Adapting literary works for cinema often requires creative liberties to suit audience preferences or cinematic constraints. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty transforms Thurber’s satirical introspection into a commercially viable narrative aimed at aspirational middle-aged audiences worldwide-a trend prevalent in global filmmaking today. For India, this serves as a lesson for filmmakers venturing into adaptations: respecting foundational tones while balancing cultural outreach is crucial to ensure authenticity without alienating intended viewers.