Many Bollywood film producers have been accused by writer and former Conservative MP, Jeffrey Archer of stealing story lines from his novels, without his permission.
Archer's novels are best-sellers in India but he's spoken of the problems that he has with the Bollywood film industry.
When asked by an Indian news website on whether his films could be adapted to make Hollywood thrillers, Archer lashed out, saying, “Well forget Hollywood, just look at your Bollywood! These bunch of thieves have stolen several of my books without so much as a 'by-your-leave'."
He mentioned films, such as the 2011 Yash Raj Film, Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl, which was similar to his novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less (1979).
Another film he accused of being plagiarised is the 1987 film, Khudgarz, directed by Rakesh Roshan. He claimed the film plagiarised the story line from his 1979 novel, Kane and Abel.
He stated that there were many other films which had taken his story lines, hence, he is at present looking for Bollywood film companies who would be interested in buying the rights for the first book in his Clifton Chronicles Series, Only Time Will Tell. However, his previous experience with his work being plagiarised has left him bitter and cautious of Bollywood producers. Speaking on finding Bollywood film companies to buy the rights for his novel, he lamented, “... and that does not mean some second rate Bollywood idiot who goes around saying he's a Bollywood star producer and then he is not! Such has been my Indian experience many times.”
