This film is a testament to the visual grandeur that Bollywood is famous for. Directed by the visionary Sanjay Leela Bhansali, it stars Alia Bhatt in a career-best performance as Gangu, a young woman sold into prostitution who rises to become a powerful matriarch of Mumbai’s red-light district, Kamathipura. The film is a visual feast, featuring elaborate sets, intricate costumes, and a soul-stirring soundtrack. It balances its commercial appeal with a narrative of female empowerment and political maneuvering, solidifying Bhatt’s status as a powerhouse performer.
Rounding out the list is Bollywood’s answer to Top Gun . Starring Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan, Fighter is an aerial action drama that celebrates the Indian Air Force. While the plot can be patriotic to a fault, the film is saved by the magnetic star power of its leads and the spectacular aerial combat sequences. It is a popcorn entertainer in the truest sense—visually spectacular, filled with catchy music, and designed for a grand cinematic experience from the comfort of your living room.
Breaking the mold of the victim-centric domestic drama, Darlings is a dark comedy that tackles domestic abuse with a refreshingly offbeat tone. Starring Alia Bhatt, Shefali Shah, and Vijay Varma, the film revolves around a mother-daughter duo who kidnap the daughter’s abusive husband. It manages to be funny, thrilling, and thought-provoking all at once, never losing sight of the gravity of its subject matter. The chemistry between Bhatt and Shah brings a warmth and relatability to a story that could have easily been too heavy to handle.
Darlings flips the script on revenge. When a meek wife (Bhatt) and her mother (Shefali Shah) decide to teach her alcoholic, abusive husband a lesson, things go deliciously dark. It’s unsettling, funny, and empowering—a rare genre blend that works perfectly.
Based on a true story, this film follows a young girl sold into a Mumbai brothel who rises to become a powerful, beloved matriarch and political figure. The sets, costumes, and dialogues are pure Bhansali magic, while Bhatt commands every frame with raw ferocity and grace.
Four seemingly unrelated stories—involving a missing porn tape, a kidnapped child, a gangster, and a lovesick ex-con—collide like a game of Ludo. With an ensemble cast (Abhishek Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi), dark humor, and heart, Ludo is pure, unpredictable fun.
