In 2025, Bollywood reaffirmed that romance remains one of its most resilient and adaptable genres. Amid blockbusters driven by action, thrillers and historical epics, several love stories stood out. They drew audiences to theatres with their emotionality, fresh pairings, memorable soundtracks and contemporary narratives. What marks 2025’s romantic slate isn’t just box-office performance. It is also the diversity in romantic storytelling. From heartfelt musical dramas to light-hearted comedies and modern love sagas, this year showcased a range of films that reminded audiences why romance still matters.
We break down the top romantic movies of 2025, what makes each one notable and why they earned a place on the year’s must-watch list.
1. Saiyaara
Release date: July 18, 2025
At the top of the year’s romantic offerings was Saiyaara, helmed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Films. It emerged as both a critical and commercial triumph. It combined classic Bollywood sentiment with a contemporary soundtrack and performances that resonated particularly with younger audiences. Saiyaara casts Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda as a singer-songwriter duo whose on-screen chemistry and evolving relationship became a defining moment of the year. The film’s pared-down but emotionally rich storytelling leaned into themes of love, ambition, loss and healing. The plot was also anchored by music that topped charts and stayed relevant well beyond its theatrical run.
Commercially, Saiyaara became the highest-grossing Indian romantic film of all time. But beyond its box-office numbers, it reinforced that music and romance remain deeply intertwined in Bollywood. Also, audiences still admire emotional narratives rooted in character as much as a spectacle.
2. Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri
Release date: December 25, 2025
Not the best, but definitely entertaining! Released during the December 2025 holiday season, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri injected some festive cheer into the romantic genre. Starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday, the film leaned into romantic comedy tropes of misunderstandings, upbeat music and an easy-going narrative structure. The film has opened decently at the box office. Its first week run looks modest. However, its seasonal timing and chemistry-driven marketing has definitely helped it find an audience both in theatres and on its subsequent OTT run.
3. Dhoom Dhaam
Release date: February 14, 2025
Pratik Gandhi and Yami Gautam starrer Dhoom Dhaam was released early in the year. The romantic action-comedy blended light romance with energetic set pieces and a brisk narrative pace. While the movie earned mixed reviews, it found an audience on Netflix after its theatrical window.
4. Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat
Release date: October 21, 2025
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat was released as a Diwali gift to Harshvardhan Rane’s fans. The romantic drama was mostly anchored in intensity and passion. Alongside Rane, it also starred Sonam Bajwa in a leading role. Critical response was generally negative, with reviewers pointing to a melodramatic plot and uneven narrative structure. Many critics called the plot of the movie overtly dramatic. But many audiences still talk about the film’s appeal on social media.
5. Loveyapa
Release date: February 7, 2025
Loveyapa arrived in early 2025. Audiences loved it because of its intriguing premise. A young couple forced to swap phones before marriage. It is a storyline opening space to explore trust, privacy and connection in the digital age. The movie starred Khushi Kapoor and Junaid Khan. It aimed to capture the pulse of modern relationships.
It ultimately underperformed at the box office but Loveyapa represents an effort to speak to Gen Z and millennial audiences in a way that traditional romantic storytelling sometimes doesn’t. This film also shows Bollywood experimenting with new modes of romantic storytelling where technology, trust and young love converge in ways that reflect anxieties and desires.
6. Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan
Release date: July 11, 2025
The movie Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan was inspired by a Ruskin Bond short story. It starred Vikrant Massey and Shanaya Kapoor in a romance set against the backdrop of a train trip through scenic landscapes. Interestingly, the film was meant to evoke a slow and reflective kind of love story. It was quieter and more introspective than most mainstream films. However, it struggled commercially.
But its inclusion on this list isn’t about numbers, it’s about tone and intent. The film reminds us that romance on screen can be understated. It can focus on moments rather than grand gestures. It was a contrast to some of the year’s more bombastic love stories.
7. Param Sundari
Release date: August 29, 2025
Param Sundari brought together Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor in a cross-cultural romantic drama that leaned into emotional contrasts rather than loud conflict. It was set across North and South India. Interestingly, the film explored how love evolves when language, traditions and upbringing don’t align seamlessly.
What worked for Param Sundari was its measured pacing and visual storytelling. Instead of forcing drama, the film allowed cultural differences to surface organically through everyday interactions. Sidharth Malhotra played a restrained and internally conflicted protagonist while Janhvi Kapoor delivered one of her more grounded performances to date.
It is not positioned as a theatrical blockbuster but it found its audience when released on OTT. In fact, Param Sundari reflects Bollywood’s growing interest in rooted, pan-Indian love stories. Here, romance is shaped as much by geography and identity as by emotion.
