Film

I Hate Luv Storys

Name: I Hate Luv Storys
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Released: 2010
Cast: Imran Khan, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Sammir Dattani, Samir Soni, Bruna Abdullah

Romantic comedy

A Bollywood romantic comedy about a love-story-obsessed woman and a cynical man forced together in New York. Energetic, colorful, and gleefully committed to its rom-com mechanics—the kind of film that wants you to feel exactly as happy as its characters do by the end. For anyone who loves the genre played absolutely straight.

TMDb rating

2.9

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy romcoms that poke fun at their own gooey sentiment while still wanting the couple to land, with a chatty, bouncy Bollywood-style energy.

Skip it if you find grand romantic gestures and cynical banter wearing thin fast, since the film leans hard on its two leads' sparring and stretches past two hours.

What it asks of you: Two hours and nine minutes of breezy, mood-swinging comedy, where sweetness and sniping arrive in roughly equal measure and the banter rewards close attention.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Pyaar Ka Punchnama2011

Sharp, funny dissection of modern relationships that earned cult status for its brutal honesty about messy love. The chemistry and comedy feel fresher than most rom-coms from the era.

But Deeply unpleasant toward women in ways that feel pointed rather than incidental. Not a casual watch if that language bothers you.

Cocktail2012

Similar energy and structure—attractive leads, New York setting, witty banter hiding real feeling. Deepika Padukone's star-making role. Slick and satisfying.

But Relies heavily on tired gender dynamics. The comedy doesn't always land outside familiar Bollywood beats.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani2013

A slightly smarter rom-com with genuine warmth, better dialogue, and actors who elevate the material. Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone together are magnetic.

But Still very much a conventional love story dressed up as something more reflective. If you're tired of the formula, this won't surprise you.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from I Hate Luv Storys

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Chup2022

Both films use rom-com machinery as their engine, but where I Hate Luv Storys celebrates the form, Chup interrogates it—what happens when the script breaks.

A thriller wrapped in love-story language—it deconstructs rom-com grammar while playing with genre itself. Balaji Mohan's latest is clever, gorgeously shot, and surprising.

But Dark and genuinely violent in ways that jar against its surface sweetness. Asks you to think rather than feel your way through.

Student of the Year2012

Similar tone and visual brightness—Bollywood glamour in a boarding-school setting. Karan Johar's directorial energy means it moves fast and looks expensive.

But Thinner plot. Exists mostly as decoration and music videos. Not much to grab onto beneath the surface.

Main Hoon Na2004

Action-romance hybrid that knows exactly what it is and leans into the absurdity. Shah Rukh Khan at his most charming, doing everything including dancing and fighting.

But The plot is genuinely silly and the film is very long. Expects you to buy into rom-com logic without irony.

Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na2008

Whimsical, colorful, genuinely funny—about best friends circling romance without admitting it. Imran Khan's earlier film shows he had real comic timing.

But Relies on a very specific brand of cuteness that doesn't wear well over two hours. The whimsy can feel cloying.

Always Kabhi Kabhi2011

Delhi-set ensemble rom-com with multiple love stories and better-than-average banter. Feels lived-in rather than manufactured.

But Juggling four plotlines means none get real depth. Some tonal confusion between comedy and sentiment.

Band Baaja Baaraat2010

Released the same year, with similar New York-lite energy and two leads learning to appreciate each other. Ranveer Singh's debut has genuine charm.

But The wedding-planning premise is thin. Female lead is underdeveloped and the romance feels secondary to logistics.

English Vinglish2012

Same geographic setting, same freedom-through-journey idea, but inverted—the woman doesn't need to be 'fixed' by a man, she fixes herself.

A woman finding herself in New York through language class instead of romance. Gauri Shinde's film is warm, intelligent, and genuinely moving without needing a male lead to complete the story.

But Much quieter and slower than a typical Bollywood rom-com. The emotional core is motherhood and self-worth, not love.

Khosla Ka Ghosla!2006

Both feature young urban characters learning that real life is messier than the narratives they've been sold—but Khosla goes all the way with that idea.

A Delhi family comedy about real life intruding on happiness—love exists here, but it's not the point. Boman Irani and Anupam Kher are perfect. Genuinely funny without any romance.

But Utterly unglamorous. The setting is mundane and the stakes are small. Zero Bollywood gloss.