Is The Bollywood Romantic Hero On His Way Back?

For a while now, Bollywood romantic films have been on a mute. Till the point it became noticeable that we no longer had a loverboy in mind when it came to the big-screen. Think about it, only king of romance comes to mind and that in itself is the toughest challenge for any romantic lead to surpass.

But until 2025, we were left wondering if good romantic movies will ever grace our streaming screens, let alone have a character like Raj fawn over and secretly indulge in wishful thinking that would never in a million years make it to the broad day light.

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Although, that wishful thinking may one ever be a thought, the other wish – to have new romantic movies to watch might just come true this year. I mean, look at the list of movies in Hindi cinema that are saying yes to Romance and heartbreak this year.

From Dhadak 2 starring Siddhant Chaturvedi to Param Sundari starring Janhvi Kapoor and Siddharth Malhotra to Metro In Dino with the handsome hunk Aditya Roy Kapoor, this year is for lover boys and those romantic heroes making our hearts race with excitement, hopefully!

Almost a bunch of such films are slated for a swoon-heavy release this year but the question is what kind of a romantic hero can we expect in 2025? Of course, can’t expecting Mr. Darcy level of chivalry or courtships of the 19th century novels that are impossible to achieve in an age that can’t get rid of bread-crumbing, pocketing, and ghosting.

But it is also the age of pookie behaviour. For those that have never surfed through the internet, Pookie is a term of endearment used as a nickname for your partner. So, will the romantic hero be a hero or a pookie in this day and age-woke and fighting for equal right as we expect the world around us to be?

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There was a time when a man running through mustard fields with his heart out of the sleeve could melt a nation. (You know, who are talking about), but then it all disappeared for a while and really needed resurrection.

The classic Bollywood hero used to love with abandon. Think of SRK leaning against train doors or Saif Ali Khan’s silky charm in Hum Tum. He was emotionally reckless, romantically verbose, occasionally a stalker—but ultimately, he was yours.

But Gen-Z doesn’t want a man who “convinces” a woman by chasing her. The 2025 romance hero must be vulnerable but not manipulative, charming but not performative. And dare we say it? Emotionally literate.

“In today’s films, love isn’t something you just declare. You have to deserve it,” says screenwriter Neha Kapoor, who is working on a rom-com for a major streaming platform. “It’s not about a grand gesture anymore—it’s about growth arcs and therapy references.”

Bollywood Romantic Hero Movies

And the loverboy is dressing different, too. Less chiffon shirts in Swiss valleys. More oversized linen, clean-shaven sincerity, and Instagrammable vulnerability. The sex appeal? It’s in his playlist, his ability to talk about attachment styles, and the way he looks at you like he’s trying to decode your Enneagram.

Here are a few romantic movies that might make us fall in love with a lover boy again:

Dhadak 2

Releasing on 1 Aug 2025, Dhadak 2 Siddhant Chaturvedi and Tripti Dimri directed by Shazia Iqbal and produced by Dharma Productions, Zee Studios and Cloud 9 Pictures. A spiritual sequel to Dhadak (2018) and a remake of the Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal (2018)

Saiyaara

Set to be a debut for Ananya Pandey’s cousin Ahan Pandey, Saiyaara will see its theatrical release on July 18, 2025 and revolves around a powerful love story that promises to both shatter and mend the heart.

Param Sundari

Much-awaited film starring Janhvi Kapoor and Siddhart Malhotra on July 25 this year, Param Sundari is about two diverse worlds colliding in a heartwarming story. In Kerala's picturesque backwaters, a North Indian and South Indian find unexpected love.

Tere Ishk Mein

Starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon, Tere Ishk Mein will release in the month of November, bringing action and drama with it. Suspect you’ll need a box of tissues while you watch this heart breaker.

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Metro In Dino

Sequel to A Life In…Metro follows stories of bittersweet relationships in a contemporary setting, exploring various aspects, hues, and moods of love and stars a list of actors from Aditya Roy Kapur, Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Konkana Sen Sharma, and more. Set for a release on 4 July 2025.

Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari

Another movie where Janhvi Kapoor will be in a romantic setting is with Varun Dhawan and Sanya Malhotra in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari in September 2025.