The film industry, dubbed "Bollywood" by enthusiasts, makes up the bulk of the global film space and continues to grow with each new title. Bollywood is beating out Nigeria's Nollywood as well as America's Hollywood to become the world's largest film industry in terms of production and reach, with its content appealing to viewers in every corner of the world. But what exactly makes Bollywood so epic and its films so special? Some argue that any quality Bollywood film has a proven formula: a terrific romance, an amazing soundtrack, ridiculously lovable main characters, and plot twists that can be seen from a mile away. Others say Bollywood's secret is much simpler - he"
Either way, these films are worth the two plus hours you'll probably have to set aside in your day to watch them (Bollywood films are notoriously long). Whether you love romance, tragedy or comedy, there is definitely a movie for you in this colorful world. Below is a list of essential Bollywood movies you need to add to your watchlist, from epic historical dramas to cool action movies.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
You can't talk about Bollywood without mentioning Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. The 1995 classic is widely considered the gold standard for Bollywood rom-coms, in which the brash Shah Rukh Khan and starlet Kajol (and her signature unibrow) portray two young people who fall in love while on a European tourist trip.
Piasa (1957)
The musical romance of 1957 is a classic. The story follows Vijay, an unsuccessful poet who is mistakenly believed to be dead when a homeless man to whom he gave his coat is killed. After his "death", Vijay's poems are published and enjoy great popularity.
Insaf Ka Tarazu (1980)
I nsaf Ka Tarazu translates to "the balance (or scale) of justice" and the film dives deep into what justice is and how to achieve that balance. In this intense drama, a wealthy man named Ramesh meets a beauty queen named Bharti, whom he invites to his yacht. Subsequently, Bharti accuses Ramesh of raping her, but he is acquitted. When he is killed two years later, Bharti is arrested for the crime and put on trial herself.
Love Aaj Kal (2020)
Fittingly, this romantic movie was released on Valentine's Day. The drama follows a young couple named Zoey and Veer who meet at a bar and have an instant connection, but struggle to move forward in their relationship as their careers and life plans continue to keep them apart.
Veer-Zaara (2004)
This 2004 drama tells the love story of Veer, an Indian Air Force officer, and Zaara, the daughter of a Pakistani politician. Their 22-year love story is full of courage, self-sacrifice and, of course, many dramatic moments.
Mrs Serial Killer (2020)
If you like dark and twisty crime dramas then Mrs. Serial Killer is for you. Premise: A man is arrested (and possibly charged) with a series of brutal murders. His pregnant wife decides to prove that he is innocent by committing the crime of copycat while he is in custody. Reliable, right?
Fanaa (2006)
If you're looking for a more romantic thriller, tryfilm 2006 "Fanaa" about a flirtatious tour guide named Rehan who meets and forms a relationship with a blind (but very independent) Kashmiri named Zuni. Twist: This isn't the first time Ryohan and Zuni have dated... or dated. It turns out that Rehan is the rebel behind a series of terrorist attacks, including seven years earlier, when he faked his own death and was the first to leave Zuni.
Panga (2020)
This inspiring sports film is set in the world of Kabbadi, a popular contact sport in India. The film is about Jaya Nigam, a former Kabbadi champion who quit the sport after the birth of her son but regrets her departure. With the help and encouragement of her now seven year old son and former teammate, Jaya trains, gets back in shape, comes back and eventually wins the Kabaddi Cup for Team India.
Mother India (1957)
This epic drama tells the story of a poor woman who is forced to take care of her two sons alone while enduring threats from a nefarious pawnbroker when her husband leaves the family in disgrace. At the time of its inception, Mother India was one of the most expensive Hindi films ever made and was considered one of the most revered films in Bollywood history.
Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
This movie has it all. This is a romantic comedy. This is drama. This is a moving film about growing up. Dil Chahta Hai, who won the National Film Award for Best Hindi Feature Film, tells the stories of three college friends who struggle to navigate life and love after graduation.
Lunchbox (2013)
Lunchbox is one of those touching movies that tells a story that you didn't even know you were in desperate need of until you watch it. In the film, a woman named Ila tries to rekindle a spark in her marriage by preparing a special dinner for her (not the best) husband. However, the plan goes awry and the dinner ends up in front of an antisocial widower instead. When her husband fails to mention his special meal, Ila adds a note to the next meal she cooks (which also goes to said widower), and an unlikely friendship is born.
Lagaan (2001)
"Lagaan" translates to "agricultural tax", but don't let that put you off. Only within the genius of Bollywood can a film about a city angered by an unprecedented tax increase be so truly gripping. It doesn't hurt that the villagers end up playing cricket against the British army officers demanding the tax for the right not to pay it.
Sholay (1975)
This Bollywood action adventure is a classic. The plot revolves around a retired police chief who sets out to catch a sneaky thief with the help of two smaller criminals.
The Beat We Met (2007)
If you like a good romantic comedy about freaky girls saving a depressed guy, then Jab We Met deserves a spot on your watchlist. The film tells the story of a heartbroken, suicidal businessman, Aditya, who meets an energetic woman named Geet on a train and ends up getting sucked into her life whirlwind, including a trip to meet her family and a chance to join her escape with her secret boyfriend.
