Skip to Content

The 20 Best Bollywood Movies of 2023 (So Far!)

Warning: These may make you want to start breaking into song during your everyday life.

By
best bollywood movies 2023 shehzada
Yash Raj Films / Everett

No matter the genre—mystery, thriller, romantic comedy, action—Bollywood always finds a way to make a movie feel, well, Bollywood. The massively popular Indian film industry has a trademark vibe that goes well beyond language (Bollywood is mostly a Hindi-language hub, but Indian cinema is produced in many different languages) and country of production. You can usually recognize a Bollywood movie by its bright color palettes, elaborate set pieces, larger-than-life action sequences, and, if you’re lucky, its show-stopping musical numbers.

Bollywood isn’t just a place or an industry, it’s an aesthetic, it’s a lifestyle. And as such, it requires regular attention and upkeep. It’s near impossible to keep up with the non-stop output from Bollywood. The industry cranks out movies at a dizzying pace, and there are only so many hours in a day, so to make your movie selection easier, we're rounding up some of the best Bollywood movies of 2023. From the action epic Pathaan starring Shah Rukh Khan to the Sound of Music-inspired musical comedy Music School starring Shriya Saran, this year's Bollywood offerings touch upon all genres. You'l laugh, you'll cry, you'll sing, you'll dance. And, of course, you will be entertained.

1

Varisu

youtubeView full post on Youtube

Succession, but make it Bollywood. Varisu is the story of a businessman, Rajendran (Sarath Kumar), who pits his three sons against each other to determine his successor. Two of them immediately start the competition, but the third, Vijay (Vijay Rashmika), is less interested in the cutthroat corporate life. When Vijay is put in charge, he’ll have to prove to his family that he can run the business all while battling his resentful brothers.

2

Mrs. Undercover

After 10 years of living as a housewife, an undercover agent is reactivated and recruited to help take down a threatening murderer. But first, she’ll have to brush up on her super spy skills.

3

Gaslight

Meesha (Sara Ali Khan) returns home after 15 years at the behest of her father, and is surprised to find him MIA upon her arrival. Soon, strange things begin to happen at the family estate, and Meesha becomes convinced that there’s more to her father’s disappearance than meets the eye.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
4

Music School

A music teacher shakes up a school by encouraging students to put on a production of The Sound of Music, despite the academic focus of the institution—and their parents.

5

Who Am I

An existential crisis sends Bhavitavya, a philosophy student, on a journey of self discovery and contemplation as he ponders the meaning of life.

6

Bad Boy

This fun story of young love follows Raghu (Namashi Chakraborthy), a "bad boy" who falls for the much more conservative and studious Ritu (Amrin Qureshi), much to the chagrin of her parents.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar

It's the breakup comedy musical you never knew you needed. Mickey (Ranbir Kapoor) is an over-confident player with a side hustle hotline to help people break up with their S.O.s. But what will he do when the hotline gets a call from his girlfriend, Tinni (Shraddha Kapoor)?

8

Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway

Based on a true story, Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway follows the harrowing fight of one immigrant mother (Rani Mukerji), who takes on Norwegian child protective services after her two young children are taken into state custody.

9

Lost

Reporter Vidhi (Yami Gautam) finds herself in the crosshairs of some very dangerous players while investigating the disappearance of a young college student. But even as forces tell her to stop her investigation, she won’t stop until she finds the truth.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
10

Maidaan

If you love sports movies, you're going to want to watch Maidaan, a biopic of Syed Abdul Rahim, the Indian national soccer team coach and manager credited with reviving the national team and putting Indian soccer on the map in the '50s.

11

Emergency

Emergency revisits the turbulent period in Indian history when the country was put under a state of emergency from 1975-1977, and how the Prime Minister at the time, Indira Gandhi (Kangana Ranaut), used her increased political power.

12

The Archies

Bollywood is putting its own spin on the beloved Archie comics with The Archies. Not much has been released about the plot, but you can bet Archie (Agastya Nanda), Veronica (Suhana Khan), and Betty (Khushi Kapoor) will be breaking hearts all over Riverdale.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

Pathaan

Pathaan, the most recent installment in Bollywood's YRF Spy Universe, follows Pathaan (Shah Rukh Khan), a former agent who must team up with spy Rubina Mohsin (Deepika Padukone) to take down a terrorist who, you guessed it, is also a former agent.

14

Shehzada

Switched at birth meets rags-to-riches with a bit of forbidden love sprinkled on top in Shehzada, a musical comedy about Bantu, a working-class man who uncovers a family secret that turns his world upside down.

15

Ghore Pherar Gaan

Ghore Pherar Gaan is an intimate musical about Tora (Ishaa Saha), a newlywed who moves to London to live with her husband, but struggles to adjust to her new life as a housewife and still longs to pursue her love of music. Enter: Imran (Parambrata Chattopadhyay), a street musician that catches her eye and inspires her to go after what she wants.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
16

Chhartriwali

After a family health crisis, Sania (Rakul Preet Singh) decides to use her skills to teach young girls and women about safe sex and promote the use of condoms in her community to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

17

Kathal

A young policewoman goes on a wild ride to solve the case that will make or break her career: the suspicious disappearance of a local politician's prized jackfruit.

18

Gulmohar

Generations of the Batra family congregate at their old family home for one last party before their house is demolished to make room for a high rise in this family drama about memories, love, and destiny.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani

Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani has yet to be released in theaters, but you can be sure it'll be a spectacle. The romantic comedy stars Bollywood heavy hitters Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh in title roles.

20

The Tenant

This Bollywood drama trades elaborate musical numbers for social commentary. The film follows the unlikely friendship between a mysterious single woman who shakes up an apartment complex and starts an unlikely friendship with one of her teenage boy neighbors.

Watch Next
 
preview for All Sections Playlist - Cosmopolitan US
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Movies

a man and woman smiling

So, How About That ‘The Idea of You’ Ending?

prom dates “prom dates” follows best friends jess and hannah, who made a pact at 13 to have the perfect senior prom despite the impending changes that college will bring over the next four years, the two are committed to honoring their prom pact but with only 24 hours left before the big event, everything falls apart when they break up with each of their dates jess and hannah are left with one night to find new dates and live out their middle school fantasies disneybrett roedel antonia gentry, jordan buhat

‘Prom Dates’ Clip Gets Real About Your First Time

prophet's prey  documentary on cults  fundamentalist church of jesus christ of latterday saints

15 Cult Documentaries You Need to Watch 👀

charlotte lucas pool house

Where Was 'The Idea of You' Filmed?

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below