Is Bollywood ready to fall in love again?

With action spectacles and franchise blockbusters ruling the box office in recent years, the romantic films that once defined Bollywood appear to have quietly retreated from mainstream Hindi cinema. The gentle lovers and chiffon-sari romance of memory have made way for angry young men, louder conflicts and spectacle-driven storytelling. “There was a dearth of romantic films post COVID,” shares director Anurag Basu. However, last year’s surprise performers – Saiyaara, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat and Tere Ishk Mein – suggest that well-mounted love stories, driven by music, emotion and relatability, still have the power to pull audiences into theatres. So is Bollywood ready to give romance a chance this year?‘Romance has always bee part of Indian cinema’While Valentine’s Day often becomes the genre’s most visible window, filmmakers and trade experts argue that romance has never truly disappeared from Hindi cinema. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh places this in a broader industry context, noting, “The industry has always functioned in cycles. After an overdose of high-decibel entertainers, there is a natural creative and commercial urge to bring back softer, emotion-driven genres.” Looking at cinema history, Anurag Basu adds perspective, saying, “In the ’70s, you had the angry young man films doing great, but at the same time, romantic films were also doing really well at the box office. This has always been the case.” Director Milap Zaveri, who directed Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, also rejects the idea of romance as a seasonal trend, saying, “Romance has never not been there. From Bobby (1973), Betaab (1983), Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) to Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) and now Saiyaara (2025), love stories have always been major box office plays.”‘The audience hasn’t rejected romance — they have rejected outdated, formulaic romance’Advait Chandan, known for films like Loveyapa (2025) and Laal Singh Chaddha (2022), says, “I believe that genres are seasonal, romance is timeless. Saiyaara definitely brought romance back in a big way. We were a bit bored of commitment-phobic heroes. We’re all lonely, more than ever. A love story makes you feel like there’s someone out there for you, and for those in relationships already, it reminds you why you got into it in the first place. I don’t think Bollywood is Bollywood without love stories. Even Sholay (1975) had two important love stories, so did Lagaan (2001) and Gadar (2001). Love stories are not going anywhere”.If romance appears more cautious today, it might have more to do with packaging than appetite. Adarsh believes the genre’s challenge lies in relevance rather than demand. He says, “The audience hasn’t rejected romance — they have rejected outdated, formulaic romance. Viewers today want relationships that feel real, conflicts that feel relatable, and emotions that feel genuine.”‘Exhibitors are optimistic about the romantic slate’As the industry steps into the second quarter the year, how does the romantic slate appear to trade analysts? Kamal Gianchandani, CEO, PVR, says, “In 2026, we’ve got a very balanced slate of films – rom-coms, romantic dramas, tragic romantic stories – all forming a very healthy mix.”While Tu Meri, Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri falling short of expectations did momentarily temper enthusiasm, it has done little to dent overall confidence in the genre. “I look at Kartik Aaryan’s film under-performing with a pinch of salt because that’s the DNA of our business. There are films that will hit the ball out of the stadium as Saiyaara did, and then there will be films that won’t match expectations. We are very buoyant as exhibitors. We feel extremely confident and comfortable with the slate,” Gianchandani explains. ‘Good music creates curiosity in romantic films’So, what will make a good love story? While Adarsh and Rathie suggest an evolved story and better packaging, Basu, whose next is a romantic film titled Tu Meri Zindagi Hai, starring Kartik Aaryan and Sreeleela, says, “It is very subjective. For me, it’s about being true to the story and material. I can just hope that people are in that state of mind to watch a romantic movie when my film releases.”Reflecting on the role of music and chemistry in converting interest into footfalls, Zaveri says, “What a successful love story needs today is great music and chemistry between the leads. If you see the albums of Saiyaara, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat and Tere Ishk Mein, they were chartbusters. The music helped strongly in getting the openings.” Rathie adds, “One major thing that helps good openings for romantic films is great chartbuster music that can actually create curiosity, and we saw that happen with Saiyaara.” Romantic Bollywood films that will hit theatres in 2026

• Do Deewane Seher Mein: Director: Ravi Udyawar; Cast: Mrunal Thakur, Siddhant Chaturvedi
• Pati Patni Aur Woh Do: Director: Mudassar Aziz; Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana,
• Sara Ali Khan
• Ek Din: Director: Sunil Pandey; Cast: Sai Pallavi, Junaid Khan
• Chand Mera Dil: Director: Vivek Soni; Cast: Ananya Panday, Lakshya
• Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai: Director: David Dhawan; Cast: Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, Pooja Hegde
• Tu Meri Zindagi Hai: Director: Anurag Basu; Kartik Aaryan, Sreeleela
• Cocktail 2: Director: Homi Adajania; Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Rashmika Mandanna