Netflix: The 15 Best Bollywood Movies You Need to Watch

Shahid is a biographical film based on the life of a contentious lawyer, Shahid Azmi, who met with a tragic end. Actor Rajkumar Rao plays the protagonist, whose life is constantly on the line, oscillating between the worlds of hope and despair. The film garnered much controversy in India, due to its interpretation of matters relating to Islamic terrorism.

If a killer mystery thriller is what you are after, give serious consideration to Kahaani. Co-written, produced, and directed by Sujoy Ghosh, the movie follows the life of a pregnant woman (Vidya Bagchi) showcasing her endless struggle to find her missing husband. Aside from Vidya Balan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui has also played a significant role in the movie. It won critical acclaim for exploring themes of feminism and motherhood in a society largely dominated by males. Moreover, the screenplay and cinematography also received high praise for being classy.

Anurag Kashyap delivers an absolute gem in the form of a psychological thriller, Ugly. The convoluted plot of this film revolves around the abduction of a girl, which causes complete mayhem, jeopardizing relationships and rekindling old enmity. Amid all the furore, new players emerge with the sole intent of capitalizing on someone else’s predicament.

While Hollywood is full of great con movies, it’s something that Bollywood has never been able to get right, that is until Special 26 hit the theatres. Starring Akshay Kumar, the movie revolves around a con man and his team who pose as CBI and Income Tax officers to rob prominent rich businessmen and politicians who are evading tax. If you love con movies and are looking for good Netflix Hindi movies, you are going to love this one.

Akin to Special 26, Madras Cafe is another mainstream thriller that lived up to expectations. The plot of Madras Cafe is perceptively crafted by director Shoojit Sircar, incorporating real-life political events into a fictional tale. Major Vikram Singh, played by actor John Abraham, finds himself in the battle zone, torn between fulfilling his obligations and fighting life’s inexplicable infatuations.

PK is a story filled with humor and warmth. The story revolves around an alien who has come to earth but has lost his clothes along with the only device he can use to communicate with his spaceship. See Amir Khan playing this alien who is having a hard time adjusting on earth. The movie touches on various social customs and religious superstitions. This is a great Hindi movie and should be on your Netflix watch list.

One of my favourite Hindi movies of all time is Queen. This whim is India’s answer to urbanity and gender emancipation. The story revolves around a traditional family girl named Rani, who has never set her foot out of her comfort zone and now decided to tour Europe on her own. What forces her to take this step and what happens afterward is the whole story of the movie. The movie is hilarious and sad at the same time. Kangana Ranauat who plays the lead character Rani has killed with her performance in this movie. This is one Netflix Hindi movie that you won’t regret watching.

Based on the Malyalam super hit movie of the same name, Drishyam is a story about  a man who will do anything to save his family. Ajay Devan plays the lead character and he has killed with his performance in this role. To talk more about this movie will mean that I will have to give key plot points away and I don’t want to do that. Just know that this is one of the best thriller movies Bollywood has ever produced.

Masaan paints a sincere picture of the orthodox Indian suburbs dominated by complacency and a vague apprehension for what the future holds. The interwoven plot beautifully captures the puritanical social construct of India and simultaneously attempts to defy it, albeit with repercussions. For those who fancy a deeper understanding of Indian orthodoxy, watching Masaan is perhaps the best place to start.

I don’t think there are too many Bollywood sports films that are as memorable as Dangal. Mr. perfectionist “Aamir Khan” has excelled in his role as a former wrestler (Mahavir Singh) who pursues the gold medal he never won by training his two strong-willed daughters named Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari. Set in the Indian state of Haryana, the film is loosely based on the Phogat family and its tryst with the coveted medals at the Commonwealth Games. Beyond the story, Pritam’s music and Amitabh Bhattacharya’s lyrics are also worthy of praise.

Released in 2017, Bareilly ki Barfi is a movie which will tickle your funny bones in all the right places. Boasting of a talented star cast including Ayushmann Khurrana, Kriti Sanon, Rajkummar Rao, and my favorite Pankaj Tripathi, the story revolves around Bitti who is a free-spirited small-town girl who lives her life on her own terms. What happens to her when she meets Chirag Dubey (Ayushman) and Pritam Vidrohi (Rajkumar Rao) is the whole movie. This one is an entertainment bomb.

Mom is the last work of Bollywood superstar Sridevi who sadly passed away this year. The story revolves around a mother (played by Sridevi) who is exacting revenge on a group of boys who attacked her daughter and escape justice. While the movie follows a by the number revenge plot, the exceptional and heart-wrenching performance of Sridevi makes it worth watching. If you are a fan of her, you should definitely keep this Netflix Hindi movie in your watchlist.

If you love raunchy comedy movies, then this one is just for you. The movie doesn’t boast of any A-list actors or directors but what it does pack is a tight and gripping storyline which will leave you in tears with laughter. The story revolves around a group of young men who are a part of a quiz team and are looking to lose their virginity. While this move is not for everyone, if you love raunchy comedies, you should definitely see it once.

Pad Man is the real-life story of Arunachalam Muruganantham who created a cheap solution for sanitary pads aiming to help millions of women in India. The main character is played by Akshay Kumar who is excellent on screen and exceptionally displays the trials and tribulations that Muruganantham had to face in real life. Of course, there’s also trademark Akshay Kumar humor to make you laugh. This is a very good movie to watch.

This one is primed for Shahid Kapoor fans! Directed by Sandeep Vanga, the movie is a remake of Telugu film called “Arjun Reddy” (2017, also made by Sandeep). The story revolves around a surgeon called Kabir Singh (Shahid Kapoor) who becomes self-destructive after his girlfriend Preeti (Kiara Advani) leaves him. Thanks largely to the commendable acting of Shahid, the film scores big numbers on the box-office, amassing over ₹379 crores to be the second highest-grossing film of 2019.