Bollywood is one of the world’s most revered film industries, producing over 1000 films every year. However, Bollywood cinema is nothing if not sentimental. Versatility is one of its best suits, and Bollywood cinema stands out from its peers in more ways than one. With countless libraries on OTT websites, keeping up with the best of Bollywood is almost difficult.

Although everyone’s tastes vary, many of the films mentioned below can be found on any list of the Best Bollywood movies. Again, these are completely subjective recommendations for the 25 best Bollywood movies on Amazon Prime Video that we have thoroughly enjoyed viewing. This is a list of them:

1. 3 Idiots

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

3 Idiots, one of the most successful Bollywood films of all time, is the epitome of striking the perfect balance between critical and commercial success. 3 Idiots, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, is a heartwarming tale of memories and self-discovery.

Two men journey to Ladakh in search of a friend who was important in their lives in college but has since vanished. They reminisce about all the wild times they’ve shared on the way, making it a very well-woven story about friendships. Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, R Madhavan and Sharman Joshi Feature in 3 Idiots.

2. Dil Chahta Hai

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Another Aamir Khan addition, this time to the turn of the century, nearly two decades ago. Dil Chahta Hai was a forerunner of Bollywood road films. Dil Chahta Hai is a breezy watch that follows long-lost friends on a journey to Goa to rediscover their attitude to life.

3. Section 375

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Section 375, a tense courtroom drama starring Akshaye Khanna and Richa Chada, is all about a rape case that holds audiences on the verge for the majority of the film. Section 375 was among the most underestimated movies of 2019, with strong scenes and dialogue delivery, and you should watch it if you’ve not already.

4. Munnabhai M.B.B.S

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Though there was a convincing argument for us to have the sequel Lage Raho Munnabhai rather than this, we opted to stick with this due to the story surrounding the film. After being acquitted in a case linked to the 1993 Mumbai Bomb Blasts, this one was Sanjay Dutt’s second chance in Bollywood, and boy did it hit the target. Arshad Warsi and Boman Irani deliver outstanding performances, making this a family-friendly film.

5. Lipstick Under My Burkha

IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

Lipstick under my Burkha has the potential to show you what women have to go through in the simplest form and supported by good performances by Ahana Kumra, Ratna Pathak Shah, Plabitha Borthakur and Konkana Sen Sharma this movie is certainly an important film. The concerns that the women in the film face are still so common today, which is why Lipstick Under My Burkha is so relevant, precisely because it normalizes these stereotypes. It’s actually very fun.

6. Luck By Chance

IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

Luck by Chance, created by Zoya Akthar, is a truly underappreciated gem in Bollywood about a troubled actor trying to make it big in the industry. He works his way up the ladder and eventually lands a major role in a film, which has an impact on his personal relations. This film doesn’t incorporate any gloss and depicts it as accurately as possible, and those films can be enjoyable to watch at times. Farhan Akhtar and Konkana Sen Sharma appear in Luck by Chance.

7. Sholay

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Sholay is a quintessential Bollywood mainstay that appears on nearly any listicle simply because of the iconic reputation it has gained in India. Sholay would always be India’s best reaction to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Amjad Khan, Hema Malini, as well as Sanjeev Kapoor.

A western classic about a dacoit who tortures a nearby town, only for two boys to rise up and defend him. Sholay contains classic dialogues and moments that our parents will still remember, and it has a remarkable place in Bollywood memory.

8. Dum Laga Ke Haisha

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

A movie that goes a great way toward dispelling preconceived conceptions of appearance by essentially telling the audience that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Dum Laga Ke Haisha is a romantic love story about Prem, a school dropout who marries Sandhya, an obese but qualified woman, and how they deal with life’s everyday challenges and find love, which is the story’s central theme. It’s not pretentious in any way; it’s just a sweet love tale that will melt your heart and delight you. In the lead roles are Ayushmann Khurana and Bhumi Pednekar.

9. Gully Boy

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

This one is Zoya Akthar’s second film that is included in the collection, and it won’t be the last. Gully Boy, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, tells the story of Murad, a Dharavi boy who dreams of being a rapper. Gully Boy is a lot of fun to watch because of his difficult experience and how he channels it into his music. Though Ranveer and Alia perform admirably, the supporting cast of Siddhant Chaturvedi, Vijay Verma, and Amrutha Subash steal the spotlight.

10. Trapped

IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

Rajkummar Rao features in Trapped, a constricted journey directed by Vikramaditya Motwane that perfectly captures the sensation. Shaurya, who finds himself alone in his new apartment with no water, food, or neighbors, must figure out how to survive. Rao delivers one of his greatest performances in this film, which is thrilling and unsettling at times.

11. Maqbool

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Though Irrfan Khan has shown his versatility in a variety of roles during his career, Maqbool stands out as the protagonist in this Vishal Bharadwaj classic. A tale about a low-level henchman for an underworld don who swears to rise through the ranks at the request of his boss’ mistress, who urges him to murder the don to become the next king. Thanks to its main actors, Maqbool is a powerful tale with some solid sequences.

12. Raazi

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

As Sehmat, an undercover Indian agent who married into a Pakistani household, Alia Bhatt gives one of her best performances to date. Although she is concentrating on her work, it becomes more complicated as questions surface and her cover is threatened. Meghana Gulzar’s film Raazi is brilliantly directed and keeps the viewer on the edge of their seats throughout.

13. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Zoya Akhtar appears on the list for the second time, this time for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. As the title suggests, this multi-starrer is about three friends discovering the importance of living life to the fullest and making no regrets when travelling through Spain. Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, and Abhay Deol provide their all in their parts, while Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin provide excellent support to the main cast. It’s a lighthearted film that can make you happy now and again, and it’s the ideal film to watch on a relaxing Sunday afternoon.

14. Thappad

IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

Thappad is without a doubt the best Hindi film of the year so far. Thappad, featuring Tapsee Pannu, is a prism to society and its hierarchical routines that cut through social classes. Others are as obvious as daylight, and others are more nuanced, but each is equally poor in its own title, also Director Anubhav Sinha has found a fine balance between practical narration and preaching. Tapsee Pannu’s efficiency, as well as Ratna Pathak Shah and Kumud Mishra’s portrayals of Tapsee’s family, is outstanding.

15. Detective Byomkesh Bakshi

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

Byomkesh Bakshi is a recent college graduate who already has a case on his side. He decides to look into the disappearance of Bhuvan, a Calcutta chemist. Bakshi, with the help of Bhuvan’s son Ajit, wraps up the case as it develops into a much bigger conspiracy. Sushant Singh Rajput and Anand Tiwari deliver good performances in this classic whodunit noir. The movie has a very exciting ending, and the build-up to it is almost as sweet, so you’ll be glued to your screens the whole time.

16. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, also known as DDLJ, is one of the most iconic Bollywood films. In this adorable tale featuring Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, Raj and Simran encounter on a Euro trip and fall in love, just for the girl’s parents to reject them, despite the boy’s best efforts to persuade them. DDLJ isn’t exactly a cinematic masterpiece, but it has clearly hit a chord with the Indian public, to the point that the film is still playing in a Mumbai theatre nearly 26 years after its release.

17. Newton

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

A moving film about a government employee who is sent to hold elections in a politically sensitive region of Central India. His trip there, in which he learns all sides of the story and attempts to hold free and equal elections against many challenges, is fascinating to watch. As we are fully absorbed in the land and feel the suspense, Newton is shot beautifully with outstanding performances from Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, and many others.

18. Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani

IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

Yeh Jawani hai Deewani, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in major roles, is as Bollywood as it gets. YJHD is the ideal bundle with a high rewatchability level, with a fun first half packed with songs as well as jokes that gradually progresses into an overwhelming second-half loaded with songs.

19. Kal Ho Na Ho

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

In the 2000s, Shahrukh Khan was a power to be reckoned with. With blockbuster upon blockbuster, Khan seemed to have the nation’s heartbeat in his mouth. But, of all the movies, our favourite is Kal Ho Na Ho, in which he plays a terminally ill person who enjoys living life to the fullest. Kal Ho Na Ho is a truly touching watch because of his effect on the lives of those around him. Kal Ho Na Ho is your perfect Bollywood starter pack, with Shahrukh Khan at his charismatic best and strong songs.

20. Rock On

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

Rock on was Bollywood’s very first rock film, and it ventured into new territories. Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, and Prachi Desai feature in this beautiful film about Magik, a rock band that disbanded due to artistic disagreements only to reconnect years later. Rock on makes for a fantastic watching experience on Amazon Prime Video, with amazing music and some solid sequences.

21. Gangs Of Wasseypur

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Gangs of Wasseypur is a two-part masterpiece directed by Anurag Kashyap that was launched eight years ago and has characterized Hindi pop culture since its publication. Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Richa Chadda, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Piyush Mishra, as well as Jaideep Ahlawat feature in Gangs of Wasseypur, which features a few of Bollywood’s most great performers. Gangs of Wasseypur is a strong dose of pure drama set in rural North India and the dire state in which these characters find themselves can sometimes be laughable and quite often heartbreaking.

22. A Death In The Gunj

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

A Death in the Gunj, made by Konkona Sen Sharma, is a coming-of-age tale about Shutu and his conflicting ideas about masculinity. He sees himself caught in the fuzzy lines of what is acceptable in society and struggles to navigate his own place within it. A Death in the Gunj, featuring Vikrant Massey, Kalki Koechiln, Om Puri, Gulshan Devaiah, Ranvir Shorey, and Jim Sarbh, is a fantastic watch and the epitome of an indie Bollywood film.

23. Lakshya

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

Hrithik Roshan gave one of his greatest performances in 2004 as Karan Shergill, a spoilt kid with no purpose in life who tries to join the Armed Forces one day to prove a point. Lakshya is a very inspirational watch because it shows how the Army and preparation mould his life to the point that he is battling for the nation on the frontlines years later. Preity Zinta, Boman Irani, and Ranvir Shorey are all excellent in their respective roles, and director Farhan Akhtar does an excellent job with the plot.

24. Chak De India

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Chak De India is a 2007 Bollywood film that epitomizes salvation and follows Kabir Khan’s genius transformation from national antagonist to hero. Chak De India is among the best sports films ever made, with just the right amount of passion and logic to make it a highly enjoyable watch. The final scenes in which Kabir Khan looks at the tricolour are enough to make every patriotic nerve in your body swell.

25. Kapoor And Sons

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

On the outside, Kapoor and Sons seems to be a cute family drama in which two brothers go back home to take care of their ailing grandfather. However, this Shakun Batra film is so much more. The film almost seamlessly deals with extremely critical subjects, and it joins the list because of how it normalizes them in Bollywood. There is no caricature of any stereotype, because it is just a tale about a family and how such circumstances bring them more together than ever before.