Once Upon a Time in… Bollywood!
Move over, Tarantino — it’s time to celebrate another international mecca of cinema. In honor of India’s independence Day, here is our list of sixteen essential Bollywood films that showcase the vibrant culture of the world’s largest film industry.
Queen
Shakthi Seshadri, a bright young student, chases dreams of becoming an actress by playing by her own rules.
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- India • 2019
- Creator Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prasath Murugesan
- Cast Vanitha Krishnachandran
- Genre Drama
- Available on No streaming locations found.
Dear Zindagi
An unconventional thinker helps a budding cinematographer gain a new perspective on life.
- India • 2016
- Director Gauri Shinde
- Cast Alia Bhatt, Shah Rukh Khan, Ali Zafar, Kunal Kapoor, Angad Bedi, Ira Dubey
- Genre Bollywood, Drama, Romance
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Masaan
(मसान)
Four stories intertwine in moments of discrimination, disparity, desire, and despair small-town India.
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- India, France • 2015
- Director Neeraj Ghaywan
- Cast Richa Chadda, Sanjay Mishra, Vicky Kaushal, Shweta Tripathi, Vineet Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi
- Genre Bollywood, Drama
- Available on Amazon Video
3 Idiots
From the moment he arrives at India's most prestigious university, Rancho's outlandish schemes turn the campus upside down.
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- India • 2009
- Director Rajkumar Hirani
- Cast Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Omi Vaidya, Boman Irani, Ali Fazal
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, AMC on Demand
Jodhaa Akbar
(जोधा अकबर)
A sixteenth-century love story about a marriage of alliance that becomes true love.
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- India • 2008
- Director Ashutosh Gowariker
- Cast Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonu Sood, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Suhasini Mulay, Raza Murad
- Genre Adventure, History, Romance
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Om Shanti Om
(ओम शांति ओम)
For some dreams, one lifetime is not enough.
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- India • 2007
- Director Farah Khan
- Cast Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, Shreyas Talpade, Kirron Kher, Nitish Pandey
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube
Rang De Basanti
(रंग दे बसंती)
A documentary changes the lives of five teenage freedom fighters.
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- India • 2006
- Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
- Cast Aamir Khan, Siddharth, Atul Kulkarni, Kunal Kapoor, Soha Ali Khan, Alice Patten
- Genre Comedy, Drama, History
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Dil Chahta Hai
(दिल चाहता है)
Akash, Sameer, and Sid are best friends in college. During the summer after graduation, tension builds as they each fall in love.
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- India • 2001
- Director Farhan Akhtar
- Cast Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Preity Zinta, Sonali Kulkarni, Dimple Kapadia
- Genre Bollywood, Drama, Romance
- Available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix basic with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
(कभी ख़ुशी कभी ग़म)
When Rahul marries a poor woman, his father disowns him and Rahul moves to London to build a new life.
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- India • 2001
- Director Karan Johar
- Cast Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor Khan
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix basic with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India
(लगान)
Local politics and colonial justice meet in a game of cricket.
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- India • 2001
- Director Ashutosh Gowariker
- Cast Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, Paul Blackthorne, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rajendranath Zutshi
- Genre Adventure, Drama, Music, Romance
- Available on No streaming locations found.
Dil Se..
(दिल से..)
When journalist Amar falls for a mysterious woman on an assignment, she does not reciprocate his feelings.
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- India • 1998
- Director Mani Ratnam
- Cast Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala, Preity Zinta, Mita Vasisht, Arundhati Rao, Raghuvir Yadav
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Netflix, aha, Netflix basic with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
(कुछ कुछ होता है)
Before dying, a woman leaves letters asking her daughter to play matchmaker for her father.
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- India • 1998
- Director Karan Johar
- Cast Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Salman Khan, Farida Jalal, Archana Puran Singh
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix basic with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
(दिलवाले दुल्हनिया ले जायेंगे)
Two Indian expats in London make their way back to India, and to each other.
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- India • 1995
- Director Aditya Chopra
- Cast Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Amrish Puri, Anupam Kher, Satish Shah
- Genre Bollywood, Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Mother India
In this Bollywood classic, a poverty-stricken woman rises above her circumstances to be there for her children and for herself.
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- India • 1957
- Director Mehboob Khan
- Cast Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar, Raaj Kumar, Kanhaiyalal, Kumkum
- Genre Drama
- Available on Eros Now Select Apple TV Channel, Amazon Video
Awaara
(आवारा)
The lives of poverty-stricken Raj and privileged Rita intertwine when friendship, romance, and revenge collide in this Bollywood smash hit.
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- India • 1951
- Director Raj Kapoor
- Cast Prithviraj Kapoor, Leela Chitnis, Nargis, Raj Kapoor, Helen, Shashi Kapoor
- Genre Drama
- Available on Amazon Video