Bollywood for the World
by nareshverma82 | created - 24 Dec 2013 | updated - 03 Aug 2016 | PublicHindi movies for non-Hindi speakers.. Yes, that's what the list is all about. Living out of India for long, I come across many friends who are interested in Bollywood movies, but don't know which ones to watch.
I don't claim that this is the ULTIMATE list (Your suggestions are very welcome :))
The parameters I considered for this list are:
1. Drama/Romance as the primary genre
2. Movies post the 90's to date - This is intentionally done to focus only on the contemporary movies
3. No Super Hero or Special effects movies - Come on, no one watches Bollywood for those
4. No brainless comedies (please !)
5. Movies that truly reflect the rich cultural heritage, Colors and Music
Again, this is not a complete list, please feel free to suggest and add.
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1. 3 Idiots (2009)
PG-13 | 170 min | Comedy, Drama
Two friends are searching for their long lost companion. They revisit their college days and recall the memories of their friend who inspired them to think differently, even as the rest of the world called them "idiots".
Director: Rajkumar Hirani | Stars: Aamir Khan, Madhavan, Mona Singh, Sharman Joshi
Votes: 434,286 | Gross: $6.53M
2. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
Not Rated | 181 min | Drama, Romance
When Raj meets Simran in Europe, it isn't love at first sight but when Simran moves to India for an arranged marriage, love makes its presence felt.
Director: Aditya Chopra | Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Amrish Puri, Farida Jalal
Votes: 77,180
3. Jab We Met (2007)
Not Rated | 138 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A depressed wealthy businessman finds his life changing after he meets a spunky and care-free young woman.
Director: Imtiaz Ali | Stars: Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Tarun Arora, Dara Singh Randhawa
Votes: 58,765 | Gross: $0.41M
4. Barfi! (2012)
Not Rated | 151 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Three young people learn that love can neither be defined nor contained by society's definition of normal and abnormal.
Director: Anurag Basu | Stars: Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Ileana D'Cruz, Saurabh Shukla
Votes: 86,758 | Gross: $2.80M
5. Bajirao Mastani (2015)
Not Rated | 158 min | Action, Drama, History
An account of the romance between the Maratha general, Baji Rao I and Mastani, princess of Bundelkhand.
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali | Stars: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Tanvi Azmi
Votes: 38,501 | Gross: $6.56M
6. Like Stars on Earth (2007)
PG | 162 min | Drama, Family
An eight-year-old boy is thought to be a lazy trouble-maker, until the new art teacher has the patience and compassion to discover the real problem behind his struggles in school.
Directors: Aamir Khan, Amole Gupte | Stars: Darsheel Safary, Aamir Khan, Tisca Chopra, Vipin Sharma
Votes: 206,628 | Gross: $1.22M
7. Black (2005)
Not Rated | 122 min | Drama
The cathartic tale of a young woman who can't see, hear, or speak, and the teacher who brings a ray of light into her dark world.
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali | Stars: Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Shernaz Patel, Ayesha Kapur
Votes: 36,180 | Gross: $0.73M
8. Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
Not Rated | 183 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Three inseparable childhood friends are just out of college. Nothing comes between them - until they each fall in love, and their wildly different approaches to relationships creates tension.
Director: Farhan Akhtar | Stars: Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Preity G Zinta
Votes: 75,760 | Gross: $0.30M
9. Devdas (I) (2002)
Not Rated | 185 min | Drama, Musical, Romance
After his wealthy family prohibits him from marrying the woman he is in love with, Devdas Mukherjee's life spirals further and further out of control as he takes up alcohol and a life of vice to numb the pain.
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali | Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jackie Shroff
Votes: 46,908 | Gross: $3.50M
10. Veer-Zaara (2004)
Not Rated | 192 min | Drama, Family, Musical
"Veer-Zaara" is a saga of love, separation, courage, and sacrifice. A love story that is an inspiration and will remain a legend forever.
