This ranking of Imtiaz Ali’s best movies, from Jab We Met to Main Vaapas Aaunga, examines how he captures love, loss and existential angst through unforgettable characters. Highlighting titles like Tamasha, Rockstar, Highway and Amar Singh Chamkila, it shows how his stories probe purpose, belonging and the need to be truly seen and heard.
In Main Vaapas Aaunga, the universal emotion of yearning turns int an unwavering allegorical belief in man and his love for his land. No one today is able to capture the deep sentiments attached with love and its facets as well as the 55-year-old director.
He weaves magic on silver screen through his characters who intensely and are always soul-searching. A film by Ali since his breakout film Jab We Met (not his debut) starring Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor, has been premeditated on the questions around existential purpose, the need to be heard and understood and the role of self-acceptance.
Be it Ved from Tamasha and his story of self-acceptance or Amar Singh Chamkila and his resilience to preserve his creative voice and more, Ali's character speak of the innate humanness. This remains linear even with his films that have not become commercial favourites.
Starring Anushka Sharma and Shah Rukh Khan, Jab Harry Met Sejal depicts a depressed middle-aged tour guide who lives in his own bubble and gets another chance to experience and face reality through a chirpy girl.
The Netflix series created by Imtiaz Ali goes undercover to expose a drug ring in Mumbai only for the timid constable to realise her dormant sexuality's potential.
Unfortunately, the second iteration of the 2009 film starring Deepika Padukone and Saif Ali Khan should have never be made. Some love stories of the bygone era belong in the past.
Based on Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky's White Nights, the film written co-written by Imtiaz Ali and directed by Shivam Nair revolves around an acting marriage witness Ankush who falls in love with a girl who has been betrayed by her lover. When he returns back, Ankush tries his best to save his relationship.
An old-fashioned romantic tells his personal love story to a modern man who has just broken up with his girlfriend. Has love really ever changed?
Written by Imtiaz Ali and directed by Homi Adajania follows a love triangle between a guy and two girls, who are best friends (Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty) but the complete opposite of one another.
Another film written by Ali and directed by Sajid Ali, Laila Majnu launched two new faces in Bollywood- Avinash Tiwary and Triptii Dimri. Taking the leap out of the classic folklore, the story is set in today's time in Kashmir where Laila Majnu have problems relevant to the youth of today. While dealing with their feuding families a passionate love story unravels.
A cult favourite film for many youngsters,in Tamasha a boy meets a girl, in Corsica. They decide not to reveal their real name or personality. But when they accidentally do bump into one another years later, the carefree nature that was once so attractive in the guy remains buried under the corporate lifestyle.
Imtiaz Ali's debut film produced by Sunny Deol follows a boy who is forced meet a girl for an arranged marriage but even though he refuses the match, they secretly become friends. As things get complicated and both get engaged to different people they realize they've fallen in love with each other.
Who doesn't love Jab We Met! A heartbroken and suicidal Aditya (Shahid Kapoor) aimlessly boards the train, where he crosses paths with Geet (Kareena Kapoor), a bubbly, hyper-talkative Punjabi girl who drags him into her chaotic life.
The biographical drama film stars a humble singer whose brash lyrics ignite fame and fury across Punjab as he grapples with soaring success and brutal criticism before his untimely death.
The 2014 film starring Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt is highly recommended if you appreciate introspective, unconventional storytelling, powerful acting, and an acclaimed soundtrack, though its slow pacing may not appeal to everyone.
A hauntingly rebellious story of love, fame and passion, Rockstar depicts the tortured musician "Jordan", and its raw exploration of how intense heartbreak fuels true artistic genius.
A romantic drama, Main Vaapas Aaunga is a story of love, longing, and belonging rooted in Partition-era migration.