Best Movies In Bollywood

3 Idiots (2009)

Don’t let the title mislead you – yes the film is about 3 people, but idiots stands for ‘I’ll do it on my terms’. With a wicked twist at the end, it charts the journey of three engineering students with a perfect balance of pathos and gags. Told in retrospect, it features constant clashes with their college dean and concludes with the three friends meeting up as adults.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

Believe it or not, but DDLJ (as it’s known amongst fans) has been playing in Mumbai for almost 800 weeks. A rom-com that uses the famous Bollywood plot device of forbidden love, it unites playboy Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) with Simran (Kajol), who are banned from seeing each other by her father. The scene where Shah Rukh unbuttons his shirt was particularly tricky for director Aditya Chopra, as Kajol couldn’t stop guffawing. Still, great onscreen chemistry.

Fanaa (2006)

Set against a background of internal conflict revolving around Kashmir, Fanaa doesn’t try to make any clever political statements. Instead it concentrates on the love story between a terrorist and a blind girl, pointing out that not all choices are black and white. The film had its own controversy – lead actor Aamir Khan made a few statements about Gujarat, prompting the film’s boycott in the state, and one man self-immolating in protest when a cinema eventually did show it.

Dil To Pagal Hai (1997)

Any woman could empathise with Nisha, played by Karisma Kapoor. There she is, secretly in love with Rahul, and the both of them work together as dancers. Then one day Rahul brings in stone fox Madhuri Dixit as a new dancer for a piece he’s composing – how can she compete? All about the 'he loves me, she loves me not' angst, and highly enjoyable too.

Baazigar (1993)

Shah Rukh Khan plays the dirty dawg who dates two sisters, but that’s not the focus of the film. Driven by revenge after his family is ruined by a fat-cat crook, he takes on different identities to get to the man behind it. Along the way he murders people – even stuffs one into a suitcase – which was a bit shocking at the time, particularly as bumping off a heroine was unusual. A slightly darker role for Khan.

Taare Zameen Par (2007)

Bold subject matter for Aamir Khan, rejecting love plots and car explosions for a story that hinges on a dyslexic kid. A very cute kid, admittedly, with buckteeth and big eyes. After getting the snot kicked out of him and being continually scolded at school for being disruptive, Ishaan is sent to a boarding school. Things get worse, but then Khan steps in to save the day as school teacher Ram, who channels his creativity through art.

Maine Pyar Kiya (1989)

Every teenage girl’s heart beat as one when Maine Pyar Kiya was released, drooling over then-newcomer Salman Khan. Shot in his pre-hairplug days, the quintessential plot of rich guy falls for poor girl begins with Prem befriending Suman. After Prem’s friends make fun of Suman for being a pauper, he realises he loves her but Daddy isn’t too happy about it. He disowns Prem, who then works as a menial labourer to prove his love for her. Over 20 years on, we’re still swooning.