Director: Yash Chopra | Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Preity G Zinta, Rani Mukerji, Kirron Kher
Votes: 57,442 | Gross: $2.92M
11. Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003)
Not Rated | 156 min | Comedy, Drama
A gangster sets out to fulfill his father's dream of becoming a doctor.
Director: Rajkumar Hirani | Stars: Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Gracy Singh, Boman Irani
Votes: 88,297
12. Iqbal (2005)
Not Rated | 132 min | Drama, Sport
Iqbal, the deaf and mute son of a farmer, has a passion for the game of cricket and seeks the tutelage of a washed-up, alcoholic ex-player.
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor | Stars: Shreyas Talpade, Naseeruddin Shah, Shweta Basu Prasad, Yatin Karyekar
Votes: 17,694
13. Vicky Donor (2012)
Not Rated | 126 min | Comedy, Romance
A man is brought in by an infertility doctor to supply him with his sperm, where he becomes the biggest sperm donor for his clinic.
Director: Shoojit Sircar | Stars: Ayushmann Khurrana, Yami Gautam, Annu Kapoor, Dolly Ahluwalia
Votes: 45,326 | Gross: $0.17M
14. Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)
Not Rated | 144 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Munna Bhai embarks on a journey with Mahatma Gandhi in order to fight against a corrupt property dealer.
Director: Rajkumar Hirani | Stars: Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Vidya Balan, Boman Irani
Votes: 49,965 | Gross: $2.22M
15. Guzaarish (2010)
126 min | Drama, Romance
Ethan, a magician rendered paralyzed in an accident, sets off a furor when he makes a petition to the court to end his own life.
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali | Stars: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Shernaz Patel, Aditya Roy Kapoor
Votes: 19,723 | Gross: $1.02M
16. English Vinglish (2012)
Not Rated | 134 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
A quiet, sweet tempered housewife endures small slights from her well-educated husband and daughter every day because of her inability to speak and understand English.
Director: Gauri Shinde | Stars: Sridevi, Adil Hussain, Mehdi Nebbou, Priya Anand
Votes: 39,590 | Gross: $1.67M
17. Rang De Basanti (2006)
Not Rated | 167 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
The story of six young Indians who assist an English woman to film a documentary on the freedom fighters from their past, and the events that lead them to relive the long-forgotten saga of freedom.
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra | Stars: Aamir Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Siddharth, Sharman Joshi
Votes: 122,346 | Gross: $2.20M
18. Raanjhanaa (2013)
Not Rated | 140 min | Drama, Romance
Kundan, the son of a Hindu pundit, discovers that his childhood sweetheart Zoya loves city-bred Akram and wants to marry him. However, he persistently seeks to win her heart.
Director: Aanand L. Rai | Stars: Dhanush, Sonam Kapoor, Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub, Swara Bhasker
Votes: 34,574 | Gross: $0.88M
19. Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994)
TV-14 | 206 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical
Prem and Nisha meet and fall in love at the wedding of their elder siblings, but their plans to be together are put in jeopardy when Nisha's sister dies, leaving behind a baby.
Director: Sooraj R. Barjatya | Stars: Madhuri Dixit, Salman Khan, Mohnish Behl, Renuka Shahane
Votes: 22,546
20. Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
Not Rated | 213 min | Action, Drama, History
A sixteenth century love story about a marriage of alliance that gave birth to true love between a great Mughal emperor, Akbar, and a Rajput princess, Jodha.
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker | Stars: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonu Sood, Poonam Sinha
Votes: 34,586 | Gross: $3.44M
21. Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000)
Not Rated | 172 min | Action, Musical, Romance
A young girl meets the doppelganger of her deceased boyfriend and now has a chance to find the people who have murdered him.
Director: Rakesh Roshan | Stars: Hrithik Roshan, Ameesha Patel, Anupam Kher, Dalip Tahil
Votes: 16,484 | Gross: $0.36M
22. Darr (1993)
Not Rated | 178 min | Action, Drama, Romance
Darr is a girl's (Kiran) story caught between one man's (Sunil) love and another man's (Rahul) obsession.
