50 Films to Fall In Love With Featuring the Top Khans of Bollywood

If you are new to Bollywood, it can be difficult to know which films to watch. With music, dancing, subtitles and longer lengths, western audiences still hesitate to dive into a Hindi film without some clear guidance and recommendation.

If you have been watching Bollywood films for some time, it is even more difficult to select films to recommend to those new to Indian cinema. 

With that in mind, the infographic below tries to provide some basic guidance for those willing to explore what Bollywood has to offer. We selected actors and directors whose recent body of work featured popular or award-winning films. Most of the films selected were released in the last fifteen years. We tried to avoid repetition of films under each name, though there were a few allowances for duplication under both an actor and a director.

Many of these films have generated favorable responses when screened with movie-going audiences who are less familiar with Bollywood films, stories, and stars. Others were selected due to outstanding performances, interesting storyline, or cult film status. Most of these films have been featured in one or more posts on this website.

All 50 films highlighted here are also listed below, in alphabetical order, with a very brief description.

For those familiar with Bollywood films, how many of these have you watched?

50 Films to Fall In Love With: An Alphabetical List

1. 3 Idiots (2009). Drama (based on the novel Five Point Someone). While searching for their college friend, three men revisit their college days and recall who inspired them to think differently, even as the rest of the world called them "idiots".

2. Agent Vinod (2012). Spy thriller. After his colleague is murdered, Agent Vinod embarks on a globe-trotting mission to investigate a series of events that may be connected.

3. Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015). Drama. An Indian man with a generous spirit helps a mute 6-year-old girl from Pakistan return home.

4. Bodyguard (2011). Action drama. A freedom-craving college student hatches a plan to ditch her vigilant bodyguard, but her scheme soon backfires.

5. Chak De! India (2007). Sports drama. A disgraced professional field hockey player coaches the women's national team to win back his honor and dignity.

6. Chameli (2010). Drama. An investment banker and a prostitute form a bond while finding shelter during a rainstorm.

7. Dabangg (2010). Comedy action film. A corrupt police officer finds his life turned upside down when he discovers love while taking on local gangsters, corrupt politicians, and challenges from his family.

8. Delhi Belly (2011). Dark comedy. Three unsuspecting, struggling room-mates find themselves on the hit list of one of India's most ruthless gangsters.

9. Devdas (2002). Drama (based on a Bengali novella). A young man returns from studying abroad with the intent of marrying his childhood sweetheart. But when she marries another man, Devdas descends into life-threatening alcoholism.

10. Dhoom 3 (2013). Crime thriller. To avenge his father's death, a circus entertainer trained in magic and acrobatics turns thief to take down a corrupt bank in Chicago.

11. Dil Chahta Hai (2001). Comedy drama. Three friends discover that life after college will test their close friendship.

12. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). Romantic musical comedy drama.  The longest-running Bollywood film in theatrical release, DDLJ tells the story of Raj and Simran who fall in love but must win over her family who are busy planning her wedding to someone else.

13. Don: The Chase Begins Again (2006). Crime thriller. When a look-a-like infiltrates a crime ring, he finds his life in danger when the only cop who knows his true identity dies.

14. Ek Tha Tiger (2013). Spy thriller. Cupid's arrow pierces the heart of a no-nonsense superspy (Salman Khan) after he meets a beautiful dance student

15. Fanaa (2006). Thriller (similar to Eye of the Needle). When a tour guide and notorious flirt meets a blind Kashmiri woman, they fall in love - but he has a secret that could destroy them both.

16. Garv: Pride and Honor (2004). Drama. An upright police officer takes action when underworld criminals target his family.

17. Ghajini (2008). Thriller (similar to Memento). A man, who loses his memory every 15 minutes, has photographs, notes and tattoos to remind him to kill the man who brutally murdered his fiancée.

18. Happy New Year (2014). Comedy crime drama (similar Ocean’s Eleven). Six would-be thieves enter a prestigious dance competition as a cover for their larger goal of pulling off a major heist.

19. Heroine (2012). Drama.  The story of a once successful film actress whose career is on the decline.

20. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). Drama. The free-spirited daughter of a professional singer and teacher falls for a visiting musician but is married to a lawyer, who soon discovers her heart belongs to another.