8. Tere Ishk Mein
Release date: November 28, 2025
One of the most anticipated romantic dramas of 2025, Tere Ishk Mein starred Dhanush and Kriti Sanon in a story that leaned heavily into emotional intensity. Directed by Aanand L Rai, the film examined love through the lens of obsession, vulnerability and unresolved longing.
Unlike conventional romantic dramas, Tere Ishk Mein resisted easy resolutions. Dhanush brought rawness and unpredictability to his character. Kriti Sanon portrayed a woman caught between compassion and self-preservation. The film’s music and lyrical weight added depth without overpowering the narrative.
Critical response was divided but the film sparked conversations for its unflinching portrayal of love that isn’t necessarily healthy or heroic. It stands out for pushing romance into morally complex territory. But it reminded audiences that love stories don’t always need happy endings to feel truthful.
9. Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari
Release date: October 2, 2025
Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari arrived as a full-blooded Bollywood romantic comedy. It kept unapologetically leaning into colour, music and dramatic flair. It starred Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor in leading roles, alongside Rohit Saraf and Sanya Malhotra. The film revisited the kind of love story that thrives on opposites attracting, family expectations and emotional chaos, but with a contemporary sensibility.
It is set in a vibrant and culturally rich milieu. The film played out as a battle between tradition and personal choice, with romance at its centre. Varun Dhawan brought his trademark energy and comic timing to the role while Janhvi Kapoor held her own in a character that demanded both emotional vulnerability and strength. Their chemistry, paired with a lively soundtrack, became one of the film’s strongest assets.
While the narrative followed familiar rom-com beats, what worked was its self-awareness. The film didn’t attempt to subvert the genre. Instead, it embraced it confidently and offered audiences comfort viewing with enough freshness to avoid feeling dated.
Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari represents Bollywood romance in its most mainstream and celebratory form. It is proof that traditional love stories, when executed with conviction and polish, still draw audiences in large numbers.
10. Gustaakh Ishq
Release date: November 28, 2025
Gustaakh Ishq left a lingering impression among viewers who gravitate towards intense and dialogue-driven romances. The film explored love through conflict and emotional recklessness. It also opened up on flawed decision-making and focused on how passion can blur moral boundaries. What worked in its favour was its intimate treatment of relationships and the absence of glossy romantic clichés. Instead of spectacle, Gustaakh Ishq leaned into raw confrontations and emotionally charged silences. This made it a film that resonated more with niche audiences than the mainstream.
11. Sabar Bonda
Release date: September 19, 2025
Marathi film Sabar Bonda examined love shaped by patience, circumstance and emotional endurance. The film’s strength lay in its simplicity and grounded performances. It focused on characters whose lives unfold far away from urban excess. Romance here wasn’t driven by dramatic declarations but by small gestures and quiet commitment. Sabar Bonda reminded audiences that queer romance doesn’t need heightened drama to feel authentic. Its understated narrative earned appreciation for realism and emotional honesty. Graceful, empathetic, and profoundly moving, Sabar Bonda is not just a film to be watched, it is one to be felt.
12. Dhadak 2
Release date: August 1, 2025
A successor to the 2018 film, Dhadak 2 revisited the themes of love, caste, class and social resistance. But through a more contemporary lens. The film aimed to update its emotional framework for a new generation. It placed the central romance of Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri in the middle of social pressures that remain deeply relevant. While comparisons with the original were inevitable, Dhadak 2 carved its own identity by shifting focus towards agency and consequences. The music once again played a crucial role in elevating the love story and helped the film connect with younger audiences despite mixed critical reactions.
13. Aap Jaisa Koi
Release date: July 11, 2025
Aap Jaisa Koi featuring R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh leaned into nostalgia-driven romance while keeping its storytelling modern. The film explored companionship, emotional compatibility and second chances. It appealed strongly to mature audiences who value emotional depth over dramatic conflict. Its narrative revolved around the idea that love doesn’t always arrive at the right time, but when it does, it demands courage and honesty.
14. Metro… In Dino
Release date: July 4, 2025
Anurag Basu’s Metro… In Dino was one of the year’s most ensemble-driven romantic films. A spiritual successor to Life in a… Metro, the film interwove multiple love stories set against the emotional chaos of urban life.
Metro… In Dino became compelling for its exploration of modern relationships, fractured marriages, uncertain beginnings, emotional infidelity and quiet longing. The film balanced melancholy with hope and was supported by strong performances and a music album that complemented its introspective mood.
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