Bollywood Essentials
by jennyhardymedia | created - 13 Jun 2018 | updated - 13 Jun 2018 | PublicFilms you must see that are historically and artistically significant to the style that is "Bollywood"
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1. Mother India (1957)
Not Rated | 172 min | Action, Comedy, Drama
In this melodrama, a poverty-stricken woman raises her sons through many trials and tribulations. But no matter the struggles, she always sticks to her own moral code.
Director: Mehboob Khan | Stars: Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar Tuli, Raaj Kumar
Votes: 9,835
2. Waqt (1965)
178 min | Drama, Romance
Members of a family are separated in a natural disaster. Several years down the line, they aren't united but their lives are strangely interconnected.
Director: Yash Chopra | Stars: Sunil Dutt, Sadhana Shivdasani, Raaj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor
Votes: 1,522
3. Bobby (1973)
168 min | Comedy, Musical, Romance
Raj, the son of strict, wealthy parents, falls in love with Bobby, the daughter of a poor Christian fisherman -- a romance his parents oppose.
Director: Raj Kapoor | Stars: Dimple Kapadia, Rishi Kapoor, Pran Sikand, Premnath Malhotra
Votes: 2,003
4. Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)
162 min | Drama, Musical, Romance
Despite knowing that their respective families are bitter enemies, Raj and Rashmi fall in love with each other and decide to elope.
Director: Mansoor Khan | Stars: Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla, Goga Kapoor, Dalip Tahil
Votes: 11,303
5. 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: 76,987
6. 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: 57,038 | Gross: $2.10M
7. Dil Se.. (1998)
Not Rated | 163 min | Drama, Romance
A radio broadcaster's intense attraction to a mysterious woman opens the door to a tidal wave of powerful emotions and desires.
Director: Mani Ratnam | Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala, Preity G Zinta, Raghubir Yadav
Votes: 31,066
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: 75,628 | Gross: $0.30M
9. Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)
PG | 224 min | Drama, Musical, Sport
The people of a small village in Victorian India stake their future on a game of cricket against their ruthless British rulers.
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker | Stars: Aamir Khan, Raghubir Yadav, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley
Votes: 120,415 | Gross: $0.91M
10. 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: 46,793 | Gross: $3.50M
11. Dhoom (2004)
Not Rated | 129 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Dhoom reinvents the classic cops and robbers tale for the 21st century. Fast bikes, big action, and non-stop fun make for a thrilling story.
Director: Sanjay Gadhvi | Stars: Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, Uday Chopra, Esha Deol
Votes: 22,328 | Gross: $0.25M
12. Koi... Mil Gaya (2003)
Not Rated | 171 min | Action, Drama, Fantasy
A developmentally disabled young man tries to continue the work his father did in communicating with extra-terrestrials from outer space, which leads to something miraculous and wonderful.
Director: Rakesh Roshan | Stars: Rekha, Hrithik Roshan, Preity G Zinta, Rajat Bedi
Votes: 27,278 | Gross: $0.68M
13. Swades (2004)
Not Rated | 189 min | Drama, Musical
A successful Indian scientist returns to an Indian village to take his nanny to America with him and in the process rediscovers his roots.
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker | Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Gayatri Joshi, Kishori Ballal, Smith Seth
Votes: 98,297 | Gross: $1.22M
14. Dhoom 2 (2006)
Not Rated | 152 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Back in action DHOOM:2 reinvents the action comedy genre and propels it into the 21st century. Go on and enjoy the ride once again with Jai and Ali.
Director: Sanjay Gadhvi | Stars: Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Uday Chopra
Votes: 29,804 | Gross: $2.64M
15. 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: 57,327 | Gross: $2.92M
16. Krrish (2006)
Not Rated | 154 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Krishna is forced by circumstances to use his superpowers and become the masked superhero Krrish, before getting drawn towards his lost legacy.
Director: Rakesh Roshan | Stars: Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rekha, Naseeruddin Shah
Votes: 23,936
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: 122,201 | Gross: $2.20M
18. 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: 432,461 | Gross: $6.53M
19. 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: 34,528 | Gross: $3.44M
20. 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: 53,423 | Gross: $2.07M
21. Om Shanti Om (2007)
Not Rated | 162 min | Action, Comedy, Drama
In the 1970s, Om, an aspiring actor, is murdered, but is immediately reincarnated into the present day. He attempts to discover the mystery of his demise and find Shanti, the love of his previous life.
Director: Farah Khan | Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, Kirron Kher
Votes: 49,565 | Gross: $3.60M
22. My Name Is Khan (2010)
PG-13 | 165 min | Adventure, Drama, Romance
An Indian Muslim man with Asperger's syndrome takes a challenge to speak to the President of the United States seriously and embarks on a cross-country journey.
Director: Karan Johar | Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Sheetal Menon, Katie Amanda Keane
Votes: 116,124 | Gross: $4.02M
23. 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: 86,581 | Gross: $2.80M
24. Chennai Express (2013)
Not Rated | 141 min | Action, Comedy, Drama
A man travelling to Rameswaram via Chennai express for his late grandfather's ashes immersion finds himself in trouble after helping a don's daughter and her cousins board the train.
Director: Rohit Shetty | Stars: Deepika Padukone, Shah Rukh Khan, Sathyaraj, Nikitin Dheer
Votes: 63,365 | Gross: $5.31M
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