The genre brings something refreshingly different: larger-than-life emotions, iconic soundtracks woven into the story itself, and films completely unafraid to be dramatic, heartfelt, and sincere all at once.
Part of the fun of loving cinema is expanding your horizons and trying genres or film industries you may never have considered before. So if you’re looking to branch out from the usual romance formula, here are some of the most iconic Bollywood love stories to add to your watchlist!
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001)
If there is one Bollywood movie that absolutely defines the word iconic, it’s Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.... The film follows Rahul falling in love with the chaotic and lovable Anjali despite his wealthy family’s expectations. But half the reason people return to this movie is for the characters themselves. Pooja "Poo" Sharma completely steals the show with lines that still dominate the internet today: "Tell me how it was!" and of course, the legendary "Kaun hai jisne dobara mudke mujhe nahi dekha?" Between the insane fashion, dramatic family confrontations, and songs like "Bole Chudiyan", this is peak Bollywood extravagance in the best way possible. (Stream on Netflix and Prime Video)
Jab We Met (2007)
This movie is the perfect travel summer romance. It starts with Aditya, a quiet man having a full life crisis, accidentally meeting Geet, a woman who genuinely never stops talking, and somehow it becomes one of the sweetest romances ever made. Geet completely carries the film with her confidence, chaos, and iconic "main apni favourite hoon", and the dynamic between the two is hilarious to watch unfold. What makes the movie so special is that it feels funny, comforting, emotional, and romantic all at once. (Stream on Tubi, PLEX, and Roku)
Om Shanti Om (2007)
Om Shanti Om is what happens when Bollywood decides to do absolutely everything at once -- and somehow it works perfectly. Romance? Revenge? Reincarnation? Glittering award shows? Dramatic slow motion? This movie has all of it. Following Om, a struggling junior artist obsessed with movie star Shantipriya, the film turns into one of the most entertaining cinematic experiences imaginable. Deepika Padukone’s entrance alone is enough to understand why she became a star overnight. (Stream on Netflix)
Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
Kal Ho Naa Ho tricks you into thinking you’re about to watch a cute romantic comedy before emotionally devastating you for the next 3 hours. The film follows Naina, a reserved and emotionally closed-off student whose life changes after meeting the endlessly charismatic Aman. Shah Rukh Khan is genuinely impossible not to love in this movie -- one second he’s dancing around to "Pretty Woman", the next he’s making you cry over life advice. What makes the film so iconic is how it balances humor and heartbreak so effortlessly. Almost everyone who watches it finishes the movie emotionally attached to Aman forever. (Stream on Netflix and Prime Video)
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
If you enjoy friends-to-lovers storylines, love triangles, and peak late-'90s Bollywood nostalgia, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is essential viewing. The movie follows Rahul, Anjali, and Tina across different stages of their lives and somehow manages to make friendship bonds emotionally devastating. Whether it’s the summer camp scenes, the basketball flirting, or Shah Rukh Khan somehow making "cool" necklaces fashionable, this movie practically invented the modern Bollywood romance formula. (Stream on Netflix and Prime Video)
