Anjaana Anjaani to Merry Christmas: Celebrate this Holiday season with Bollywood films

Here's a list of Bollywood films that celebrate Christmas and bring the holiday spirit to life on screen.

Anjaana Anjaani; Merry Christmas

Heartwarming tales, joyous celebrations, and romantic adventures have long been staples of Bollywood Christmas films. The festive spirit is delicately woven into the stories of certain films, while others make it a central element. Bollywood offers a wide selection of films that beautifully depict the joy of Christmas, whether you're looking for romantic comedies, heartfelt dramas, or comedies with a twist.

Bollywood films that spread festive cheer this holiday season

Anari (1959) - ShemarooMe [OTTplay Premium]

Filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Anari features Raj Kapoor, Nutan, Motilal, and Lalita Pawar. The film featured Kapoor in the part of a painter who finds a job as an office secretary thanks to his landlord. Nineteen Fifty-Six is a Christmas and New Year's celebration song performed by the cast. Beautiful Helen performs a song written by Manna Dey and performed by Lata Mangeshkar. Even if everyone else is having a good time, Raj appears to be rather uneasy because he isn't himself in this setting and with these clothes.

ALSO READ: 14 years of Anjaana Anjaani: Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor's heartfelt tale of love and self-discovery

Shandaar (1974) - Prime Video

The film Shandaar which stars Sanjeev Kumar, Sharmila Tagore, and Vinod Mehra, tells the tale of a generous business magnate who develops feelings for the daughter of an employee following the tragic death of his own daughter. Aata Hai Aata Hai, a song featured in the film, is essentially the Hindi translation of Jingle Bells. Sanjeev portrays Santa Claus, who is seen in the song enjoying Christmas with children while riding a sledge. Laxmikant Pyarelal composed the song, Rajinder Krishan wrote the lyrics, and Kishore Kumar sang them.

Julie (1975) - YouTube

The Anglo-Indian family is the protagonist of the Lakshmi Narayan and Vikram Makandar film, Julie. Unwed pregnancy and intercaste marriage are two topics that the film brings to light as examples of India's limiting social norms. Topics like women drinking and having sex before marriage are also brought to light. The film features the upbeat and carefree song My Heart is Beating which portrays a family celebrating Christmas with music, dancing, and good cheer. This song, which featured Preeti Sagar's voice, was one of the earliest Bollywood scores to feature an English-language song.

Bhanwar (1976) - Prime Video & ShemarooMe [OTTplay Premium]

A touching Christmas party takes place in the Bhappi Sonie film Bhanwar which features Parveen Babi and Randhir Kapoor in a magical scene. In the midst of twinkling lights and holiday spirit, Kapoor's character surprises Babi with a kind Christmas present, laying the groundwork for an extravagant feast. The film follows a young woman as she pretends to have a boyfriend in order to fit in with her friends. Little does she know, her fake relationship takes a turn for the real deal, leading to an unexpected cascade of emotions and a touching tale of true love set against a backdrop of playful dishonesty.

Anjaana Anjaani (2010) - ZEE5 [OTTplay Premium]

Anjaana Anjaani helmed by Siddharth Anand and starring Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, is an entertaining trip about two random people whose lives intersect when they make the decision to end their own. They give life another shot, decide to aid one another, and then establish a "deadline" to end it all on New Year's Eve. During this time, they decide to grant one other one last wish by going to Las Vegas together. The film takes place in December, thus it naturally includes scenes of Christmas and New Year's celebrations. Priyanka spends Christmas with her parents, while Ranbir joins his colleague's family in celebrating the holiday.

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012) - Netflix

Shakun Batra's first feature film as a filmmaker was Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu which featured Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan. In this romantic comedy, Imran portrays an architect who loses his house in Las Vegas, while Bebo takes on the character of a hairstylist. They end up meeting for cocktails on Christmas Eve after a chain of unfortunate occurrences. As the film's score, this is portrayed in the title song. As they frolic through the streets of Sin City, they can't help but burst into laughter. With its upbeat, energetic, and infectious rhythm, the title tune is a delightful Christmas treat in and of itself.

Dilwale (2015) - Netflix

In order to weave a crucial scene into its plot, Rohit Shetty's 2015 film Dilwale uses the joyous atmosphere of Christmas. In the midst of all the merrymaking and sparkling lights, Shah Rukh Khan and Varun Dhawan's characters have an unexpected run-in with Kajol and Kriti Sanon, rekindling old friendships. An exquisite element is added to the film's narrative of love, reconciliation, and destiny when Varun's character expresses his strong feelings for Kriti against the backdrop of the jubilant celebration, which is triggered by the holiday setting.

The Sky Is Pink (2019) - Netflix

An inspiring speaker whose life and work endured long after her tragic death at the young age of eighteen, The Sky Is Pink explores the moving story of Aisha Chaudhary. The film weaves together happy and sad moments as it chronicles her parents' 25-year romance. This emotional rollercoaster is set against the backdrop of Aisha's compelling tale of survival and the deep interactions within her family. Christmas, with its sad yet happy setting, emerges as a beacon of familial unity and love.

Merry Christmas (2024) - Netflix

Intriguingly gloomy and set during the holiday season, Merry Christmas is a thriller. Sriram Raghavan's festively themed film which stars Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi, offers a new spin on Christmas films in Bollywood. In a refreshing take on the classic holiday film, this crime-mystery-suspense film captures the craziness and allure of the season.

ALSO READ: Best of 2024: 10 underrated films and shows - Merry Christmas, All India Rank to Barzakh

Share