The continuous churn of the Netflix library can seem like its very own will-they-won’t-they romantic setup; sometimes you find what you’re looking for, and sometimes you’re left searching without any luck. Bollywood—the hub of Indian film production in Mumbai and the largest film industry in the world—is known for its own romantic inclinations, but the industry offers so much more. While it can be daunting to find the perfect film, streaming platforms offer a wide variety of films to suit your appetite. Whether you are looking for classic film song-and-dance numbers, political and action thrillers, historical deep dives, or films with progressive messaging, the best Bollywood movies on Netflix boast a lineup of can’t-miss films. Partnerships with Bollywood royalty (like megastar Shah Rukh Khan’s production company Red Chillies Entertainment, and flashy directors like Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtara and Farah Khan) promises that Netflix and Bollywood are truly a match made in heaven.
Here are the best Bollywood movies on Netflix:
15. Om Shanti OmYear: 2007
Director: Farah Khan
Om Shanti Om is a quintessential “Bollywood” film, a masala popcorn flick with wild eccentricities. The 2007 film stars Shah Rukh Khan as Om, an aspiring actor who dies while trying to save the actress he loves (Deepika Padukone) after her film-producer-husband (Arjun Rampal) intentionally sets a fire to kill her. Reincarnated—yes, you read that correctly—as a successful actor identical to Om, he must ultimately avenge the original Om’s death. It’s a contemporary callback to earlier Indian cinema and will surely keep you entertained from start to finish.
14. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (How I Felt When I Saw That Girl)Year: 2019
Director: Shelly Chopra Dhar
Sweety (Sonam Kapoor) is plagued by her family’s constant marriage inquiries when she meets Sahil (Rajkummar Rao), a flailing playwright who is instantly smitten with her. After months of his persistence, she finally tells him that she’s in love with a woman. Unfazed, Sahil recalibrates and commits himself to helping her tell her family in the only way he knows how: an elaborate musical play. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga was released to much fanfare as the first mainstream lesbian Bollywood love story, and is a surefire tearjerker about owning your identity and familial acceptance.
13. Main Hoon Na (I Am Here)Year: 2004
Director: Farah Khan
Situated in contemporary India-Pakistan tensions, Major Ram Prasad Sharma (Shah Rukh Khan) is assigned to “Project Milaap,” a top-secret mission that would release captured civilians from both countries in an effort to drive peace in the region. As part of this assignment, Sharma must go undercover at a school to protect his boss’s daughter, who has become a target of Project Milaap’s foe. On his father’s deathbed, Sharma finds out he has a half-brother —of course, another student at the same school—which further colors the mission for him. Though he makes some hilarious missteps, Sharma ultimately wins the two over until they find out the secrets he’s hiding. Main Hoon Na is a politically inclined action comedy, and a heartwarming look at love and family under the threat of warfare.
12. Pad ManYear: 2018
Director: R. Balki
Based on the true story of a social entrepreneur who created a low cost sanitary pad machine for rural Indian women, Pad Man tackles India’s backwards approach to menstruation. Lakshmikant “Lakshmi” Chauhan (Akshay Kumar) is ostracized from his village for his diligent focus on creating a pad for his wife (Radhika Apte) after discovering that she was using a dirty rag every month. But failure and his new status as an outcast doesn’t deter Lakshmi from his goal; armed by the knowledge that pads could help prevent diseases and illnesses, he continues to work on his prototype until he perfects it and is recognized by an entrepreneur competition, which leads him to wide fame and success. A story of resilience and effort to change the status quo that will inspire you to challenge other stigmas in society.
11. Ajeeb DaastaansYear: 2021
Director: Shashank Khaitan, Raj Mehta, Neeraj Ghaywan, Kayoze Irani
Although there’s now a wariness about watching Netflix India anthology films because they prove to be a mixed bag, there are a few reasons to check Ajeeb Daastaans out. The first one being the chapter starring Konkona Sen Sharma and Aditi Rao Hydari called Geeli Puchi. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, a filmmaker who comes from a Dalit (formerly untouchable) background and has spoken about the lack of Dalit representation in Indian cinema, it tells the story of an evolving friendship between two women. Their complicated relationship addresses issues of caste, class and sexuality with an assured hand. Sharma is brilliant as always and Hydari gets to add some nuance to the pretty paramour roles she’s known for. Ankahi is an interesting take on the well-worn narrative of a fraying marriage, using deafness as a plot and craft device. The result is touching in parts—however, the lack of dialogue also means there’s occasional overwrought acting.–Aparita Bhandari
10. A Wednesday (2008)Year: 2008
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Retiring police officer Prakash Rathod (Anupam Kher) describes the most difficult case of his career, which unfolded over the course of a Wednesday afternoon. The case, a bomb threat spread across the city of Mumbai, was never filed and the details are only known to those who witnessed it, and continues to haunt Rathod to this day. A Wednesday is an expertly plotted action thriller that draws well-deserved comparisons to Die Hard and keeps you guessing until the end.
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