Bollywood Films That Teach Us How to Overcome Life’s Biggest Challenges

Bollywood films aren’t just meant for entertainment; they also teach us many important life lessons. These films are not only about happy lives, romance, comedy, and their dynamics, but they also reflect the harsh realities of life. Many stories focus on overcoming societal norms and professional burdens, dealing with academic anxiety and career setbacks, and discovering inspirational journeys that shape one’s perspective on life.

These films go beyond entertainment and show different struggles people face in life. From career pressure to personal loss and self-growth, each story shares a simple lesson about dealing with challenges and moving forward. There are several such films in Bollywood that you may have already watched, and if you haven’t, they are definitely worth watching.

3 idiots (2009) 

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Producer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Story by: Chetan Bhagat, Abhijat Joshi

The story is about 3 college students, Raju (Sharman Joshi), Farhan (R.Madhavan) and Rancho (Aamir Khan), who study at an engineering college that has a high-pressure education system. Farhan and Raju study engineering just because their families ask for it and because of their financial situation but Rancho inspires them to choose their dreams and work for them. The film blends emotions, social issues, and inspirations and makes the audience question what they are really doing and what they wish to do. 

Chhichhore (2019)

Director: Nitesh Tiwari

Producer: Sajid Nadiadwala

Story by: Nitesh Tiwari, Piyush Gupta, Nikhil Mehrotra

Chhichhore is a comedy-drama film that is the story of a man named Aniruddh Pathak aka Anni played by Sushant Singh Rajput who is going through a divorce but then he reunites with his college friends after his son attempts suicide. The film shows Anni’s hostel life and that is the crucial part of the film which teaches that life is not about winning but learning from failure and surviving. 

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

Director: Zoya Akhtar

Producer: Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani

Story by: Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Farhan Akhtar (Dialogues)

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is a story of three friends, Arjun (Hrithik Roshan), Kabir (Abhay Deol) and Imran (Farhan Akhtar), who go on a road trip before Kabir’s wedding. During this trip, they find themselves fighting amongst each other, but gradually they resolve the issues, and at the end of the film, you see a beautiful friendship. 

12th fail (2023)

Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Producer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Yogesh Ishwar

Story by: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Jaskumar Kohli, Vikas Divyakirti

12th Fail is a story of Manoj Kumar Sharma (Vikrant Massey), who wants to become an IPS officer and attempts the toughest competitive exam, UPSC. This film is based on a real-life incident. 

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Producer: Karan Johar, Hiroo Yash Johar 

Story by: Ayan Mukerji, Hussain Dalal (Dialogues) 

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is a Romantic-Comedy drama film which is a blend of friendship, love and dreams. In the film Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor), Naina (Deepika Padukone) meets after eight years and realises the love they have for each other, along with them, we see Aditi (Kalki Koechlin) and Avi (Aditya Roy Kapur).

Hichki (2018)

Director: Siddharth P. Malhotra

Producer: Maneesh Sharma

Story by: Ankur Chaudhry, Siddharth P. Malhotra, Ganesh Pandit, Raaj Mehta, Ambar Hadap

Hichki is a story of Naina Mathur (Rani Mukerji) who is an aspiring teacher but also deals with Tourette’s Syndrome since childhood. But she gets rejected from fifteen schools, and when she finally gets the job, she becomes a teacher of the most notorious class. It is an interesting story, no spoilers. 

Secret Superstar (2017)

Director: Advait Chandan

Producer: Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao

Story by: Advait Chandan

Secret Superstar is a musical drama film starring Zaira Wasim as Insiya Malik, a girl who struggles in a conservative Muslim household. She dreams of becoming a singer and navigates through the tough journey. 

Masaan (2015)

Director: Nitesh Tiwari

Producer: Sajid Nadiadwala

Story by: Nitesh Tiwari, Piyush Gupta, Nikhil Mehrotra

Masaan is a story of grief and moral traditions, the film is set in Varanasi and teaches the harsh reality of life and death. The film’s stars are Vicky Kaushal, Richa Chadda, Shweta Tripathi and Sanjay Mishra. 

Dear Zindagi (2016)

Director: Nitesh Tiwari

Producer: Sajid Nadiadwala

Story by: Nitesh Tiwari, Piyush Gupta, Nikhil Mehrotra 

Dear Zindagi is a new-age drama about Kaira (Alia Bhatt), who is a young cinematographer who struggles both professionally and in her personal life. She then finds Dr Jehangir (Shah Rukh Khan), a therapist who helps her love herself again. 

Dil Chahta Hai (2001)

Director: Nitesh Tiwari

Producer: Sajid Nadiadwala

Story by: Nitesh Tiwari, Piyush Gupta, Nikhil Mehrotra

Dil Chahta Hai is a story of three friends, Akash (Aamir Khan), Sameer (Saif Ali Khan), and Siddharth (Akshaye Khanna), after finishing college, they see the real world of love and life. The story revolves around friendship, love, and maturity. 

Well, many more films have entertained us and taught us valuable lessons over the years. But these are some of the stories that people return to again and again. They are the kind of films that stay with you long after they end, and every time you watch them, they offer something new to think about. That is the beauty of cinema, some films simply never lose their impact and continue to inspire us each time we watch them.