【2012 Archives】

It’s Summer Lovin’ Weekhere at Mashable012 Archives which means things are getting steamy. In honor of the release of Crazy Rich Asians, we’re celebrating onscreen love and romance, lookingat everything from our favorite fictional couples to how Hollywood’s love stories are evolving. Think of it as our love letter to, well, love.

Movie love is something that transcends time, space, and international borders. For every classic Hollywood romcom or drama, there's a Bollywood movie in India mashing up multiple genres and telling another story of legendary love.

Whether you know you're a Bollywood fan or have yet to take the plunge, we've got a list of movies curated based on Hollywood romances you love. Some of them are direct remakes but with fewer white people and more full-blown musical numbers, some of them just share a few key similarities with our favorite Hollywood love stories, and all of them are available for streaming (with subtitles, natch).

If you like: TitanicTry: Devdas

If you love period drama and production design porn, allow me to introduce you to the opulent world of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Devdas(based on the novel of the same name) is easily Bhansali's best, full of petty classism and women robbed of agency but fighting the system. After the titular hero's (Shahrukh Khan) childhood sweetheart (Aishwarya Rai) marries another man, he turns to alcohol and to the company of a courtesan (Madhuri Dixit).

Where to watch: Amazon (rental)

If you like: My Best Friend's WeddingTry: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

Though My Best Friend's Weddingwas technically made into a Bollywood film with roughly the same title, we've paired it with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai ("Something Happens"), the story of two best friends from college who lose touch and reconnect years later after one's spouse has passed away. Rahul's (Shahrukh Khan) eight-year-old daughter essentially Parent Traps him and his old friend (Kajol) based on the wishes of her late mother, who believes she came between the two friends all those years ago.

Where to watch: Amazon

If you like: Moulin RougeTry: Om Shanti Om

Both films are over-the-top stories of showbiz itself and the dangers of jealousy and ego therein, but Om Shanti Ommakes the unique decision in Bollywood to not have Om's (Shahrukh Khan) feelings for Shanti (Deepika Padukone) reciprocated. Then it adds in a murder conspiracy, an egotistical superstar, a dash of reincarnation, and a revenge plot. Who's in?

Where to watch:Netflix

If you like: Say Anything...Try: Saathiya

Saathiya presents a central couple whose attraction isn't totally clear, as does Say Anything.... In Saathiya, we follow their entire courtship and a connection that apparently transcends elucidation and demands a hasty marriage. Once wed, the young lovers are tested by the daily squibs and squabbles of married life. Where so many romantic films end with the beginning of a relationship or marriage, this one lets us sit in it and find out if that initial spark can sustain a healthy fire.

Where to watch: Amazon

If you like: You've Got MailTry: Mujhse Dosti Karoge

Back when they were children, a young Raj (Hrithik Roshan) asked his childhood crush Tina (Kareena Kapoor) to write him daily on her parents' new fangled email machine. Oblivious to his feelings, Tina ignores this prompt, and her best friend Pooja (Rani Mukherji) happily steps in to catfish Raj because she's in love with him.

This goes on for roughly 15 years until Raj returns (he's hot now!) and he and Tina start dating on the basis of this lie – until Pooja tells the truth and she and Raj start an affair while he and Tina are engaged! I love these ridiculous movies!!

Where to watch:Amazon

If you like: When Harry Met Sally...Try: Hum Tum

This is the rare case of a direct remake on this list, though you won't find mention of When Harry Met Sally... anywhere in Hum Tum's credits.

Hum Tumholds up surprisingly well for being made in 2004. There are some stereotypical gender roles in the first acts, but most rom-coms are rife with these, irrespective of language or country of origin. What's great to see about Hum Tumis that while it doesn't necessarily subvert those ideas, it gives its characters years to mature and think with more complexity about each other through relatable scenarios.

Where to watch: Amazon

If you like: While You Were SleepingTry: Hum Aapke Hai Koun?

While this isn't While You Were Sleepingso much as Before You Died (spoiler, sorry, whatever), Hum Aapke Hai Koun?introduces a big family full of quirky characters, much like the classic Bill Pullman/Sandra Bullock film – which does, in fact, have a Bollywood remake. Against this sickeningly sweet backdrop, Prem (Salman Khan) and Pooja (Madhuri Dixit) fall in love (their siblings are married – is it weird? It's not weird, right?) and not much else really happens until the last hour of the movie.

Where to watch: Netflix or Amazon

If you like: Bonnie and ClydeTry: Bunty Aur Babli

The tale of these renegade criminals gets a sunnier take with its Bollywood remake, about small-town dreamers Rakesh (Abhishek Bachchan) and Vimmi (Rani Mukherji) and their chosen method of taking the big city by storm. Like their Hollywood counterparts, they risk flying too close to the sun, but it doesn't turn out exactly the same way.

Where to watch: Amazon

If you like: The NotebookTry: Veer Zaara

Indian Hindu Veer (Shahrukh Khan) and Pakistani Muslim Zaara (Preity Zinta) fall in love over the course of a few beautiful, stolen days traveling along the border between their torn countries. When Zaara's family disapproves, her fiancé takes action, separating the lovers with heartbreaking consequences.

Where to watch: Amazon

If you like: (500) Days of SummerTry: Love Aaj Kal

Love Aaj Kal ("Love these days") follows the birth, growth, end eventual end of a relationship with (500) Days of Summer's keen observation, if not its stylistic choices and problematic male entitlement (well, some of it). Jai (Saif Ali Khan) and Meera's (Deepika Padukone) relationship adapts to various obstacles throughout the film. Like Hum Tum, timing is everything, and you wonder if these characters would make it work with or without romance.

Where to watch: Amazon

If you like: La La LandTry: Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

La La Land is objectively a much better made and written movie, but both of these are ultimately pretty low stakes in the conflict that separates their lovers.

Naina (Deepika Padukone) and Kabir a.k.a. Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor) were schoolmates and meet again on a trip to the mountains when they bond, but they don't fall in love, or at least not both of them. Time and circumstance separate them, with Bunny off on international adventures and Naina ostensibly waiting for him. It's not complex, but it's sweet and simple, and the ending won't wreck you the way La La Landdid.

Where to watch: Amazon

If you like: Nick and Norah's Infinite PlaylistTry: Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania

Imagine Nick and Norah having a perfect night together but then it turns out Norah is engaged and yeah it isn't great that she slept with Nick but they had a connection and hey let's pursue it but oh shit first he has to break up this wedding and endear himself to the family and wow this dude is going through the ringer??? Anyway, that's Humpty Sharma, starring Varun Dhawan and the exceedingly charming Alia Bhatt.

Where to watch: Amazon