Bollywood Movies That Taught Us The True Meaning Of Love
niharika nayakBA (Media & Communication) Experience: 4 yearsNiharika has a passion for all things art, music, and travel and has over 4 years of experience in writing for social media. During her spare time, she likes experimenting in the kitchen, playing vide... more
There’s no denying that Bollywood has given many of us a hard time accepting that love doesn’t always come in the form of Shah Rukh Khan. For those of you who identify as die-hard romantics, Bollywood has probably been a godsend. Tales of love have spanned from the advent of Bollywood in the year 1913 (Yes, Bollywood is older than Independent India) to the current era of modern day love stories with their own unique and spicy twists. What better way to celebrate the day of love, than sitting down with your loved ones (yes, friends count too) and binging this list of romantic and interesting Bollywood movies:
1. Veer-Zaara
The fruits of love bloom between a young Indian pilot and a girl from Pakistan named Zaara. Their love story turns complicated when Veer is left to languish in a Pakistani prison for 22 years and Zaara believing he’s dead, spends her life looking after the village of his origin. Theirs is a tale of love, separation, sacrifice, and courage. The movie culminates with Veer and Zaara finally being reunited and realizing their feelings for each other never went away.
2. Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na introduces us to two best friends, Jai and Aditi who are total opposites in terms of personality but really care for each other. While everyone around them believes they’re perfect for each other, they never seem to see it as they want different things from their partners. Despite finding their so-called ‘perfect partners’, the pair are left unhappy when they discover that they actually love each other deeply. What follows is a series of hilarious and seemingly odd twists that eventually have the pair finding their way into each other’s arms.
3. Kal Ho Naa Ho
Preity Zinta plays the role of Naina who is an introverted, pessimistic young girl coping with the loss of her father to suicide. Her life changes drastically when she meets a man named Aman. But Aman himself is not what he seems to be and harbors a deep, dark secret. Rohit, Naina’s best friend conceals his love for her after he finds out she loves Aman. The movie ends with a bittersweet twist that leaves the audience in tears.
4. Pyaasa
A major life lesson this movie teaches us is to never judge a book by its cover. Waheeda Rehman plays a kind-hearted young prostitute named Gulabo who falls for a talented young poet who seemingly dies. Gulabo goes out of her way to ensure his incredible work is published and the pair are reunited when the poet resurfaces. He realizes people only wanted to be around him for the wrong reasons and thus decides to give up all material possessions and run away with Gulabo.
5. Dil Chahta Hai
The modern love story between Sid and his older neighbor Tara is truly one that has its bittersweet moments. In a surprising role reversal, Tara plays an alcoholic who drinks to deal with the pain of her divorce and Sid is a young artist who is so enamored by her beauty and persona that he enlists her to be his muse. While Tara does end up having to face the brunt of her alcoholism, the story doesn’t end there. Dil Chahta Hai teaches us that you could lose the one person you loved the most in the world and still move forward in life.
6. Namaste London
Namaste London features Jazz as the lead character, a modern, well-educated and ‘westernized’ Indian woman brought up in London by an extremely patriarchal father. When on a trip to India, Jazz’s father forces her into a marriage with a Punjabi man called Arjun. Peppered with a lot of ‘Hindustani pride’, the movie is all about how Jazz and Arjun deal with each other’s differences and eventually take a stand for each other.
7. The Lunchbox
The Lunchbox is a beautiful love story between Saajan and Ila whose lives get entangled together after a small mix-up with lunchboxes courtesy of the dabbawala system in Mumbai. What follows is a unique story of two lost souls who write each other letters and send them through the lunchboxes until they finally decide to meet up. The movie has its ups and downs and has a fair share of emotional bits.
In Conclusion
Sure, Bollywood often gets hate for showcasing love in a bad light (Cough cough Rahul Khanna). Bollywood has also had some incredible love stories that seal our belief in the idea of love and finding that one true person who makes it all worth the hassle. Which is your favorite movie? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments below.
