1. Lagaan
With India experiencing heat waves and water cuts in the summer, we know what it is like to experience the first grey clouds break open. After a long, stubborn drought, the onset of rain marks the villagers’ triumph over the British cricket team – and a metaphor for the end of the Raj itself
2. Kal Ho Na Ho
In Kal Ho Na Ho, Naina, played by Preity Zinta, goes to Aman's (played by Shah Rukh Khan), house to express her love for him. However, Aman, who is suffering from a terminal illness, reveals that he is already married. Devastated by this news, Naina runs out into a downpour and cries – rain acts as a cathartic metaphor for loss
3. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
In this film, Anjali, played by Kajol, sheds tears as Rahul, played by Shah Rukh Khan, confesses his love for Tina, portrayed by Rani Mukerji. The pouring rain hides their emotions. Years later, when Rahul re-enters Anjali's life, they find themselves drawn to each other once more during a heavy downpour. Seeking shelter under a canopy, they share a slow dance against the backdrop of the rain, creating a truly memorable and romantic moment in Bollywood cinema
4. Dil Toh Pagal Hai
After a long day of dance rehearsals, a heavy downpour stands between Madhuri Dixit and Shah Rukh Khan’s journey of reaching home. The kids outside their studio dance in a carefree manner in the rain – and the duo soon joins them in the iconic song – ‘Koi Ladki Hai’. The rain seems to wash off their exhaustion in this number
5. Mohra
The song 'Tip Tip Barsa Pani' featuring Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon is an unforgettable flirtatious rainy day song. The combination of rain, lyrics, and the chemistry between the couple creates a magical atmosphere, making it the perfect romantic rain song
6. Wake Up Sid
During the first rain of the season, Sid and Aisha find themselves at Marine Drive, where they have a profound realization of their love for each other. Acknowledging that they are more than just friends, they embrace against a rain-drenched landscape. The scene is a testament of love and an ode to Mumbai’s monsoon
7. Aashiqui 2
The iconic scene from the poster where Rahul and Aarohi stand under the rain with a jacket has become a symbol for romantic couples worldwide. The moment signifies the rainy union of Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor and epitomizes finding love at the end of angst and longing
8. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gam
As much as rain is a symbol of love, it is also used as a visual marker of grief, separation and loss. Rain represents death in this scene from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gam
9. Shree 420
One of Hindi cinema's most romantic monsoon scenes features Nargis and Raj Kapoor sharing an umbrella, while singing 'Pyaar Hua Ikraar Hua' in the film Shree 420. In the song, the actors also remind us of the impermanence of life through the ebb and flow of the rain
10. Dahek
The song 'Saawan Barse Tarse Dil' from the film Dahek (1999), directed by Lateef Binny, sets the gold standard in Hindi cinema for portraying the experience of navigating through a heavy downpour to reach a destination. This song sweetens the arduous journey by hinting that love awaits at the end, despite the challenges of navigating a heavy Indian monsoon
11. Guru
In the film, Sujata Desai (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) is deeply in love and yearns to express her feelings to the world. In the mesmerizing rain song "Barso Re," she joyfully sings and dances amidst streams and mountains, in an unsaid joyful announcement of finally meeting her lover
In the same movie, when R. Madhavan confesses his love to Vidya Balan, who is wheelchair-bound, she is initially taken aback by the unexpected declaration. However, eventually, she accepts his love and reciprocates his feelings
12. Bachna Ae Haseeno
Heartbroken and devastated, Bipasha Basu seeks solace in the rain when her lover, Ranbir Kapoor, fails to show up on their wedding day. In the midst of the pouring rain, she finds a moment of emotional release
13. Raja Hindustani
During a time when on-screen kissing was still tiptoed around, Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor took their love story to new heights with a passionate lip-lock in the rain. This intimate moment symbolized the resolution of their conflicts, bringing harmony back into their world
14. Veer Zara
Shah Rukh and Preity Zinta embody love and longing in this romantic rain-soaked scene in Veer Zara
15. Jab We Met
In one of the most timeless rain songs in contemporary Bollywood cinema, Shahid and Kareena dance in the gifts of monsoon in Tum Se Hi. The song is also an eye-opener for Shahid towards acknowledging his feelings for Kareena – each raindrop coaxes him from his introverted shell into becoming carefree and joyous
16. Hum Tum
Rani and Saif create magic in the monsoon with their electric chemistry
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