Romantic comedies, or rom-coms, defined the heart and soul of Indian cinema for nearly seven decades. Films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Jab We Met, and Hum Tum created an entire generation’s definition of love. As cinema evolved, these feel-good films took a back seat to action thrillers, gritty dramas, and social commentaries. But in the last couple of years, something was happening that surprised everyone — Indian rom-coms are coming back, but not as retro repeats, but as fresh, modern tales that resonate with today’s audience.
So why the return?
A close look at why indian rom-coms are reentering the limelight of cinema.
- Nostalgia Meets Contemporary Storytelling
One of the biggest drivers of the rom-com revival is nostalgia. They watched Shah Rukh Khan sing heroines in mustard fields grow up, and now everybody craves that emotional security in the face of a world gone mad. But it’s not just nostalgic tropes remounted. Romantic comedies now are smart, self-aware, and realistic.
Take Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023), for example. Using age-old Bollywood weapons like misunderstandings and family politics, it also engages with modern-day dating etiquette and gender roles. Films are blending the charm of vintage romance with the nuance of love in the present times — a magic combination that appeals to all generations.
- A New Wave of Writers and Directors
The resurgence of rom-coms has been accompanied by a shift in the hands holding the camera. Modern filmmakers are giving the genre a much-needed makeover, writing stories that are emotionally mature and socially aware.
Films such as Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani have no hesitation in discussing patriarchal family structures, conflict between generations, and personal identity — all within a rom-com. These aren’t feel-good fluff films; they’re nuanced narratives that happen to include a dose of love and humor.
This shift is mostly introduced by a new generation of authors and filmmakers who see rom-coms not as formulaic but as a flexible narrative mode.
- Real, Relatable Characters
Those days of rom-com heroes as caricatures are behind us now. Today’s characters are imperfect, messy, and authentic — and that makes them all the more endearing. Whether it’s a workaholic female trying to balance life or a commitment-phobic male learning how to become an adult, the characters in these stories have real-life issues.
This move towards authenticity appealed to audiences. Audiences no longer crave perfection; they crave honesty. The romance is still there, but it is earned rather than fabricated.
- The Rise of OTT Platforms
OTT platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and JioCinema have become launchpads of innovative romantic comedies. Unfettered by the pressure of box office figures, creators are experimenting with more risqué subject matters and unconventional narratives.
Web series and shows like Feels Like Ishq, Mismatched, and The Royals have proved that there is a huge appetite for modern love stories, especially among youth. It is also easier on platforms of OTT to dabble in niche romances — long-distance romance, LGBTQ+ romance stories, or second-chance romances for older characters.
Besides, these platforms are also providing platform space for fresh talent to come forward. New faces and new comer directors now get space to express real, original narratives free of box-office pressure.
- Evolving Audience Expectations
Today’s audience is more emotionally conscious and socially aware. They want films that are reflective of their life and yet, an escape. Rom-coms, when done right, can deliver that optimum balance.
The average audience no longer satisfied with formulaic love stories. They want stories that acknowledge the truth of therapy, the importance of consent, the dating-app mayhem, and the strength of emotional vulnerability. Indian romantic comedies are stepping in to fill the gap.
Even such topics as arranged marriage — so traditional a Bollywood staple — are being reimagined through a more liberal lens, making them fresh and new again.
- Rom-Coms as Escapism
With post-pandemic times, viewers are moving towards light genres as an emotional respite. Having endured years of dystopian dramas and suspenseful thrillers, audiences want to experience content that can smile, laugh, and renew their trust in love.
Rom-coms offer a sort of optimistic escapism — one in which love triumphs, miscommunication is resolved, and all (usually) get a good ending. And in times of global uncertainty, there’s something deeply comforting about that.
- Cross-Cultural and Regional Influence
Indian rom-coms are also following regional cinema and international patterns. South Indian films like Love Today and Premalu have demonstrated how rom-coms can merge humour, sentimentality, and cultural specificity to create humongous successes. Bollywood is taking notice.
Likewise, Indian romantic comedies have been remade for a global audience in growing numbers with local flavors infused. The result is hybrid tales that are both global and grounded — a genre which has achieved its maximum appeal with India’s globalized audience.
- Breaking the Age Barrier
Another intriguing trend within this rom-com revival is the depiction of love stories beyond the 20-something crowd. Films like Aap Jaisa Koi explore middle-aged love with care and decorum, proving that love stories are not reserved for young adulthood.
Audiences are responding well to these films, relishing stories that reflect their own life cycles and lives. It’s a diversification much-needed that opens up the genre’s scope.
- New Couple Matches and Chemistry
Casting is also at the heart of the rom-com revival. Filmmakers are shunning formulaic star marriages and experimenting with new matches. Whether it is a veteran actor pairing up with a newcomer or two newcomers teaming up and exuding sizzling on-screen chemistry, the shock element works magic on screen.
These new pairings also allow for more grounded performances, as actors bring less baggage and new energy to the roles — something younger audiences are responding to in looking for authenticity.
- The Role of Music and Visual Aesthetics
Rom-coms have had a long history of having pop-culture-friendly soundtracks and dreamy visuals. Not only is the tradition being continued, but it’s also being reimagined. Modern rom-coms deliver music that is seamlessly woven into the narrative, drawing both on current styles and on retro flair.
Cinematography has also done it all, with directors using vibrant color palettes and innovative camera work to amplify the emotional quotient. From Holi sequences doused in vibrant colors to chic café dates, the aesthetic in recent romantic comedies is calibrated to woo without overwhelming.
- The Box Office is Finally Listening
For decades, the conventional wisdom of the industry had it that romantic comedies no longer rake in big bucks. That mentality is being overthrown, thanks to the surprise box office success of a recent string of romantic comedies.
Films like Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya performed well at the box office, proving that there is still space for such tales. Producers will take a chance on them as well when audience preferences shift. Romantic comedies are back to being commercially viable.
Final Thoughts: Love is (Still) in the Air
Romantic comedies may have been pushed aside for a while, but they never truly went away. What we’re experiencing now isn’t merely a comeback — it’s a resurrection. Indian rom-coms are evolving, transforming, and blooming in different ways that reflect how much we’ve changed.
They are more inclusive, richer in emotion, and closer to the present. Whether on OTT or in cinema halls, the genre is making the argument that love — all its messy, humorous, and heartwarming moments — continues to have a special place in our hearts.
As long as humans fall in love, mess up, laugh at themselves, and seek connection, romantic comedies will never lose their appeal. And if the current wave is anything to go by, Indian cinema is yet to get its next big romance — with rom-coms.