21. Hum Tum (2004). Comedy (similar to When Harry Met Sally). A cartoonist plays out the battle of the sexes through his animated characters “Me and You”, which mirror his own love-hate relationship with a female friend.

22. I Hate Luv Storys (2010).  Musical comedy. A cynical assistant director must work with a sunny production designer who adores romantic films.

23. Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na (2008). Comedy drama. Convinced that they are not MFEO, two childhood friends try to find the right soulmate for each other.

24. Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012). Romantic drama. A Discovery Channel filmmaker discovers the backstory of an Indian Army munitions expert who is unafraid of death.

25. Jab We Met (2007). Musical comedy drama. A dejected man embarks on a cross-country journey with an attractive but annoyingly spirited stranger.

26. Kabhi Khushie Kabhie Gham… (2001). Musical romantic drama. Ten years after his brother suddenly moves to London, a young man tries to broker peace between his father and brother.

27. Kabul Express (2006). Drama. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, an Indian reporter and his cameraman travel across Afghanistan to interview Taliban fighters facing an imminent U.S. invasion.

28. Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). Musical comedy drama. A young woman falls for a carefree man who is trying to set her up with someone else.

29. Kick (2014). Thriller. A clever thief plays an important part in the lives of a psychiatrist and a police officer.

30. Kidnap (2008). Thriller. When a wealthy man’s daughter is kidnapped, he must perform a series of tasks to get her back.

31. Kurbaan (2009). Thriller. A newlywed discovers a dangerous secret when when she helps a neighbor whose life is threatened.

32. Lagaan (2001). Period sports drama. In 1893, a local British officer challenges a village  to a game of cricket - a sport completely foreign to India - after the villagers complain about the oppressive taxes.

33. Love Aaj Kal (2009). Musical comedy drama. Two lovers break up - but remain friends - after they realize that their career goals are pulling them in different directions.

34. Main Hoon Na (2004). Musical comedy drama.  Indian Army Major Ram is sent on a mission to St. Paul's College in Darjeeling, where he must go undercover as a student.

35. Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005). Biographical historical film. In 1857, a sepoy leads an uprising against India's imperialist occupiers -- events the British call a mutiny and the Indians call a war for independence.

36. Marigold: An Adventure in India (2007). Romantic comedy drama. A sharp-tongued American actress falls under the spell of India's film industry. While not a straight-up Bollywood film, the writer/director of Marigold sought to bridge the gap between Indian and American film.

37. Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola (2013). Comedy drama. A boozy industrialist plans to marry his free-spirited daughter to the son of a corrupt politician, but the young woman has other ideas.

38. My Name is Khan (2010). Drama. A man with asperger’s syndrome travels across the U.S. to meet President Obama.

39. New York (2009). Thriller. An Indian cab driver in New York is set up by the FBI because they want him to spy on an old friend of his who they think is a terrorist

40. Om Shanti Om (2007). Musical comedy thriller. In the 1970s, aspiring actor Om is murdered then immediately reincarnated. Thirty 30 years later he discovers that his killer is still alive.

41. Omkara (2005). Drama. Hindi adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello.

42. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008). Romantic comedy drama. When his unhappy wife decides to enter a dance competition, a man disguises himself, joins the class and tries to befriend her.

43. Rang De Basanti (2006). Drama. The tragic death of a friend owing to local government corruption awakens the patriotism in a listless group of youths.

44. Refugee (2000). Drama. After the 1948 partitioning of Hindustan, a mysterious wanderer smuggles a family past border security and falls in love with the daughter.

45. Swades (2004). Drama. After living in America for many years, a NASA engineer returns to India to reconnect with his nanny and his country.

46. Taare Zameen Par (2007). Drama. A teacher discovers one of the troubled children in his class has learning disabilities.

47. Talaash: The Answer Lies Within (2012). Thriller.  While investigating the complicated case of a film star's death, he repeatedly crosses path with a mysterious woman.

48. Tere Naam (2003). Drama. After failing to woo a young woman, a man with a shady past abducts her.

49. Veer-Zaara (2004). Romantic drama. Indian Air Force Squadron Leader Veer Pratap Singh rescues the stranded Zaara, a woman from Pakistan, following a bus accident - and their lives are forever bound.

50. Wanted (2009). Action thriller. A middle-class girl falls for a violent gangster, who may not be entirely what he seems.

 

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