Love and Romance are emotions and themes that Indian filmmakers have woven their scripts and plots around since the onset of cinema in the country. From the legendary ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ to ‘Dil Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’, Bollywood Romantic movies have told numerous tales of love in all its shades.
However, the definition of ‘Love’ has been redefined in Indian cinema recently. The new millennium movies did not believe in the stereotypical “Do Jism Ek Jaan” and “Jiyenge to Saath. Marenge to Saath” definition of love that had been shown on the big screen again and again for decades in Indian Cinema. The new love stories brought a new refreshing perspective to Hindi love stories and were more relatable to today’s generation and youth.
1. Band Baaja Baarat
Two fresh faces in Bollywood – Anushka Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor starred in a beautiful love story playing two young lads in Delhi trying to make it big in their life with their wedding planning business. Band Baaja Baarat is a colorful and energetic love story with all elements of a Masala movie including dance numbers, romantic songs and the quintessential Bollywood melodrama.
2. Barfi
One of the sweetest love stories of recent times, this is a story of a deaf-mute boy Barfi (Ranbir Kapoor) and his relationship with two women Shruti (Ileana D’Cruz ), an educated young girl and Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra) who suffers from Autism. Unlike other Bollywood movies where being disabled meant a life of contempt and distress, Barfi celebrates love, life, and laughter in this love story. India’s official entry to Oscar then, Barfi also won 7 Filmfare awards including Best Film.
3. Dev D
A modern take on the classic Devdas, Dev D was one of the movies that redefined the cinema of the past decade. A black comedy musical by Anurag Kashyap, the movie was inspired by several famous incidents in the news and represented the psyche and problems of the urban metro audiences. Its soundtrack was unique and highly experimental. Dev D was equally well received by the audiences as well as the critics for showing an unusual Bollywood love story.
4. Devdas
SRK, Aishwarya and Madhuri Dixit in a movie directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali! A lot of critics and enthusiasts would agree to the fact that movies like Devdas are made only once in a generation. It was the second time Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel Devdas was being adapted to the silver screen in Bollywood and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali made sure it was a visual delight and one of the best Bollywood Romantic movies of all time. With meticulously crafted sets to classy costumes that weighed kilos and starring the biggest names of the industry back then, Devdas was the most expensive Bollywood movie ever made at the time of its release in 2002.
This movie tells the story of its central character, Devdas (Shah Rukh Khan) and his relationship with his childhood love – Paro (Aishwarya Rai) and then a courtesan – Chandramukhi (Madhuri Dixit). This love story of falling in love and then getting destroyed by it has been told beautifully with this classic.
5. Dum Laga Ke Haisha
A beautiful love story set in a small town, Dum Laga Ke Haisha is the story of a man (Ayyushmann Khurana) who is embarrassed by his arranged marriage to his overweight wife. It is a story of how “Love comes in All Sizes” where the couple discovers love after their fair share of ups and downs in the relationship.
6. Highway
Imitiaz Ali again writes a beautiful and unusual love story with Highway. A girl (Alia Bhatt) who belonged to a powerful business family is kidnapped. One of the abductors, Randeep Hooda takes her through different cities and places in North India to avoid being tracked. In the case of ‘Stokholom Syndrome’, Alia Bhatt suddenly starts enjoying her freedom, something she never tasted with her family and starts enjoying the company of Randeep Hooda. A.R. Rahman’s music further makes his movie more soulful.
7. Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd
A comedy-drama, Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd is one of the underrated gems of Bollywood. This 2007 movie tells the story of Six couples – each from different cultures, backgrounds, and age groups and at different stages in their relationship with their partners. The story follows the emotional journeys of these couples during a 4-day Goa Trip. The best thing about Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. is the simplicity of the script and plot.
8. Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
A movie that had become an instant favorite among collegegoers and youngsters at the time of its release. Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na is just like one of those classic sit-coms which tells a simple story of a group of friends and a couple (Imran Khan and Genelia D’Souza) who are in a constant state of denial of their relationship. It is a movie that neither dares to be different nor does it have ‘masala’ or melodrama, and yet there is some warmth in this uncomplicated tale that viewers like.
9. Jab We Met
An energetic and lively Geet (Kareena Kapoor) meets a businessman who had almost given up on his life (Aaditya) set on a journey to Bhatinda and then elopes to the mountains to meet Geet’s boyfriend. The whole movie is a beautiful roller coaster ride with accepting yourself, laughing off the failures in life, falling in love with yourself, and finding your heart appear as the central themes of Jab We Met. A movie that is full of memorable scenes and humorous dialogues, Jab We Met is regarded to be one of the best Bollywood romantic movies of all time. It is one of the best Bollywood romantic movies by Imtiaz Ali who came into prominence as a writer and director who could capture the pulse and hearts of the new generation.
10. Jodhaa Akbar
The story of Mughal emperor Akbar and his Rajput wife Jodha Bai was portrayed in an artistic manner with Ashutosh Gowariker’s Jodhaa Akbar. A movie known for its grand sets, beautifully crafted costumes, and amazing cinematography, Jodha Akbar revolved around how a reluctant Jodhaa Bai was married to Akbar to seek a political alliance and ultimately fell in love with the emperor Akbar who was as good a lover and husband as a King.
