[Photo Credit: Facebook/Piku, Airlift, Margarita with a Straw]
Let’s face it, long weekends are actually meant to do absolutely nothing. You have to admit, getting an extra day of being lazy is perfect. To add the cherry to this cake, we have Netflix at our disposal, and the streaming website has tons of Bollywood flicks to enjoy.
Whether you want to get caught up in classics or enjoy new films, there are several options. For the full list of Hindi movies, check out this “Netflix Bible,” which gives you great shortcuts to narrow down exactly the kind of movies and shows you want to see.
For now, don’t worry—we do the heavy lifting for you and pick the best Bollywood movies to watch, divided by genre, so all you have to do is keep the popcorn ready and press play.
Director: Rajkumar
Actors: Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Paresh Rawal, Karishma Kapoor, Raveena Tandon
Nothing is funnier than watching the two Khans in their early days as they simply kill it in this movie. As two misfits, Amar and Prem, they try to woo rich girl Raveena for marriage. They get involved in a series of kidnappings that end in a humorous climax. Watch it for the laughs, Rawal in a dual role, and Shakti Kapoor’s iconic character Crime Master Gogo.
Director: Shoojit Sarcar
Actors: Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Irrfan Khan
The lead duo delivers one of their finest performances in the movie as father-daughter Bhashkor and Piku Banarjee, who have a loving albeit slightly tumultuous relationship. His issues with chronic constipation make him paranoid and has made his habits unbearable to others. While traveling to Kolkata along with Rana Choudhary (Khan), their experiences cause subtle comedic moments. The film may have an emotional quotient to it but it doesn’t shy away from making incredible jokes either.
Director: Nikhil Advani
Actors: Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan, Jaya Bachchan
This movie may have its fair share of lighter, fun moments, but at the heart of it, it’s a solid gut-wrenching film, so keep your tissues ready. Aman moves to New York for treatment as he is dying of a heart disease—a fact he hides from his neighbors and friends, the Kapoors. Naina, a depressed woma,n falls for his charming ways but he rejects her despite his reciprocal love. His last aim then becomes to unite her with her best friend Rohit. Through his journey, we really learn what it means to realize we won’t live forever. It’s beautiful in every way.
Director: Sooraj Barjatya
Actors: Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Mohnish Behl, Renuka Shahane
Aside from giving us some timeless songs, “Hum Aapke Hai Koun” will always be remembered as a fan favorite, super hit movie. Prem and Nisha fall in love over the course of their elder siblings wedding to each other but hide their relationship from everyone. When Pooja, Nisha’s sister, accidentally dies, their families arrange for her to get married to her brother-in-law. Sticking true to their era, Nisha and Prem decide to sacrifice their love for the greater good. A true family drama, this movie will speak to the Bollywood fan in you and get the waterworks in motion.
“Dhanak,” “Pardes”
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Actors: Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Ashutosh Rana
This film is it’s own tribute to “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.” Humpty falls for Kavya, who is already engaged to someone else. In order to win over her family, he accepts her father’s condition to live with them as they prepare for her wedding and prove to them why he is the one for Kavya. Dhawan and Bhatt grab our full attention with their chemistry. The songs prop up the film even more, making this cute love story an enjoyable ride.
Director: Karan Johar
Actors: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, Salman Khan, Sana Saeed
One of the most successful, well-remembered movies of our time, this is the third highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time. It’s a simple love triangle story in the beginning: Rahul and Anjali are best friends. Anjali loves Rahul. Rahul loves new girl Tina. Rahul marries Tina. A heartbroken Anjali moves away. The twist in the story occurs when Tina passes away and through letters, tells their eight-year-old daughter to bring Rahul and Anjali together again. As the two rediscover their friendship and long lost love, we witness emotional, funny scenes that are sure to tug heart strings.
Honorable Mentions: “Dum Laga Ke Haisha,” “I, Me, Aur Main”
Director: Karan Johar
Actor: Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Jaya Bachchan
This movie became an instant classic for its elaborate song and dances, family values, showing the life of a rich but broken family. Rohan (Roshan) seeks to reunite his brother and father after they had a falling out because he married a woman beneath their class. For the full Bollywood experience, there is no better film to watch than this one.
Director: Sooraj Barjatya
Actors: Salman Khan, Alok Nath, Bhagyashree, Reema Lagoo
Mix together some good old family quarrels, unrequited love interests, and fabulous music, and you have a successful classic. If it worked for K3G, it sure worked for this film before that, too. Plus, if it’s a movie directed by Barjatya AND starring Khan, there is bound to be tons of drama.
“Maine Pyaar Kiya” is a prime example of this. Suman and Prem are family friends but she comes from a lower class. They fall in love but his father disapproves and humiliates Suman and his father. To win over her father again, Prem decides to work in a quarry near their village to prove his dedication. Watch it for Khan in his early days, before his washed-out abs and endless controversies took over his career.
“Ram Lakhan,” “Hum Saath Saath Hain”
Director: Leena Yadav
Actors: Tannishtha Chatterjee, Lehar Khan, Radhika Apte, Surveen Chawla
Set against the backdrop of a village suffering from drought, the story of four women intertwines their dreams, relationships, fears, and careers. Their village is still plagued with age-old traditions such as forced child marriage and where women are not allowed to work or live for themselves. As friends, they secretly dwell about what their lives could have been. As individual women, they struggle to succeed and break free of their shackles. The movie deals with other societal issues of rape, abusive alcoholic husbands, misogyny. It’s brutal and honest—and wonderfully made.
Director: Shonali Bose
Actors: Kalki Koechlin, Revathi, Sayani Gupta, William Moseley
There is absolutely no doubt that Koechlin is one of the most talented, diverse actresses in Bollywood right now—and her work in this film proves it. She plays Laila, a teenager with cerebral palsy who is an aspiring writer and also is in a band. After suffering a heartbreak, she moves with her mother to New York because she is accepted into a program at NYU. Whilst there, Laila discovers her bisexuality. She also bonds more with her mother when they realize she her cancer has relapsed. The film teaches us to adhere to a changing society and not get stuck in the rules that don’t apply anymore.
“Brahman Naman,” “Daughters of Mother India”
Director: Raja Krishna Menon
Actors: Akshay Kumar, Nimrat Kaur
Based on the life of Mathunny Matthews, a businessman who helped lead the evacuation of Indians during the Kuwait War, Kumar plays Ranjit Katyal. After Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, attacks Kuwait, he realizes that over a hundred thousand Indians are stranded in the country until a policy is enacted to help them. After several trials and tribulations that include business negotiations, working with the Embassy and Air India, and sacrificing relationships, he finally helps several people out. A true story of grit and strength, it brings to light a story we haven’t heard much about but should be paying attention to.
Director: Rohit Shetty
Actors: Ajay Devgn, Kajal Aggarwal, Prakash Raj
Bajirao Singham is a good cop with a passion. The film tells the story of his war against the corrupt Jaikant, his love story with Kavya, and his off-handed way of dealing with criminals, which leads to great respect for him amongst his villagers. The name Singham has now become unanimous with strength and courage. His impactful punches and kicks turn him into a local superhero of sorts. If you like action that has some useful meaning behind it, “Singham” is the film for you.
“Holiday,” “Once Upon A Time in Mumbai”
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