Looking for a romantic film to watch? While all Bollywood movies seem to include some kind of romantic interlude, the following movies starring Shah Rukh Khan are five of the best.
1. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
About the title: The Brave Hearted Will Take Away the Bride, also known as DDLJ.
Release Date: 20 October 1995
Director: Aditya Chopra
Music by: Jatin Lalit
Description: This is the story of two Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) living in London who come from very different backgrounds. Simran Singh (Kajol) and Raj Malhotra (Shah Rukh Khan) meet while on a student tour through Europe. Simran finds Raj annoying and contemptible. But circumstances push them together and before they go their separate ways when they return to London they each realize they have fallen in love. But they leave these feelings unspoken because Simran's next trip is to India where she is to be married. Raj's father catches him pining away for Simran and encourages him to go after her because "the bride goes to the man who brings her home." The second half of the film takes us to India where Raj finds Simran preparing for her wedding.
Why I love this film: This is the longest-running and most popular Bollywood film in history, with good reason. While Raj works to win the hearts of Simran and her family, he also manages to win our hearts as well. The culture clashes and musical themes are beautifully woven throughout the film as we are taken on an emotional rollercoaster ride through love, despair, hope and joy. And the final showdown is both memorable and fulfilling.
2. Veer-Zaara
Release Date: 12 November 2004
Director: Yash Chopra
Music by: Madan Mohan, Sanjeev Kohli
Description: Set against the backdrop of conflict between India and Pakistan, this star-crossed romance follows the unfortunate love story of an Indian Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Veer Pratap Singh (Shah Rukh Khan), and Zaara Haayat Khan (Preity Zinta), a Pakistani woman hailing from a rich political family of Lahore, who are separated for 22 years. Saamiya Siddiqui (Rani Mukerjee), an idealistic Pakistani lawyer, finds Veer in prison and upon listening to his story tries to get him freed.
Why I love this film: The story reminds us that while people are labeled by cultural and geopolitical boundaries, we are all connected. The music - based on old and untouched compositions by the late Madan Mohan - is hauntingly beautiful. This movie won Filmfare Awards for Best Film, Best Dialogues, Best Story, and Best Lyricist and received numerous nominations in other categories. This was also the film that first introduced me to Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta.
3. Paheli
About the Title: In this case, Paheli means "Dilemma"
Release Date: 24 June 2005
Director: Amol Palekar | Screenplay by: Sandhya Gokhale
Music by: M. M. Kreem, Aadesh Shrivastava
Description: Kishenlal (Shah Rukh Khan) is more interested in carrying on his father's business than spending time with his new bride, Lachchi (Rani Mukerjee). Kishenlal leaves Lachchi for a 5-year business trip, leaving the marriage bed untouched. A few days later Kishenlal returns to the delight of everyone, however he confesses to Lachchi that he is not her husband but a ghost who has taken on the form of her husband because he is in love with her. She must decide if he stays or goes.
Why I love this film: The film is a breathtakingly beautiful and passionate fairytale. While not everyone will agree with the conclusion of the film, the story presents you with plenty to think about.
4. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
About the title: "A Match Made by God"
Release Date: 12 December 2008
Director: Aditya Chopra
Music by: Salim-Sulaiman
Description: Shy, introverted and kind-hearted Surinder "Suri" Sahni (Shah Rukh Khan) attends the wedding of his former professor's daughter, beautiful and vivacious Taani Gupta (Anushka Sharma). News that the groom's party was in a fatal bus accident shatters Taani and her aged father has a major heart attack. On his deathbed, he asks Suri and Taani to marry so Taani can be cared for after his death. They agree, but Taani tells Suri she can never love him. Suri adopts an alter ego "Raj" and becomes Taani's partner in a dance class, reaching her in a way Suri can't.
Why I love this film: While SRK has done double characters in previous films, his one character experiences the impact of both Suri and Raj on someone he cares deeply about. His only motive in being both personas is to help Taani through a rough time in her life. Also, seeing the juxtaposition of these two characters reminds me that sometimes we need a little craziness and sometimes we need a little calm in our lives. The song numbers in this film are very well done and move the story along nicely. The Rahki scene is priceless and the end credits are worth watching.
5. Jab Tak Hai Jaan
About the title: As Long as I Live or Until I Take My Last Breath
Release Date: 12 November 2012
Director: Yash Chopra
Music by: A.R. Rahman
Description: Samar Anand (Shah Rukh Khan) is an expert on the Indian Army Bomb Disposal Squad when Discovery Channel intern Akira Rai (Anushka Sharma) crosses his path. Akira becomes intrigued with Samar and his back story of a passionate love affair with Meera Thapar (Katrina Kaif) while he lived in London 10 years earlier. However, after a motorcycle accident, Meera broke with Samar and asked him to leave London. Akira gets permission to film Anand and his team but when she returns to London, she is told that Samar has to return to verify the facts of the documentary. Samar returns but, as fate would have it, he gets in another accident. Suffering from retrograde amnesia, Samar only has memories up to his first accident and still thinks he is with Meera. Past and present unite in an effort to help Samar recover.
Why I love this film: Each of the characters brings a different type of passion to the story and when they come together they bring out the best, and the worst, in each other. The beautiful music for the film was composed by A.R. Rahman, with lyrics by Gulzar. The title track poem was written by Aditya Chopra, who also wrote the story, screenplay, and dialogue. Vaibhavi Merchant choreographed several of the song numbers which reflect a more up-to-date dancing style. The movie won four Filmfare awards. This was Yash Chopra's last film and Priya Joshi summarizes it best:
There is so much sentiment attached to Jab Tak Hai Jaan, it is almost sacrilege to suggest that the film that would be Yash Chopra's last is anything but perfect. But Jab Tak Hai Jaan is one mere episode and the closing, poignant chapter in the illustrious career of a man with an unbridled passion for life, love and cinema, whose actual legacy was his unfaltering belief in a love eternal, and this is what Jab Tak Hai Jaan represents.
Don't know which film to watch first? The following playlist features the trailers for each of these films.
If you liked this, leave a comment and check out our other Shah Rukh Khan posts.