I feel lucky that I grew up in a family that loved classic Bollywood films. My weekends as a teenager were spent binge-watching classic Bollywood romances like Mughal-e-Azam, Pakeeza, Sahab Bibi Aur Gulam, Madhumati, and others with my mother. The movies' deeply romantic storylines and soulful melodies [1] always inspired us to sing and dance along with the characters. They made life feel unhurried, easy, and made us remember the small joys. While many classic Bollywood films are not available on Netflix [2], I've compiled a selection of contemporary Bollywood films with love stories [3] – most gone right, but some with thrilling and engageing twists. Here are some of my favourites —watch them before they're gone!
Dil Se (1998)
Part of a trilogy by award-winning director Mani Ratnam (Roja and Bombay), this is a tragic love story between a civilian and a beautiful mysterious woman. The film includes exemplary performances by Manisha Koirala, Shah Rukh Khan, and is Priety Zinta's debut film. The highlight, however, is the haunting score by A. R. Rahman.
Watch Dil Se on Netflix [4].
Om Shanti Om (2007)
This film is for all those who believe in the power of afterlife. A clever and catchy remake of Karz (1980), this is a reincarnation thriller, a story of love gone wrong and justice served. Featuring excellent song and dance sequences, some set in the 1970s, Om Shanti Om was the debut film of Deepika Padukone.
Watch Om Shanti Om on Netflix [5].
Barfi (2012)
A beautiful and underrated love story, Barfi is about a deaf and mute young man trying to find love. Billed as a comedy, the title role is played by the charming, Ranbir Kapoor and his two love interests are I'llena D'Cruz as an educated young woman who is to marry someone else, and Priyanka Chopra as a wealthy heiress with autism. This feel-good story is about finding love in the simplest joys: from washing muddy feet in running water to hitching a ride, and what it means to find the one that is just right for you.
Watch Barfi on Netflix [7].
Fitoor (2016)
Based on Charles Dickens's Great Expectations, this movie is a must-watch for fans of the beautiful Tabu, who plays mother to Katrina Kaif, and inadvertently teaches her to be a heart-breaker. A good part of the movie was shot in Kashmir, in and around places of historical interest. Watch it for its soulful music with and lyrical folk tunes, the nuanced acting prowess of its cast, and striking backdrops of snow-laden landscapes.
Watch Fitoor on Netflix [9].
7 Khoon Maaf (2011)
An underrated story of a femme-fatale's quest for love, this is a dark drama with a stellar cast, starring Priyanka Chopra in the lead role. This is an adaptation of author Ruskin Bonds's short story, Susanna's Seven Husbands. Susanna's quest to find true love takes increasingly dark twists and turns, enough to keep audiences guessing how the story will end and if she will ever find true love.
Watch 7 Khoon Maaf on Netflix [11].
Bareilly ki Barfi (2017)
This is a romantic comedy of falling in love from afar. The premise is simple: an author professes his admiration for a young woman by publishing it as a novel under someone else's name, but does not feel brave enough to share it with her. As the plot unfolds, the object of his affection finds the book – and the rest of the movie progresses through the comedy of revealing the truth. Light and airy, it is yet another simple and underrated love story.
Watch Bareilly ki Barfi on Netflix [12].
Guzaarish (2010)
A hauntingly beautiful love story emerges in Guzaarish, a film centreed around a paraplegic man and his quest to seek euthanasia, set in the backdrop of coastal Goa. Starring Hrithik Roshan as a captivating radio jockey, and Aishwarya Rai as his long-term nurse, this film explores the intensely charged relationship between a patient and his beautiful caregiver.
Watch Guzaarish on Netflix [14].
PK (2014)
This cute unconventional love story is between an alien, played by the incomparable Amir Khan, and a journalist, played by Anuskha Sharma. The film displays the complexities of India, from its many religious beliefs, practices, and sites – offering snapshots into urban and rural India from the lens of a hopeless romantic.
Watch PK on Netflix [16].
Qarib Qarib Singlle (2017)
A love story that originates with navigating online dating, and then an unconventional friendship with a match. The movie is about seeking closure to past relationships to make room for new ones, and offers a light perspective on the somewhat daunting notion of finding a life partner over the web. The leads are played by Parvathy Thiruvothu and the late Irrfan Khan.
Watch Qarib Qarib Singlle on Netflix [17].