With love still lingering in the air, here are our favourite romance tropes in Bollywood – the ones that made us believe in love, filmy style. From slow burns to dramatic confessions in the rain, from yearning for their love to just always being in love. Bollywood gave us all.
Friends to Lovers – Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Imran Khan’s boy-next-door, golden retriever charm as Jai and Genelia D’Souza’s menacingly adorable, black cat energy Aditi gave us the blueprint of “we’re just friends… right?” Their comfort, chaos, and eventual realization that love was right there all along felt painfully real.
Sometimes the best love stories start with “tu mera best friend hai.”
Forbidden Love – Tu Ya Main
Shanaya Kapoor and Adarsh Gourav’s chemistry adds emotional depth to a survival thriller where love isn’t convenient, it’s complicated.
Coming from starkly different social backgrounds, their love first has to fight judgment, class divide, and the weight of society’s expectations. But what makes their story unforgettable is how they go from surviving societal pressure… to surviving a literal crocodile. The metaphor almost writes itself. What begins as two people falling in love against societal norms turns into them battling nature itself – choosing each other every single time.
Because sometimes love isn’t just about fighting the world. It’s about surviving it. 🐊
Enemies to Lovers – Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela
Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone literally belong to rival families who are out for each other’s blood. Their first interactions are sharp, charged, and dripping with danger. Every glance feels loaded with angst yet drips intimacy.
It’s not just romance – it’s passion wrapped in rivalry. Slow burn? Yes. Angst? Yes. Sexual tension? Off the charts.
Love Triangle – Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Rahul, Anjali, Tina – the holy trinity of 90s heartbreak. Shah Rukh Khan plays the charming but confused Rahul, torn between friendship and infatuation, while Rani Mukerji’s Tina is grace, glamour, and first love magic.
But it’s Kajol’s Anjali who truly carries the emotional weight of this triangle. From being the tomboy best friend who hides her feelings behind basketball matches and banter, to the woman who walks away silently when she realizes she’ll never be chosen – her heartbreak defined an entire generation.
This wasn’t just a love triangle. It was about unspoken love, missed timing, and second chances. Because sometimes you don’t realize who you love… until it’s almost too late.
Fake Dating – Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari
When Sunny and Tulsi come together, it seems like the kind of match families would instantly approve of. But what may begin as something arranged, expected, or done to keep everyone happy slowly starts to feel real in ways neither of them planned.
Because sometimes love shows up when you least expect it, even if it wasn’t part of the original plan.
Unrequited Love – Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
Ranbir Kapoor’s Ayan falls hard and hopelessly for Anushka Sharma’s Alizeh, who loves him deeply… just not in the same way. Their bond is intimate, emotionally intense, and beautiful, but the imbalance of feelings lingers in every glance.
And then comes Channa Mereya – the heartbreak anthem of the generation. Smiling through tears, breaking quietly while celebrating her happiness. That song didn’t just soundtrack heartbreak; it defined unrequited love for an entire generation.
Whether it’s dosti turning into love, fake relationships becoming real, or sworn enemies falling head over heels – Bollywood has given us every shade of romance. Dramatic. Messy. Beautiful.
And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.