The Ultimate Watchlist for Hopeless Romantics: From Kuch Kuch Hota Hai to Don’t Be Shy!
For anyone who believes the best love stories are as much about friendship, growing up and finding yourself as they are about romance, Hindi cinema has always had something to offer. From college friendships that slowly turn into love to young relationships that evolve as the characters do, these films have captured the many shades of being a hopeless romantic. Here’s a watchlist that brings together some of the films audiences return to for their romantic journeys – with Don’t Be Shy joining the list as a fresh coming-of-age story about figuring out life, love, friendship and everything in between.
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Kuch Kuch Hota Hai – When friendship finds its way to love Few films have made the friendship-to-love trope as iconic as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Rahul and Anjali’s journey became a defining romantic story for an entire generation, blending friendship, heartbreak and second chances into a quintessential Bollywood romance. It remains one of those films that audiences revisit for its nostalgia, memorable characters and larger-than-life take on love.
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Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na – When your best friend could be your person What happens when the person who knows you best might also be the person you’re meant to be with? Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na captured the confusion of young love through a friendship that slowly reveals feelings neither character initially knows how to name. With its college setting, close-knit friendships and coming-of-age emotions, the film remains a favourite for anyone who loves romance that feels rooted in friendship.
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Student of the Year – College, friendship and romance Big college campuses, complicated friendships, first romances and a whole lot of youthful drama – Student of the Year brought all of it together in a glossy coming-of-age package. At its heart, the film follows young characters navigating friendships and relationships while figuring out who they want to become, making it a natural pick for a romantic college watchlist.
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Break Ke Baad – Young love, growing up and growing together Break Ke Baad explores what happens when young love has to make room for individual growth. The film follows a couple navigating distance, changing ambitions and the realities of growing up, making their relationship feel less about the perfect romance and more about figuring out whether two people can grow without growing apart.
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Don’t Be Shy – A new-age journey through life, love and friendship Bringing a fresh voice to the coming-of-age romance space, Don’t Be Shy follows young characters as they navigate the messiness of college, friendships, relationships and discovering themselves along the way. Rather than treating romance as the only destination, the film looks at the larger journey of figuring out who you are, what you want and the people you want beside you.
With Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt’s Eternal Sunshine Productions introducing four new talents – Aarushi Bajaj, Bianca Arora, Ansh Duggal and Piyush Khati – Don’t Be Shy brings a new generation of characters and emotions to a space audiences have always loved. For hopeless romantics looking for something that combines friendship, young love and the chaos of finding yourself, this one belongs on the list, releasing on Amazon Prime on September 25th.
By Keerti Kadam