Reel Romance

Getting into the Valentine Day’s mode, celebrities swear by romantic films that make them go weak-kneed and starry-eyed. While some can’t think beyond their favourites from the past, others are looking forward to new love stories this year

Vidya Balan

“I am a very romantic person at heart, one who can see romance even in a plate of food that’s been put together quite well! My all-time favourite romantic film is Silsila. The love, romance, the music, and the complexity of the relationship between the lead actors, everything about the film was so romantic. But I am also a huge fan of the American romantic drama Before Sunrise and its sequel, Before Sunset. I hope to get a chance to do something similar. I would like to do a film that has some nice relationship story, where there is love, pain and heartache. We don’t see that in our films any more.”

Shahid Kapoor

“The list is pretty long as I am a film buff and have been a fan of good romance films. I am a complete romantic at heart. What attracts me to such films is their simplicity. One of my early favourites include Mughal-E-Azam and Pakeezah, the latter is a favourite because I was a big fan of Meena Kumari. I also love watching Dilip (Kumar) saab’s Devdas, Maine Pyaar Kiya, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. From the films that I have done so far, both Jab We Met and Vivah are my favourites.”

Vivek Oberoi

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“My favourite Hindi love story of all-time is Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge because it’s an emotionally flawless tale, filled with incredible evergreen music and electric chemistry between Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan. I can still watch it any time and enjoy every moment of it. No wonder it’s the longest running film of all time.”

Ranveer Singh

“My favourite romantic films are the ones I have been in because they all have a special place in my heart— Band Baaja Baarat, Lootera and Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela. This time I am looking forward to Kill Dil with Parineeti Chopra. It’s a romantic comedy and directed by my mentor Shaad Ali.”

Parineeti Chopra

“Everyone loves Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge. It’s a favourite for most people, and even I love the film. I used to usually be a fan of all those typical romcoms of the ‘90s.”

Ayushmann Khuranna

“I know it sounds clichéd, but the most romantic film has to be Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. Romance with travel is the best combo. And in DDLJ was the king of romance. Shah Rukh Khan made this film iconic with the bubbly Kajol.”

Sidharth Malhotra

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“I love Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and all those films. I’ve also been a huge fan of Yash Chopra’s films like Lamhe. Shah Rukh Khan was a huge influence on the Delhi boys, we really liked watching all his films, even the ones like Kabhi Haa Kabhi Naa, where he wasn’t the quintessential romantic hero.”

Vaani Kapoor

“It would be very difficult to choose any one specific film, but I love When Harry Met Sally, My Best Friend’s Wedding and Priceless. Everytime I watch these films, it makes me want to fall in love. They are simply beautiful.”

Amit Sadh

“I love Ek Duje Ke Liye, I love everything about the film. It was very real. The whole passion of the film, the way everyone acted in it was just beautiful.
I don’t specifically look forward to watching romantic films, but I watch it if I find the promos interesting. So, there’s no specific film I’m looking forward to in 2014.”

Ali Zafar

“Unforgettable romantic films that I have watched are 500 Hundred Days of Summer, P.S. I Love You, The Notebook and of course, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. I connect with these films and relate to it. Besides, one also feels good watching these films especially since romance means everything to me. It can be with anything — my films, my music, a woman, my guitar. I am a romantic and I like to be in that space.”

Yaami Gautam

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“I look for a certain realism even in the romance films that I watch. So, that way I find films like Hum Tum, Jab We Met, Notting Hill , P.S. I Love You and The Notebook. These films, I think, are really very romantic and pretty much closer to reality. And then there is Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge — it is the ideal kind of love story everybody dreams to have.”

Daisy Shah

“From Hindi films, I love Maine Pyar Kiya because that is one film that captured the tenderness of love between a boy and a girl. Among the Hollywood films, it has to be Pretty Woman —it shows that love has no conditions attached to it.”