Since its inception, Bollywood has delivered some really groundbreaking films over the years. These films vary in size, genre, and treatment but don’t fail to engage and entertain the audiences. Here’s a list of 8 must-watch Bollywood movies of all time. This list includes Amitabh Bachchan’s Sholay and Aamir Khan’s Lagaan among others.
Must Watch Bollywood Flicks
1. Sholay (1975)
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
- Stars: Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Amjad Khan, Sanjeev Kumar
- Director: Ramesh Sippy
- Writer: Salim-Javed
- Where to watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video
No conversation about Bollywood is ever complete without mentioning Sholay. This Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra starrer is the granddaddy of all masala movies in the nation. Its success is evident in the fact that it is easily one of the most quoted and discussed Hindi films from the past century. One can’t afford to miss this classic.
2. Lagaan (2001)
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
- Stars: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Raghubir Yadav
- Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
- Writer: Ashutosh Gowariker, Sanjay Dayma, Kumar Dave
- Where to watch/OTT Platform: Netflix
Lagaan is a modern-day classic in every sense of the word. The film’s story, led by Aamir Khan, beautifully combines cricket with colonial times filled with nail-biting sequences. Upon release, Lagaan became a major critical and commercial success and received an Oscar nomination in the Best Foreign Language category.
3. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
- IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
- Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Amrish Puri
- Director: Aditya Chopra
- Writer: Aditya Chopra
- Where to watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge has seeped into our culture, unlike any other film. Most of its dialogues, songs, and the train sequence featuring SRK and Kajol has become iconic and a part of our everyday life. Also known as DDLJ, the film is the longest-running in Indian cinema since it’s still running in Maratha Mandir in Mumbai.
4. Mughal E Azam (1960)
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
- Stars: Dilip Kumar, Madhubala
- Director: K.Asif
- Writer: K.Asif
- Where to watch/OTT Platform: Zee5
6. Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
- Stars: Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Preity Zinta
- Director: Farhan Akhtar
- Writer: Farhan Akhtar
- Where to watch/OTT Platform: Netflix
Interestingly. this Farhan Akhtar directorial was released the same year as Lagaan but failed to generate money. However, its influence on us has been on many levels. Filled with funny scenes, relatable characters, and a heartwarming story, Dil Chahta Hai feels like a warm hug. So, grab a popcorn and enjoy this movie if you haven’t.
7. Parinda (1989)
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
- Stars: Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff
- Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
- Writer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Shiv Subramanium
- Where to watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Parinda is credited for bringing realism into Bollywood with its lighting, performances and overall mood. Nana Patekar’s acting as the villain Anna seth has to be the most terrifying bad guy on the big screen. It won’t be wrong to say that this film paved the way for directors like Ram Gopal Varma who attempted this genre with realism.
8. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Kajol
- Director: Karan Johar
- Writer: Karan Johar
- Where to watch/OTT Platform: Netflix
After gaining experience in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Karan Johar directed his debut feature with Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji. The film turned out to be one of the most iconic and successful films in Bollywood. From its acting to music to everything else, KKHH turned into a success story and has become a part of our popular culture.
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