The relationship between Bollywood and romance has been going on since ages. With every film we see, we all learn a new definition of love, from Kuch Kuch Hota hai we learnt ‘Pyaar dosti hai’ and from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil we learnt about ‘Ek tarfa pyaar ki taakat’. We have seen a vast difference on how filmmakers are defining love and how the audience is actually relating to the characters.
So to make you a little love sick this Valentine's Day, we bring you a list of Bollywood romantic movies you should definitely watch.
1. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani directed by Ayan Mukherji, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Kalki Koechlin and Aditya Roy Kapur. This film was a full entertainer, be it the storyline, songs, casting or the chemistry between Ranbir and Deepika, the film was loved by the audience. The story revolves around Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor) and Naina (Deepika Padukone), and how they meet in two different but important life stages, and fall in love. We love how this film celebrates love and friendship. Ayan Mukherji truly did a fantastic job with the direction and execution of the film.
2. Ram Leela (2013)
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, featuring the power couple of the industry Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, Ram Leela was their first film together. Adapted from Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', the film revolves around Ram (Ranveer Singh) and Leela (Deepika Padukone) who belong to rival families Rajadi and Sanera, but fall in love with each other and how they need to make a sacrifice for their love. This film was a visual treat to the audience and has pushed the boundaries of storytelling in the Indian film industry.
3. Manmarziyaan (2018)
A new-age love story directed by Anurag Kashyap, starring Taapsee Pannu, Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky Kaushal, this film is a conventional love triangle. Manmarziyan has a whole new and fresh take on love and relationships and that is exactly what touched the audience. Unlike any other Anurag Kashyap movie this film depicts the confusion and emotions a person faces. The story revolves around Rumi (Taapsee Pannu) and Vicky (Vicky Kaushal) who are in love but when it comes to marriage Vicky gets cold feet and avoids the conversation. After giving up on her one true love Rumi agrees to have an arranged marriage with Robbie, who also falls in love with her even after knowing about Vicky. The story then continues with how the three deal with love.
4. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016)
A film about unconditional love, heartbreak and learning, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil directed by Karan Johar features Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Fawad Khan. What made the audience connect to the film was the story about one-sided love and how in some way or the other we have experienced it. The story is about Ayan (Ranbir Kapoor) and Alizeh (Anushka Sharma) who become friends and Ayan falls in love with her, but Alizeh does not feel the same way, and how he deals with his one-sided relationship. This movie made us laugh, cry and fall in love with the characters. Not just the storyline, the songs from the film were catchy and a hit.
5. Aashiqui 2 (2013)
A Mohit Suri directorial, starring Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur, Aashiqui 2 is not similar to Aashiqui in any way. This film is a classic love story, showcasing love that is pure, intense, selfless and full of emotions. This film will take you through a rollercoaster of emotions. Both the stars have done an amazing job and have a great chemistry. The story revolves around Rahul Jaykar (Aditya Roy Kapur) a fading singing sensation, who falls in love with Aarohi (Shraddha Kapoor) a bar singer. He then helps her to become a famous singer but his drinking problems jeopardise their relationship. So if you’re into intense love stories, then this film is a must watch.
6. Rockstar (2011)
You can trust Imiaz Ali when it comes to romantic movies. He gives the audience an experience that is worth their time and money. Rockstar, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri is a masterpiece and is a must watch if you haven’t watched it already. The film is about JJ (Ranbir Kapoor) who aspires to become a music sensation. He then follows the advice of his college canteen manager about ‘get you heartbroken and you can become a rockstar’. JJ then goes to the prettiest girl on campus Heer (Nargis Fakhri) and then begins their love story filled with complexities. So if you appreciate good cinema then add this to your watch list. Not just the storyline we can’t stop but appreciate this film's album, each and every song was made to perfection and to date we haven’t heard a better album than the one in Rockstar.