Lust Stories (2018)
Much sexier than many of the other titles on this list and in Bollywood in general, Lust Stories is an anthology film about four very different sexual situations, including mismatched student-teacher interaction, maid secret desire, broken trust between a married couple. , and one woman's embarrassing experience with a vibrator. Watch the hit movie on Netflix today.
Queen (2014)
When the shy Rani Mehra is left at the altar on her wedding day, she shocks her conservative family and friends by turning a romantic honeymoon for two into an ambitious solo trip.
Barfi! (2012)
Ready to cry, laugh, and then cry some more? Barfi! tells about the misadventures of a carefree person who extracts maximum pleasure from life. The film stars Bollywood favorites Ranbir Kapoor as Barfi and Priyanka Chopra as his love interest Jilmil, a young woman on the autistic spectrum.
Zindagi na milegi dobara (2011)
Lifelong best friends Imran, Arjun and Kabir finally fulfill their contract to travel to Spain, but an interpersonal conflict threatens to ruin their vacation and their friendship.
Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
Hrithrik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai (former Miss World) lead this 2008 romantic film about a marriage of convenience that turns into a passionate romance between a Rajput princess and a Mughal king who is threatened by an impending religious war. Jodha Akbar will make you believe in love again - trust me.
Mary Kom (2014)
Priyanka Chopra plays boxing icon Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte in the inspiring sports film, who went from farming in the fields of Manipur to fighting in the ring and becoming a six-time amateur boxing world champion.
Hyder (2014)
Hyder takes William Shakespeare's well-known play Hamlet and lets tragedy play out in a completely different, equally grim setting: right in the midst of the 1995 Kashmir conflicts.
Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001)
What do you get if you take some of Bollywood's most prolific actors (like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Kajol and Kareena Kapoor) and put them all in one movie about a rich, famous family in Delhi trying to keep their legacy alive? Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam, that's what. The family drama is a heartbreaking story about bonds that bind us but can break us, and it's so, so, so good.
Hobsurat (2014)
A career-oriented but socially awkward physiotherapist gets the chance of a lifetime when she is hired by the Rajasthan royal family to nurse the king back to health. However, she is confused by the presence of the extremely hot prince of the family and his snobbish mother. This is followed by romantic shenanigans and misunderstandings, and honestly, what more could we expect from a Disney movie?
3 Idiots (2009)
This coming-of-age drama chronicles the three trials and tribulations of engineering students as young adults, offering a relentless critique of the state of the Indian education system and the stress it creates.
Ek Ta Tiger (2012)
Action icon Salman Khan plays an Indian secret agent nicknamed "Tiger" who is sent to Ireland on a mission to spy on a renowned scientist who is suspected to be contributing to Pakistan's defense strategy.
Devdas (2002)
Shah Rukh Khan (told you that he would appear frequently on this list) takes on the lead role of Devdas, a man who returns to India after having previously left the country to study law in England. His forbidden love leads him to struggle with alcoholism, which affects the lives of the people he loves the most.
Hitchki (2018)
Only one thing kept aspiring teacher Naina from fulfilling her dream of getting a job as a teacher at the high school she attended: her Tourette Syndrome. And even when Naina is finally able to become a teacher, her nerdy class presents a new challenge, leaving her wondering if her dreams are really achievable.
Chief Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003)
A case of misidentification led to love in this 2003 romantic comedy starring Bollywood heavyweights Hrtrik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor.
(Note: Ignore the animated, talking parrot that pops up from time to time - 2003 was a completely different world.)
Neerja (2016)
Model flight attendant Neerja Bhanot comes face to face with a group of terrorists intent on hijacking her plane. The film is based on the true story of the Abu Nidal hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in 1986.
Bajirao Mastani (2015)
When Peshwa Bajirao (Ranveer Singh) falls in love with Mastani (Deepika Padukone), the daughter of a Rajput king in need of his fighting prowess despite being already married to Kashibay (Priyanka Chopra), an ill-fated love triangle is formed that changes the very course of their lives. .
Fun fact: Bajirao Mastani marks Singh and Padukone's second on-screen romance after starring in Ram Leela in 2013, and in 2018, the two actors tied the knot!
Dhoom 2 (2006)
In one of those rare cases where a sequel outperforms the original, Dhoom 2 is considered by many to be the best film of the Dhoom franchise (which, by the way, is the second highest-grossing Bollywood film franchise at the box office). Think Fast & Furious, but in Hindi and with flashy musical numbers.
Ek Ladki Ko Deha Toh Aisa Laga (2019)
LGTBQ storytelling is slowly but surely making its way into the mainstream of Bollywood cinema, and EK Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga is helping lead the way. The emotional film shows the path of a closed woman to personal freedom and her struggle for acceptance in a traditional family.
Bodyguard (2011)
Lovely Singh is assigned as the bodyguard of Divya, the beloved daughter of a national politician with many enemies, but things get complicated when Lovely falls in love at work. It has great action scenes and fun dance breaks - we love the duality!
