What Bollywood can teach about English as a Lingua Franca

The primary goal of this paper is to highlight India’s global linguistic influence, focusing on English’s role in Bollywood and the ways Bollywood films can enrich English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) classrooms. English in India has evolved beyond its colonial past, becoming deeply woven into both individual and cultural identities. In this context, Bollywood emerges as a compelling medium through which to understand the modern, adaptive use of English and offers educators an opportunity to investigate how one of the world’s most influential media forms fluidly reinterprets English. Furthermore, by exploring Bollywood, students are encouraged to reflect on their own media environments and consider the role that English plays in shaping expression and cultural identity. This interplay between language and media not only illustrates the transformative power of English today but also invites learners to engage critically with the global narrative of self-expression.