The best Bollywood rom-coms to watch include Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Hum Tum (2004), Jab We Met (2007), Band Baaja Baaraat (2010) and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013). For something newer, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023) won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film.
Romantic comedies work because they mix two things audiences enjoy: people falling in love and people being funny while doing it. Hindi cinema has made many of them, but only a few still feel fresh years later. Here are seven, in order of release, with what makes each one worth a rewatch.
1. Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
Farhan Akhtar’s debut as director follows three college friends, Akash (Aamir Khan), Sameer (Saif Ali Khan) and Sid (Akshaye Khanna), whose friendship is tested after graduation. Each has a different idea of love: Akash treats it as a joke, Sameer falls for someone new every week, and Sid is drawn to an older woman, played by Dimple Kapadia.
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The film’s natural dialogue and urban setting changed how Hindi films showed young people. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music with Javed Akhtar’s lyrics remains popular.
2. Hum Tum (2004)
Written and directed by Kunal Kohli, Hum Tum follows Karan (Saif Ali Khan), a cartoonist, and Rhea (Rani Mukerji), who keep meeting by chance over several years. They start as people who irritate each other and slowly become friends and then partners.
The film is loosely inspired by the American film When Harry Met Sally… and uses animated sequences between scenes. Saif Ali Khan won his first National Film Award for Best Actor for this role, and the film won five Filmfare Awards, including Best Director and Best Actress.
3. Jab We Met (2007)
Imtiaz Ali’s film pairs Aditya (Shahid Kapoor), a heartbroken businessman who boards a train with no plan, with Geet (Kareena Kapoor), a chatty Punjabi girl on her way home to Bhatinda. Her energy pulls him out of his low phase, but her own plans soon fall apart.
Geet became one of the most loved heroines in Hindi cinema, and Kareena Kapoor won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Shreya Ghoshal won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for “Yeh Ishq Hai”. The film returned to cinemas in February 2024 for a Valentine’s festival.
4. Band Baaja Baaraat (2010)
Directed by Maneesh Sharma for Yash Raj Films, this film follows Bittoo (Ranveer Singh) and Shruti (Anushka Sharma), two Delhi graduates who start a wedding planning business with one rule: no mixing business with romance. The rule, of course, does not hold.
The film marked Ranveer Singh’s debut and was praised for its realistic middle-class Delhi setting, which set it apart from glossy romances. Its wedding songs are still played at Indian weddings.
5. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
Ayan Mukerji’s film follows Naina (Deepika Padukone), a studious medical student, who joins a trekking trip to Manali with old school friends, including the free-spirited Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor). Years later, the group meets again at a friend’s wedding, and Bunny has to choose between his travel dreams and the people he loves.
With Aditya Roy Kapur and Kalki Koechlin in support, Pritam’s songs and the Manali and Udaipur settings, the film became a favourite of a generation of young viewers and remains a popular rewatch.
6. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023)
Karan Johar returned to direction with this story of Rocky (Ranveer Singh), a loud Punjabi from a rich Delhi family, and Rani (Alia Bhatt), a TV journalist from an educated Bengali family. To see if their families can accept each other, they decide to live with each other’s families for three months.
The film mixes comedy with points on gender roles and family pressure, and features Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi. It won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, and Alia Bhatt won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
7. Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023)
Directed by Luv Ranjan, this film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Mickey, who runs a side business helping couples break up, and Shraddha Kapoor as Tinni, who wants a way out of her own relationship. The comedy comes from two people who are both hiding something.
It is lighter than the others on this list, but its banter, family scenes and songs made it a hit with young audiences.
Quick guide
| Film | Year | Director | Lead pair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dil Chahta Hai | 2001 | Farhan Akhtar | Aamir Khan, Preity Zinta |
| Hum Tum | 2004 | Kunal Kohli | Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji |
| Jab We Met | 2007 | Imtiaz Ali | Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor |
| Band Baaja Baaraat | 2010 | Maneesh Sharma | Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma |
| Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani | 2013 | Ayan Mukerji | Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone |
| Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani | 2023 | Karan Johar | Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt |
Streaming rights for older Hindi films change from time to time, so check your OTT apps before planning a movie night. For more film lists, see our Entertainment section and star stories in People.
Further reading: Jab We Met.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best Bollywood rom-com for first-time viewers?
Jab We Met is a safe start. It is easy to follow, funny and has one of Hindi cinema’s best-loved heroines in Geet.
Is Hum Tum a remake of When Harry Met Sally?
No. It is loosely inspired by When Harry Met Sally…, but it is not an official remake.
Which recent rom-com won a National Award?
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023) won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Which film marked Ranveer Singh’s debut?
Band Baaja Baaraat (2010), produced by Yash Raj Films, was Ranveer Singh’s first film.
Sources: Wikipedia: Jab We Met, Wikipedia: Hum Tum, Wikipedia: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Wikipedia: Dil Chahta Hai.
