The period from 2000 to 2025 transformed Bollywood, combining grandeur, new talent, relatable stories and social commentary. Here are 15 landmark Hindi films that reflected changing mindsets:
– **Kaho Na… Pyaar Hai (2000)**: Hrithik Roshan and Ameesha Patel debuted with this film directed by Rakesh Roshan, and Hrithik became a star with double roles and hit songs. Kareena Kapoor was initially cast but she quickly dropped out of the film; It is said that some of his shots are still in the film.
– **Mohabbatein (2000)**: Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan came together on screen for the first time in Aditya Chopra’s romantic drama, which explored love versus tradition.
– **Lagaan (2001)**: Aamir Khan acted in Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Oscar-nominated period drama; British actors had taken a lot of training for Hindi dialogue and accent.
– **Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001)**: Anil Sharma’s Partition-era story made Sunny Deol’s character Tara Singh iconic; The famous hand-pump scene was created during the shooting itself.
– **Dil Chahta Hai (2001)**: Farhan Akhtar’s debut film redefined urban friendship and youth culture.
– **Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)**: Kareena Kapoor’s memorable role as Poo in Karan Johar’s family film; Abhishek Bachchan was also included in the deleted cameo.
– **Kal Ho Na Ho (2003)**: Nikhil Advani’s emotional romance starring Shah Rukh Khan, who shot despite suffering a serious spinal injury that required surgery.
– **Devdas (2002)**: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s lavish adaptation received a long standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival.
– **Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003)** and **Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)**: Rajkumar Hirani’s comedy films made ‘Gandhigiri’ popular; Arshad Warsi’s character in Circuit was enhanced because of his brilliant performance. Later iconic films like Taare Zameen Par (2007), 3 Idiots (2009), Dabangg (2010), and Dangal (2016) addressed issues like education, dyslexia, and women empowerment, and showed depth while entertaining. These films show the maturity of Bollywood amidst global influence.
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