Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is the highest-grossing rom-com movie of Bollywood. (Image Credit: The Movie Database)
Romantic comedies have always been a go-to genre of Bollywood, combining the magic of light-hearted love stories with laughter and charm. Over the romantic comedies have grown from formulaic stories to more socially aware, emotionally layered narratives. In the past few years, Bollywood has delivered rom-coms that balance humour, romance, and culture, offering stories that connect with the current generation of moviegoers. Here are a few such rom-com movies of Bollywood that were a hit among audiences.
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar, directed by Luv Ranjan, stars Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor and marks Ranbir's return to the genre after a long time. Its plot centres around a couple who fall in love but somehow end up in a web of lies, misunderstanding and a lot of drama. It became a commercial and critical hit thanks to its amazing performances, light-hearted and fun nature, along with catchy music.
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani was Karan Johar's return to the director's chair after Ghost Stories (2020), starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in lead roles. It is a story about a couple from different backgrounds who decide to live with each other's families before marriage. Like every Karan Johar project, the movie featured extravagant sets while its music echoed old-school Bollywood; the film also tackled generational divides and progressive themes. Its catchy music, humour and the glamorous production helped it become a critical and commercial success.
Directed by Sameer Vidwans and written by Karan Shrikant Sharma, Satyaprem Ki Katha is a rare mix of a romance story and emotional depth. Starring Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani, this film is not a conventional rom-com story that the audience might expect. However, it does a great job at balancing its emotional moments with light-hearted humour and feel-good energy. It explores the love story of a middle-class man who falls head over heels for a woman hiding a painful past. The chemistry between the lead actors, paired with their amazing performances the audience's laughter and heartfelt emotions.
Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, directed by Laxman Utekar, is a rom-com story about a middle-class couple dreaming of buying their own home. Starring Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan as leads, this movie takes a more grounded approach than typical rom-com stories. A story about relatable struggles of urban couples, the movie was a hit among audiences because of its realistic setting, light-hearted nature and the chemistry between the leads. The movie was a critical and commercial hit, proving that everyday stories told the right way can engage audiences.
The above-mentioned films are the ones that prove Bollywood can produce good rom-coms. From the over-the-top storytelling in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem kahan to the more grounded approach of makers in Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, these films helped in keeping the genre exciting.
