Love stories that conquered hearts: From Tu Jhooti Mein Makkar to Tere Ishk Mein

Bollywood's biggest stars are falling in love again and so are the audiences, with the cinemas. In an era where franchise films, action spectacles and biopic sagas continue to dominate discussions, these star-powered and star-studded romantic films have proven that love stories still remain Bollywood's most favourite and even most bankable genre.

Leading this romantic resurgence is Aanand L Rai's most recent release Tere Ishk Mein, which joined a long list of mass entertainers featuring the industry's most beloved actors. These big-ticket, starry starrers packed theaters and captured hearts nationwide, proving that when Bollywood's A-listers commit to romance, magic happens. Listed below are 5 movies that showcased the fact that audiences will always show up for a great love story told by the masters of the craft.

Also Read: Love, lies & twists: Best romantic thrillers to watch on OTT

Tere Ishk Mein: The Undisputed Champion of Contemporary Romance

Aanand L Rai doesn't just make love stories. He creates cultural phenomena, and the same is abundantly clear with his track record of movies. With Tere Ishk Mein, the filmmaker and his production house, Colour Yellow, have once again delivered a love story that's both commercially massive and emotionally profound. This movie reminded everyone why Aanand L Rai remains the uncrowned king of romantic cinema. Featuring National Award winners Dhanush & Kriti Sanon, Tere Ishk Mein brought both star power and genuine chemistry to the silver screens, capturing the intoxicating madness of falling deeply in love, with a level of sophistication that distinguished it from every other romance movie in this list. What makes this Colour Yellow production truly supreme is Aanand L Rai's mastery of mass appeal without compromising on his story's emotional authenticity. The film delivered everything that the audiences wanted, from grand romantic gestures to chart topping numbers, courtesy of A.R.Rahman, in what went on to become one of the most successful musical albums of the year, and chemistry that took the audience on the journey of Shankar and Mukti, while maintaining the director's signature ability to redefine and showcase yet another side of love that is as real as it can get. Tere Ishk Mein set the benchmark. It's the love story by which all future love stories will be measured, proving that when you combine Aanand L Rai's vision, Colour Yellow's production excellence, and bankable star power, you create something truly unforgettable. This is the film that will define romantic cinema for years to come.

Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar - Ranbir Kapoor & Shraddha Kapoor's Box Office Blockbuster

Luv Ranjan's millennial romance, starring two of Bollywood's most charismatic stars, Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, became one of the biggest commercial successes, proving that star power combined with relatable storytelling is an unbeatable success formula. Tu Jhooti Main Makkaar’s urban sensibility and the crackling chemistry between the lead actors resonated with massive audiences across multiplexes nationwide. With the film tackling issues such as commitment phobia and anxieties that modern relationships usually deal with, while also providing the audiences with a breezy romance, it served exactly what mass audiences usually crave to see from romantic movies. Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar's impressive box office collections also demonstrated that established stars in well-crafted love stories remain one of Bollywood's safest bets.

Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani - Powerhouse Performers Ranveer Singh & Alia Bhatt Assemble 

This movie saw Bollywood's biggest powerhouse performers, Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt come together, and expectations naturally skyrocketed. And they delivered. Rocky Aur Rani... became a massive crowd-pleaser, combining Dharma Productions' trademark grandeur with genuine emotional, sentimental and familial quotient, only further elevated by fabulous performances by Ranveer and Alia. The movie gave audiences everything they craved for, from stunning visuals, to hum-worthy songs to melodrama, and a love story big enough to match its stars. 

Param Sundari - The Sleeper Hit That Found Its Audience

Sidharth Malhotra-Janhvi Kapoor’s Param Sundari, quietly won over audiences with its refreshing simplicity and genuine performances that let the stars' natural chemistry shine without excessive gloss. The film found its audience through word-of-mouth, and also its catchy music, proving that even in the age of big-budget spectacles, authentic storytelling featuring engaging performers can carve its own path to success. Both Sid and Janhvi brought sincerity and warmth to roles that could have felt ordinary or even underperformed in lesser hands, thus creating characters that the audiences genuinely rooted for. In an era of larger-than-life romance, Param Sundari's mass appeal came from its relatability, a cross-cultural love story with all of its fun and drama, reminding viewers that love stories don't need to be grandiose to be appealing and satisfying. 

Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari - The Star-Studded Entertainer Everyone's Waiting For

The anticipation around this multi-starrer venture reached a fever pitch, and for good reason, because of its stellar star cast comprising Varun Dhawan, Sanya Malhotra, Janhvi Kapoor and Rohit Saraf. Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari went on to become one of the most commercially significant romantic releases. The combination of established stars, a production house known for delivering crowd-pleasers, and a premise that balanced tradition with modernity, all culminated into a major romantic blockbuster that drew the masses to the theatres. 

Also Read: 7 slow-burn romantic movies that redefine love through silence, longing, and connection

Bollywood's biggest stars returning to romance isn't just a trend, but a movement. From Aanand L Rai's Tere Ishk Mein standing tall as the definitive romantic achievement that combined artistic excellence with massive commercial appeal beautifully, to blockbusters featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh and others, proving that star-led love stories remain box office royalty, contemporary romantic cinema is thriving at the highest levels. These are big-ticket productions featuring the industry's most bankable talent, backed by powerhouse production houses, and embraced by massive audiences nationwide. As these films continue to top the list of most successful and most-loved movies that packed theaters, one truth is undeniable - when Bollywood's finest talent commits to love stories, audiences will always show up.