Film
2 States
A charming romantic comedy about an Indian couple navigating the minefield of convincing two culturally disparate families to accept their marriage. It's warm, funny, and genuinely touching—the kind of film that makes you believe in love while also making you grateful your parents aren't quite this complicated. For anyone who's felt caught between worlds.
If you liked this
Jab We Met2007
Captures that same effervescent chemistry between leads, with stunning cinematography and a road-trip romance that feels both breezy and deeply felt. Imtiaz Ali's direction gives weightlessness to emotional moments.
But The second half pivots away from the couple you fell in love with, and some find the tonal shift disappointing or the resolution unsatisfying.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge1995
The gold standard of Bollywood romance: family conflict, cultural collision, genuine charm, and the film that taught Hindi cinema how to make lovers feel like the centre of the universe. Pure joy.
But Nearly three hours and the pacing can feel glacial if you're not in the mood for slow-burn romance. Also, it's been quoted to death—you'll know every beat.

Cocktail2012
Similar leads (Alia Bhatt again), similar romantic entanglement, but set between Delhi and London with a more conflicted emotional core. Stylish, bitter-sweet, and unexpectedly mature about relationships.
But The third act undoes some goodwill with choices that feel convenient. The supporting characters are paper-thin.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from 2 States
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Lipstick Under My Burkha2017
Both films are about navigating rigid family expectations and personal autonomy, but where 2 States finds harmony through compromise, this one argues that harmony isn't always worth the price.
A radical reframing of what Indian women's stories can be. Four women, four versions of desire and rebellion, gorgeously shot with a gallows humour that never feels mean. It's intimate, furious, and alive.
But It was banned by the Central Board of Film Certification in India—controversial for its frank treatment of sexuality and female autonomy. Some find the tone abrasive or the stories too fragmented to carry.

More like this (8)
Pyaar Ka Punchnama2011
A witty, profane alternative to glossy romance—couples in Delhi, messy and real and hilarious. The famous monologue about relationships still lands. It's what happens when you let the comedy breathe.
But The humour is pointed and sometimes crude. Some of the attitudes toward women haven't aged well, and the ending is conventional after everything that came before.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani2013
Another Alia showcase with similar emotional DNA—a love story built on companionship rather than just passion. Stunning locations, excellent soundtrack, and genuine warmth between the leads.
But The runtime is bloated and some subplots feel like filler. The first hour moves faster than the second, and you'll feel it.

Ishaqzaade2012
A Romeo-and-Juliet tale set in modern India with real bite. The romance is electric, the family conflict has actual stakes, and there's a moral complexity that elevates it beyond typical Bollywood fare.
But Darker and more violent than you might expect from a love story. The tragedy in the premise isn't softened for comfort.

Badrinath Ki Dulhania2017
A later entry that wears its ideology on its sleeve—couple navigates modern expectations and traditional values with genuine sweetness. It's optimistic in the way crowd-pleasers should be.
But The feminism is somewhat surface-level and the central argument simplistic. If you're looking for nuance, look elsewhere.

Piku2015
Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, and Irrfan Khan in a family dramedy that sneaks emotional truth into comedy. It's about love but not obsessed with romance—family, ageing, acceptance, and messy devotion.
But Slower and quieter than you might expect. The central conceit relies on finding digestive issues endearing, which doesn't work for everyone.

Happy Bhag Jayegi2016
A bride runs away and an unlikely romance blooms across Punjab and Pakistan. It's frothy, silly, and wholesomely anarchic—love as chaos rather than destiny, which feels like a relief.
But The plot is thin enough that it only works if you surrender to the mood. Take it seriously and it collapses immediately.

Rang De Basanti2006
2 States asks whether love survives family division; Rang De Basanti asks whether friendship survives conviction. Both examine what binds people across seemingly unbridgeable gaps.
Aamir Khan in a film about friendship, idealism, and corruption that transforms from comedy-drama into something genuinely urgent. It's about your country, your generation, and what you owe both. Unforgettable.
But The tonal shift in the final third is abrupt and some find the political messaging didactic. It can feel preachy if you're not already aligned with its values.

Margarita with a Straw2015
Both feature young Indian women negotiating family expectations and personal freedom, but this one strips away the meet-cute romance and asks harder questions about what autonomy actually costs and whether it's negotiable.
A 22-year-old woman with cerebral palsy pursues her sexuality, identity, and independence across Delhi and New York with unsentimental clarity. Kalki Koechlin is magnetic. It's tender and rebellious and wise.
But It's not a love story in the conventional sense—desire and identity matter more than romance. Some find it slow. It requires patience and openness to ambiguity.

People
Cast
Alia BhattAnanya Swaminathan
Arjun KapoorKrish Malhotra
Amrita SinghKavita Malhotra
RevathiRadha Swaminathan
Ronit RoyVikram Malhotra
Shivkumar SubramaniamShiv Swaminathan
Amit BhargavHarish
Achint KaurShipra Mehra
Bikramjeet KanwarpalRajji Mama- Madhu Anand ChandhockDuke's Mother
Directing
- Kriti KapoorAssistant Director
- Abhishek VarmanDirector
Writing
- Hussain DalalDialogue
- Amitabh BhattacharyaLyricist
- Chetan BhagatNovel
- Abhishek VarmanScreenplay
Production
- Nandini ShrikentCasting Director
- Pravin KhairnarExecutive Producer
- Rakesh MadhotraExecutive Producer
- Karan JoharProducer
- Sajid NadiadwalaProducer
- Binny PaddaPublicist
- Ravi PaddaPublicist
Recommended by
Tholi Prema, Luv Ka The End, Chennai Express, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania