12 Best Bollywood Movies Filled With Drama, Romance, and Thrills

September 5, 20247 Mins Read

If you ask the average fan, Bollywood, or the Hindi film industry (a part of the larger Indian film industry) is not just about movies — it’s about emotion. From the moment you hit play, you’re transported to a world that brings you joy, moves you to tears, makes you swoon, fills you with anger, unleashes butterflies in your stomach, gets you dancing, and so much more. Bollywood is a great escape from reality, despite the fact that it often mirrors it, as your screen is filled with characters who may seem familiar, enigmatic, or both at once.

Whether you’re already well-versed in the genre or are looking for a place to start, here are 12 Hindi films available to stream on Netflix that are absolutely worth your time.

Laapataa Ladies

The lives of two brides take rather unexpected turns when, on their way to their new husbands’ homes, they accidentally swap places on a crowded train. The two women then embark on journeys of self-discovery while navigating their unanticipated surroundings. Set in rural India, this comedic satire is directed by Kiran Rao, who made her filmmaking debut with 2010’s Dhobi Ghat, and stars a plethora of actors both fresh and familiar, including Pratibha Ranta (Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar), Nitanshi Goel, and Sparsh Shrivastava (Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega), along with veterans like Ravi Kishan.

Amar Singh Chamkila

Inspired by true events, this gritty drama tells the story of Punjabi pop duo Amar Singh Chamkila and Amarjot Kaur — from their ascension to fame to their tragic demise. Dubbed Punjab’s Elvis, Chamkila’s music was avant-garde and defied conventions of the ’80s, but its provocative nature was what perhaps led to his and Kaur’s assassination. With Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra portraying the famed couple, the film is directed by Imtiaz Ali, who’s also the name behind classics like Tamasha and Jab We Met. The icing on the cake? A.R. Rahman’s magical music, Mohit Chauhan’s soulful vocals, and Irshad Kamil’s memorable lyrics.

12th Fail

India’s Civil Services Examinations, also called the UPSC, are known to be one of the toughest entrance tests in the world because of their grueling and cutthroat nature. 12th Fail documents and celebrates the lives of students who attempt to tackle this Goliath. Based on the actual story of the Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Manoj Kumar Sharma (Vikrant Massey), it’s a portrayal of resilience and fearlessness as Manoj restarts his academic journey to prepare for and ultimately clear these exams. This emotional biographical drama, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, also stars Medha Shankr as Shraddha Joshi, a fellow aspirant and Manoj’s real-life partner.

Darlings

Badrunissa “Badru” Sheikh (Alia Bhatt) is unconditionally and irrevocably in love with her husband, Hamza (Vijay Varma), despite the fact that he’s an alcoholic and physically abusive towards her. But when she gets pregnant and Hamza still won’t mend his ways, Badru decides to change hers with some help from her mother and an admirer. Bhatt (Gangubai Kathiawadi), Varma (Jaane Jaan), Shefali Shah (Delhi Crime), and Roshan Mathew (Kappela) headline this dark yet exceptionally hard-hitting comedy directed by Jasmeet K Reen.

Ludo

Directed by Anurag Basu (Jagga Jasoos), this black comedy features a stacked ensemble cast with Abhishek Bachchan, Pankaj Tripathi, Rajkummar Rao, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Rohit Saraf. Much like the game of ludo, it follows four complex yet deeply interconnected stories that involve everything from a sex tape to a suitcase full of money — all with Sattu (Tripathi), a notorious gangster, as the dice. Romance, drama, humor, and pathos — Ludo has a little bit of something for everyone.

Jaane Jaan

In the cloudy hills of Kalimpong, a single mother runs a café and leads a quiet and happy life. However, her happiness is short-lived as her abusive ex-husband makes an appearance, leading to a deadly crime. Her next-door neighbor, a gifted math teacher, comes to her rescue while a cynical cop unearths the case. Kareena Kapoor Khan (Crew) headlines the cast, which also features Jaideep Ahlawat (Maharaj) and Vijay Varma (Darlings) in this thriller directed by Sujoy Ghosh (Badla). You’ll certainly be on the edge of your seat while watching this one.

Jawan: Extended Cut

The highest-grossing Indian film of 2023, Jawan is a stylish action-thriller brought to you by Atlee (Mersal), and is led by the country’s biggest superstar — Shah Rukh Khan — in a dual role. It follows a prison warden who moonlights as a vigilante who’s not only fighting societal injustice and corruption, but also settling a past score. This blockbuster also stars Vijay Sethupathi, Nayanthara, Sanya Malhotra, and Priyamani, and features an extended cameo by Deepika Padukone. As you embark on this roller-coaster ride, be sure to also listen for Anirudh Ravichander’s foot-tapping music.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

A feel-good movie that boosted Spanish tourism for Indian travelers (yes, really!), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara has acquired cult classic status over the years. In fact, one of the many iconic characters from the film is a Hermès bag fondly known as “Bagwati”! When Kabir gets engaged, he goes on an adventurous road trip across Spain with his best friends, Arjun and Imraan. During this journey, the three friends re-establish their bonds, conquer their fears, and also find love. Zoya Akhtar (Dil Dhadakne Do) directs actors Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif, and Kalki Koechlin in this movie that won Best Film during the 57th Filmfare Awards. Gather your buddies and prepare to laugh, cry, and have the time of your life.

Haseen Dillruba

Rani, a fan of crime novels, is the prime suspect in the murder of her husband, Rishu. When she narrates the complicated tale of their arranged marriage to the investigating officers, they are left with more questions than answers. Written by Kanika Dhillon (Dunki) and directed by Vinil Mathew (Hasee Toh Phasee), this psychological thriller stars Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey, and Harshvardhan Rane. If you enjoy this film, you’re in for a treat — it now has a sequel.

Animal

Ranvijay is the inured yet dedicated son of Balbir Singh, a stern industrialist. When Balbir survives an assassination attempt, the ousted Ranvijay returns to exact revenge against those who tried to harm his father. This action-thriller, which became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2023, is directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga (Kabir Singh) and stars Ranbir Kapoor (Tamasha) as Ranvijay alongside the likes of Anil Kapoor (Fighter), Rashmika Mandanna (Mission Majnu), and Tripti Dimri (Qala).

Gangubai Kathiawadi

When teenager Ganga is tricked and sold to a brothel, she decides to reclaim her power by forging connections with a mafia leader, and becoming Gangubai — the reigning queen of the murky world that she was once a puppet of. Alia Bhatt (Dear Zindagi) delivers a memorable performance as the titular character — a portrayal for which she won a National Film Award. This biographical crime drama is directed by the visionary Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who is also the creator of 2024’s standout Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar.

Ajeeb Daastaans

An anthology of four stories with love as their central theme, Ajeeb Daastaans chronicles everything from loveless marriages and broken relationships to caste barriers. Shashank Khaitan, Raj Mehta, Neeraj Ghaywan, and Kayoze Irani direct the four poignant shorts that star the likes of Jaideep Ahlawat (Maharaj), Abhishek Banerjee (Rana Naidu), Konkona Sen Sharma (Killer Soup), Aditi Rao Hydari (Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar), Shefali Shah (Delhi Crime), and Manav Kaul (Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper).