in the film, uses an elephant to help his co-star Tanuja and her 1958 Chevrolet Impala in the popular track “Chal Chal Mera Haathi”. Powering the 1958 Impala was a 3.9L petrol engine that was paired to a 3-speed manual transmission. Given the fact that the Impala was so popular in the country at that time, we could imagine that it led to a number of RC transfers being prepared.

1958 Chevrolet Impala

Engine	3.9L, 6-Cylinder Petrol
Maximum Power	NA
Transmission	3-Speed Manual

Dil Chahta Hai

Dil Chahta Hai is probably one of the most-watched films in recent times even though it was released back in 2001. The movie is based around Saif Ali Khan, Aamir Khan, and Akshay Khanna's characters – 3 friends who decide to take a road trip to Goa. The car that gets them to their destination is a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL convertible and is seen throughout the movie as well. Housing a 3.0L petrol engine, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL produces an impressive 228BHP thanks to its 6-cylinders. Mated to the engine is a manual transmission that was quite commonly seen in the early 2000’s. For all those people interested in getting their hands on this classic model, a pre-owned car evaluation tool can come in handy to get the best deal on it.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

Engine	3.0L, 6-Cylinder Petrol
Maximum Power	228BHP
Transmission	Manual

Road

Released back in 2002, the film Road was one of the most anticipated Bollywood films in the country. The thriller was based around Vivek Oberoi and Antara Mali who were eloping and used a Tata Safari to do so. On the way, they pick up Manoj Bajpai, a hitch-hiker, and from there, the drama continues. The Safari used in the movie at the time was powered by a 2.0L turbocharged petrol engine that produced 90BHP. It was paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox and was one of the most powerful SUVs in the country at the time. If you are looking for a classic Tata Safari, a used car finder can help you get a hold of one anywhere in the country and at a reasonable price as well.

Tata Safari

Engine	2.0L Turbocharged petrol
Maximum Power	90BHP
Transmission	5-Speed Manual

Taarzan – The Wonder Car

While Taarzan – The Wonder Car was definitely not the biggest hit in movie theaters across the country, it brought attention to one of the most exciting and upcoming car manufacturers in India – Dilip Chhabria, better known as DC Design. The Wonder Car was actually a redesigned Toyota MR2 and was powered by a 2.2L petrol engine that generates 130BHP. It was also mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

DC-based on Toyota MR2

Engine	2.2L Petrol
Maximum Power	130BHP
Transmission	5-Speed Manual

3 Idiots

Back in 2009, 3 Idiots was arguably the biggest hit in Bollywood and continues to draw attention even today. The film stars Aamir Khan, Madhavan, Omi Vaidya, and Sharman Joshi with the latter three stars driving around in a red Volvo XC90 in an attempt to look for Aamir Khan. The SUV is featured during the films popular song “Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh” as the trio make their way to Leh. The Volvo XC90 is now available in India and is powered by a 2.4L diesel engine that generates 189Ps of power and is mated to a 4x4 drivetrain system. There is also a 3.2L petrol engine option for those who prefer petrol over diesel.

Volvo XC90

Engine	2.4L Diesel, 3.2L Petrol
Maximum Power	189BHP on Diesel
Transmission	4x4 Drivetrain

Aisha

As we entered the 2010’s, we saw newer cars and the latest technology enter the Bollywood industry as well. The 2010 film Aisha which starred Sonam Kapoor was one of the most popular romantic comedy-dramas in recent times. Sonam Kapoor, in the movie, is seen driving around in a 2010 yellow Volkswagen Beetle – the newer model which is based on Volkswagen’s Golf Platform. The car is powered by a 2.5L, 5-cylinder petrol engine that produces 150BHP and is paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The Beetle is also available with a 6-speed automatic transmission as an option.

2010 Volkswagen Beetle

Engine	2.5L Petrol
Maximum Power	150BHP
Transmission	5-Speed Manual, 6-Speed Automatic

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

With the automobile industry in India booming around the 2010’s, we saw an increase in showcasing the latest vehicles in Bollywood films. In the 2011 megahit Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, we saw Farhan Akhtar, Hrithik Roshan, and Abey Deol partaking in a road trip across Spain in a classic 1949 Buick Super Convertible. Powering the car is a 4.0L petrol engine that generates 120BHP and is paired to a 2-speed automatic transmission system.

1949 Buick Super Convertible

Engine	4.0L, 8-Cylinder Petrol
Maximum Power	120BHP
Transmission	2-Speed Automatic

War

Featuring some of the biggest names in the Bollywood industry such as Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, and Vaani Kapoor, the 2019 film War was definitely one of the most enthralling action movies of the decade. In the film, we were excited by the introduction of an Audi RB V10 Plus – a premium supercar that is powered by a 5.2L V10 petrol engine that is capable of generating 610Ps of power along with 570Nm of torque. The powerful engine is mated to a 7-speed DCT automatic transmission. Possibly one of the most powerful cars to have featured in Bollywood films, the Audi RB V10 is something to look out for in the coming months.

Audi RB V10 Plus

Engine	5.2L V10 Petrol
Maximum Power	610Ps
Transmission	7-Speed DCT Automatic

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

Although released back in 2001, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is still one of the biggest movies to have featured in the country as well as across the world. The movie starred some of the biggest names in the industry including Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Kajol, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, and Kareena Kapoor. But it is the Lamborghini Diablo that was featured in the movie that caught our eye the most. The Diablo is powered by a 5.7L V12 petrol engine that produces 492Ps of power and 580Nm of torque. Paired to the engine is a 5-speed manual transmission.

Lamborghini Diablo

Engine	5.7L V12 Petrol
Maximum Power	492BHP
Transmission	5-Speed Manual

Race

Action-thriller film Race was released back in 2008 and was the first of the Race series which starred Saif Ali Khan, Anil Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, and Bipasha Basu. The movie has a little of everything in it – betrayal, sibling rivalry, and intense passion. As the film was made in Dubai and Durban, we expected some exciting vehicles in it. One car that was particularly special was the 1993 Toyota Supra which was powered by a 3.0L In-Line petrol engine that generates 320BHP and 315Nm of torque. Paired to the engine is either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic gearbox.

1993 Toyota Supra

Engine	3.0L In-Line Petrol
Maximum Power	320BHP
Transmission	5-Speed Manual, 4-Speed Automatic

Race 3

The third installment of the Race franchise, Race 3, was a movie that most fans couldn’t wait for. The action thriller film that starred Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Bobby Deol to name a few of the stars. In the movie, we were given a glimpse of the Bugatti Veyron, a car most of us were already familiar with, but still excited to spot one in action in Bollywood. The Veyron is powered by an 8.0L W16 Quad-Turbocharged petrol engine that generates a mind-blowing 1001Ps of power and 1250Nm of torque. Mated to the engine is a 7-speed automatic gearbox that comes with 4-Wheel-Drive capabilities. At the time, the Bugatti Veyron was probably one of the biggest names in the automobile industry and is still considered one of the fastest vehicles in the world.

Bugatti Veyron

Engine	8.0L W16 Quad-Turbocharged Petrol
Maximum Power	1001Ps
Transmission	7-Speed Automatic

As we move forward in the automobile industry, the film industry also moves forward simultaneously. What we can expect in the near future is a lot more power and style in movies as well as in cars. Which was your favourite movie from the above-mentioned list and which was your favourite car from the list as well?