Director: Yash Chopra | Stars: Juhi Chawla, Sunny Deol, Shah Rukh Khan, Anupam Kher
Votes: 25,419
23. Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993)
163 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Rahul Malhotra (Aamir Khan) is the manager of the heavily in debt family business. He is also the guardian of his dead sister's mischievous kids. Rahul hires Vaijayanti (Juhi Chawla) as ... See full summary »
Director: Mahesh Bhatt | Stars: Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla, Sharokh Bharucha, Kunal Kemmu
Votes: 6,217
24. Maine Pyar Kiya (1989)
Not Rated | 192 min | Drama, Musical, Romance
After Suman's father leaves her in the care of another family while he travels abroad, she falls in love with Prem. However, in order to for them to marry, Prem has to prove to Suman's father that he is not the same as his own dad.
Director: Sooraj R. Barjatya | Stars: Salman Khan, Bhagyashree Patwardhan, Alok Nath, Rajeev Verma
Votes: 13,080
25. Dor (2006)
147 min | Drama
Two woman --different backgrounds, miles apart, and strangers to each other-- are linked by tragedy. Their new-found friendship is tested as one holds the fate of the other's husband in her hands.
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor | Stars: Ayesha Takia, Shreyas Talpade, Gul Panag, Girish Karnad
Votes: 6,267
26. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)
Not Rated | 188 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical
Nandini has to choose between Sameer, the man who taught her to fall in love; and Vanraj, the man from whom she learnt how to abide and fulfill promises of love.
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali | Stars: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, Zohra Sehgal
Votes: 19,761
27. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)
Not Rated | 155 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical
Three friends decide to turn their fantasy vacation into reality after one of their friends gets engaged.
Director: Zoya Akhtar | Stars: Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif
Votes: 85,824 | Gross: $3.11M
28. Hera Pheri (2000)
Not Rated | 156 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
Three unemployed men look for answers to all their money problems - but when their opportunity arrives, will they know what to do with it?
Director: Priyadarshan | Stars: Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Tabu
Votes: 72,449
29. Queen (2013)
Not Rated | 146 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
A Delhi girl from a traditional family sets out on a solo honeymoon after her marriage gets cancelled.
Director: Vikas Bahl | Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Rajkummar Rao, Lisa Haydon, Jeffrey Ho
Votes: 68,323 | Gross: $1.43M
30. Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)
Not Rated | 163 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
An Indian man with a magnanimous heart takes a young mute Pakistani girl back to her homeland to reunite her with her family.
Director: Kabir Khan | Stars: Salman Khan, Harshaali Malhotra, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Kareena Kapoor
Votes: 97,670 | Gross: $8.18M
31. Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na (2008)
155 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Two best friends being convinced that they are not in love search for each other's love.
Director: Abbas Tyrewala | Stars: Imran Khan, Genelia Deshmukh, Manjari Fadnnis, Ayaz Khan
Votes: 28,205 | Gross: $0.60M
32. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)
Not Rated | 167 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
A breathtaking, goose flesh igniting, awe inspiring love journey of an ordinary man Suri and his 'total opposite' love Taani.
Director: Aditya Chopra | Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Vinay Pathak, M.K. Raina
Votes: 53,594 | Gross: $2.07M
33. Fanaa (2006)
Not Rated | 168 min | Action, Drama, Romance
A sweet blind girl Zooni meets a flirty Rehan. She ignores her friends' warnings. It's her time to discover life. Is she making the right love choice?
Director: Kunal Kohli | Stars: Aamir Khan, Kajol, Rishi Kapoor, Tabu
Votes: 35,047 | Gross: $2.10M
34. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001)
Not Rated | 210 min | Drama, Musical, Romance
After marrying a poor woman, rich Rahul is disowned by his father and moves to London to build a new life. Years later, his now-grown younger brother Rohan embarks on a mission to bring Rahul back home and reunite the family.
Director: Karan Johar | Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan
Votes: 55,592 | Gross: $2.90M
35. A Wednesday (2008)
Not Rated | 104 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A retiring police officer reminisces about the most astounding day of his career. About a case that was never filed but continues to haunt him in his memories - the case of a man and a Wednesday.