7. Khoobsurat (2014)
We all can agree on having a fantasy of marrying our prince charming and Khoobsurat directed by Shashanka Ghosh shows exactly that, quite literally. Starring Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khan, this film will always be our top favourite romantic movies. The story is about Dr. Mili (Sonam Kapoor) a physiotherapist who is hired to help a Rajasthan royal Shekhar Singh Rathore (Aamir Raza). She then meets his son Vikram (Fawad Khan) who is a complete opposite. While Mili is a fun, carefree girl, Vikram is a sophisticated prince, the story continues on how the two poles apart people fall in love with each other. Both the actors did a brilliant job portraying their characters and we loved the disney touch in the film.
8. Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015)
Dum Laga Ke Haisha starring Bhumi Pednekar and Ayushmann Khurrana, was Bhumi’s debut film and the actress got a lot of praise for her transformation for her role as Sandhya. This film had such a fresh concept in the romantic genre. The story revolves around Prem (Ayushmann Khurrana) a school dropout who marries Sandhya (Bhumi Pednekar) a well educated but overweight girl. Prem is embarrassed about his wife and passes comments on her, but the two decide to take part in a couples race where they come closer. Director Sharat kataria has done a wonderful job with this simple but meaningful story telling. And as for the actors both Bhumi and Ayushmann have a long way to go!
9. Barfi (2012)
Barfi, directed by Anurag Basu is such a pure story and melts our hearts everytime we see it. Starring Priyanka Chopra, Ranbir Kapoor and Ileana D’cruz this movie is filled with love, joy and heartbreak. The story revolves around Barfi (Ranbir Kapoor) a hearing and speech-impaired man who falls in love with Shruti (Ileana D’cruz), but due to societal pressure she marries someone else. Years later, she learns that Barfi is in love with Jilmil (Priyanka Chopra), an autistic girl, and she then rethinks her own marriage. Each and every character in this film was excellent. Not just the acting, the direction, screenplay and the music was heart-warming.
10. Lootera
The film is inspired by the beautiful story titled The Last Leaf by O.Henry. With Sonakshi Sinha and Ranveer Singh in the lead cast, this was one of the most mature love stories seen in the current generation. It was visually aesthetic as the storyline lensed the love story of a con man Atmanand Tripathi played by Ranveer Singh and Pakhi, daughter of a Zamindar played by Sonakshi Sinha. Lootera was one of the most beautiful love stories where the victim, Pakhi finds herself drawn to this con man - the betrayal, the lies all lead to a silent love that both of them feel very strongly, but one that has no destination to reach. Bollywood lovers found a classic love story so beautifully portrayed on the big screen that is quite unconventional yet leaves a lasting impression.
11. Raanjhanaa
One of Aanand L.Rai's finest love stories based in a small town. Raanjhanaa, shot extensively in Benaras - Kundan played by Dhanush and Zoya played by Sonam Kapoor had an innocence about them that affected movie lovers. The typical one-sided love story is further imbued with the colourful streets of Benaras, mellifluous tunes, a flawless screenplay, and witty dialogues. Zoya, who finds Kundan to be not at par with her intellectually, is deeply desired by him. This small-town love story is one of the all-time favourites for Bollywood lovers for its simple yet heart-wrenching storyline.
12. Tamasha
Another gem by Imtiaz Ali with one of the most beloved on-screen couples of recent times - Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. Like every other Imtiaz Ali film, Tamasha too came with a very thought-provoking yet complex storyline - beautifully interlaced with the battle between matters of the heart and mind. The depiction of how everyday life changes us in ways we don't see right then - it was a rather mature love story that saw some superlative performances. Though the audience for this film is very selective - it is a story that stays with you. There's no unnecessary drama or exaggeration, there is a raw realism on how two people meet, how their hearts feel as they try their best to not be a misfit amidst the daily hustle and bustle of corporate jobs and all the rules one needs to abide by in the society.
Love has a different definition for everyone. These are a few of the classic Bollywood films that show different layers of a love story. The varying stories are what makes one experience different kinds of love stories and the learnings that come with them. These are sure to top your list if you are a hardcore lover of romantic films.
13. Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na
Sometimes, love may appear in the form of your college best friend, but sometimes, the path to finding this love will be much more scenic. In the film Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Aditi (Genelia D'Souza) and Jai (Imran Khan) are two college best friends who appear to be the ideal couple to those around them but are completely clueless about themselves. They are an unbreakable team who don't recognize their feelings for one another until they are completely cornered. It undoubtedly strengthened the Bollywood catchphrase "pyaar dosti hai"—your best friend is your best partner—and that this is true in the majority of situations.
14. Jab We Met
Shahid Kapoor's character Aditya Kashyap is first seen as a man who is devastated because the girl he loved was getting married to someone else. He wanders away from his house and aimlessly boards a train because he is unable to muster any courage. Call it fate, but Geet (Kareena Kapoor), a chatty but vivacious young girl, boards the same train to travel to Bhatinda, her hometown. Geet's chatter irritates Aditya to the point where he exits the train. Geet misses the train herself while attempting to get him back on board. She holds Aditya responsible for the mess and demands that he take her to Bhatinda. Both parties learn more about one another during the journey that followed. Jab We Met is still memorable years later. In a way, the movie's continued success and philosophical message to "trust yourself, love yourself, and take chances" are confirmations of so much of what it stands for.
15. Socha Na Tha
In Socha Na Tha, Viren (Abhay Deol) and Aditi (Ayesha Takia) meet in a very predictable way, but it's the unpredictableness of their relationship that feels natural. The main characters put up with their parents' dramatic behaviour over small things and even try living apart, but when they finally reconcile in the end, it seems as though it was meant to be. It was a slice-of-life movie with a love story at its heart that felt both relatable and appealing. A typical love story was presented in the least typical way possible. When it comes to romance, the movie hits the right notes without feeling mushy. Socha Na Tha is a movie that approaches love with its innocence, which is a quality that will never feel out of date. It does this with an honest and heartfelt approach.
16. Break Ke Baad
In a time of love stories, Abhay (Imran Khan) and Aaliya (Deepika Padukone) grow up together and have been together for almost ten years. Abhay, the more pragmatic and less aspirational of the two, is forced to work for his father in the movie industry and leads a routine life. His only source of excitement is his vivacious, bindaas girlfriend, Aaliya. Contrary to popular belief, Aaliya is the commitment-phobic one in this situation while the boy is the more conventional one who desires marriage. The issues with distance in space that Break Ke Baad explores are immediately relatable, and the dialogue between the protagonists also feels very authentic, sounding more like a natural conversation than words read from a script.
17. Love Aaj Kal
Love Aaj Kal (2009) is a must-watch Bollywood romantic movie. Director Imtiaz Ali works his charm once again in this sweet romantic drama starring Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone. Released in 2009, the movie explores the concept of love in different time periods. The first narrative shows modern-day love following the story of Jai and Meera, running parallel to the second narrative of love set in the 1960s following Veer and Harleen. The film explores themes of love, commitment, and the changing dynamics of relationships over time, portraying the complexities of modern relationships.
Love Aaj Kal (2020) was made featuring Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan.
18. Veer Zaara
Veer Zaara (2004) is an iconic film that epitomises love and the fight for it. Directed by Yash Chopra and starring Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta, the movie tells the story of an Indian Air Force Pilot who falls in love with a Pakistani woman named Zaara. Their love story faces numerous obstacles, and they fight for their love. The movie also stars Rani Mukerji as a lawyer who helps Veer get out of prison.
Veer-Zaara is indeed a story of enduring love where the characters don't give up on their love despite facing numerous challenges. It portrays the idea that true love can withstand the test of time, distance, and adversity.
19. Jab Tak Hai Jaan
Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012), directed by the King of Romance Yash Chopra, explores the theme of love, sacrifice, and destiny. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, and Anushka Sharma in lead roles, the movie is set in London and India and follows the life of a man named Samar. Samar and Meera pursue a relationship in London; however, he returns to India when she leaves him and becomes a bomb disposal specialist. He meets Akira, a journalist, and a love triangle is formed. She falls in love with Samar but decides to reunite the lovers Meera and Samar. The movie is an emotional rollercoaster filled with joy, sorrow and much more.
Jab Tak Hai Jaan features a melodious and soulful soundtrack composed by the legendary A.R. Rahman, with lyrics penned by Gulzar.
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