Director: Neeraj Pandey | Stars: Anupam Kher, Naseeruddin Shah, Veerendra Saxena, Mahesh Kanual
Votes: 82,286
36. Paheli (2005)
Not Rated | 140 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
A folk tale - supernatural love story about a ghost who falls in love with a newlywed woman.
Director: Amol Palekar | Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Anupam Kher, Naseeruddin Shah
Votes: 14,262 | Gross: $1.41M
37. No Entry (2005)
158 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical
Kishan and Sunny's life are troubled after their womanizing friend Prem sets them up with a hooker named Bobby, leading to web of lies and confusions.
Director: Anees Bazmee | Stars: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Fardeen Khan, Bipasha Basu
Votes: 12,784 | Gross: $0.68M
38. Socha Na Tha (2005)
Not Rated | 137 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A boy is forced meet a girl for an arranged marriage but even though he refuses the match, they secretly become friends. As things get complicated and both get engaged to different people they realize they've fallen in love with each other.
Director: Imtiaz Ali | Stars: Abhay Deol, Ayesha Takia, Ayesha Jhulka, Apoorva Jha
Votes: 7,963
39. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
Not Rated | 177 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical
During their college years, Anjali was in love with her best-friend Rahul, but he had eyes only for Tina. Years later, Rahul and the now-deceased Tina's eight-year-old daughter attempts to reunite her father and Anjali.
Director: Karan Johar | Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Sana Saeed
Votes: 57,221 | Gross: $2.10M
40. Kahaani (2012)
Not Rated | 122 min | Mystery, Thriller
A pregnant woman's search for her missing husband takes her from London to Kolkata, but everyone she questions denies having ever met him.
Director: Sujoy Ghosh | Stars: Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Indraneil Sengupta, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Votes: 65,867 | Gross: $1.04M
41. Rockstar (2011)
Not Rated | 159 min | Drama, Music, Romance
Janardhan Jakhar chases his dreams of becoming a big Rock star, during which he falls in love with Heer.
Director: Imtiaz Ali | Stars: Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri, Shammi Kapoor, Kumud Mishra
Votes: 48,852 | Gross: $0.99M
42. Drishyam (2015)
Not Rated | 163 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Desperate measures are taken by a man who tries to save his family from the dark side of the law, after they commit an unexpected crime.
Director: Nishikant Kamat | Stars: Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran, Tabu, Rajat Kapoor
Votes: 94,243 | Gross: $0.74M
43. Monsoon Wedding (2001)
R | 114 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A stressed father, a bride-to-be with a secret, a smitten event planner, and relatives from around the world create much ado about the preparations for an arranged marriage in India.
Director: Mira Nair | Stars: Naseeruddin Shah, Lillete Dubey, Shefali Shah, Vijay Raaz
Votes: 26,677 | Gross: $13.88M
44. Andaz Apna Apna (1994)
Not Rated | 160 min | Action, Comedy, Romance
Two slackers competing for the affections of an heiress inadvertently become her protectors from an evil criminal.
Director: Rajkumar Santoshi | Stars: Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Karisma Kapoor
Votes: 55,259
45. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994)
158 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
A dreamer falls for a girl who is in love with someone else and tries to create a rift between her and the man she loves.
Director: Kundan Shah | Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, Deepak Tijori, Rita Bhaduri
Votes: 19,441
46. Khosla Ka Ghosla! (2006)
Not Rated | 135 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
A Delhi-based retired middle-class man tries half-heartedly to get his land back from a swindling property dealer with the help of his sons and their friends.
Directors: Dibakar Banerjee, Pravin E. Birje | Stars: Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Parvin Dabas, Tara Sharma
Votes: 25,006 | Gross: $0.03M
47. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)
Not Rated | 186 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
The truth behind the ascension of Milkha Singh, who was scarred by of the India-Pakistan partition.
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra | Stars: Farhan Akhtar, Kousi Orfahli, Deepak Singh Rawat, Japtej Singh
Votes: 72,289 | Gross: $1.63M
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