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Bollywood films are a massive inspiration for the mainstream crowd in India. In fact, it has also inspired an entire generation to travel like there’s no tomorrow! 

Being travelers and avid movie buffs we love watching Bollywood Hindi films that explore locations in the most authentic yet intriguing way. These films captivate our attention and force us to Google the different destinations they covered. So, in this blog, we will cover the best Bollywood movies that inspired us to travel. Let’s get right to it!

Best Bollywood Movies Base On Travel

1. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

Theme: Slice of Life | Friendships | Relationships

“Seize the day my friend!” Perhaps these words describe Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara best. It is a tale of three friends who made a pact during school. The pact was that each friend would choose a secret sport and reveal it on the day they participate in it. When one of the three musketeers is going to get married, the three go on a bachelor trip to Spain and fulfill their pact. 

What makes this tale gripping is that the bachelor trip and the pact lend themselves to the film’s core themes – friendship, forgiveness, living in the now, facing your fears, contentment, and more. The narrative makes the film wholesome and profound. Another intriguing aspect of the film is how Spain is showcased in the film. The long winding roads alongside meadows, the archaic buildings, and even the local culture are depicted with utmost authenticity. So, this one is a must-watch for everyone who loves movies and travel!

2. Qarib Qarib Singlle (2017)

Theme: Screwball Comedy | Wholesome | Strangers on a Train

There’s more to life even after a tragic event. Well, it’s precisely what Jaya and Yogi learn when they meet each other on a dating app and set out on a trip around the country. But it’s not just any other trip. Yogi takes Jaya to meet his three ex-girlfriends and somehow Jaya seems on board with the plan. 

Very few films depict India in the most aesthetic yet authentic manner. The backdrop of  Dehradun, Jaipur, and Gangtok are stunning and lend themselves to the duos’ whimsical adventure. The mishaps they face, portray how different their personalities are but also give the audience an insight into the emotional baggage they carry. The different frames hold your attention and the two characters bring them to life. How the rollercoaster ride across states and cities unfolds makes up for a feel-good experience.

3. Dil Chahta Hai (2001)

Theme: Friendship | Melodrama | Coming-of-Age

Ask any millennial boy the most relatable travel movie they have watched and it would for sure be Dil Chahta Hai. The film was a contemporary depiction of what friendships mean and how life gets in the way. In fact, the film was one of the biggest reasons why an all-boys Goa trip became a fantasy of every millennial guy. 

In many ways, one can consider Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara an evolution of Dil Chahta Hai. The film showcases how as life goes on, the closest friends tend to become distant because life takes them on different paths. How their bond evolves becomes the central theme of the tale. What’s truly beautiful is how the significance of the Goa trip changes for them. At the film’s beginning, it is merely an all-boys trip but towards the end it becomes like a thread that connects them.

4. Piku (2015)

Theme: Road Trip | Familial Relationships

Can Bollywood movies ever be grounded in reality? Well, this road trip movie is an answer to that. Starring Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Irrfan Khan, the film is a funny blend of constipation and a road trip. Imagine driving from Delhi to Kolkata with a potty chair tied to the top and stopping several times because an old man ‘thinks’ he has to take a dump. 

Piku is as funny as it is profound. They say that road trips are perfect to understand the dynamics of any group. In Piku we see the father-daughter relationship between the titular character and her old constipated father. We see the emotional baggage each of them carries, the generational patterns that exist between them, and how they come to understand each other. The journey from Delhi to Kolkata almost symbolizes the evolution of the father-daughter bond.

5. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)

Theme: Friendship | Relationships | Coming-of-Age

Yet another film that stirred the wanderlust in all our hearts. The film is the perfect package of classic elements such as travel, friendships, life, and more. Although we have seen these in multiple films, the movie finds a way to touch your heart. You connect with the character who wants to travel the world, but also with the character who wants to stay grounded and settle in one place. 

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is a romantic comedy that portrays relationships in the most soulful way. It depicts how traveling together can make better bonds; how some trips can transform strangers into best friends. The film also showcases that traveling can be an escape from reality and other burdens. In the end, it leaves you with a simple thought. You can keep traveling, exploring, and wandering solo all your life. But none of it would matter if you don’t have anyone to share the happiness or celebrate the triumphs with.

6. Queen (2013)

Theme: Solo Travel | Coming-of-Age

Queen is the perfect mainstream Bollywood movie about travel. It’s got the songs, the dance, the profound message, and a wholesome vibe. The story follows Rani Mehra who goes on her honeymoon trip solo because her to-be husband gets called off the wedding. The title is a play on the leading lady. Rani means Queen in Hindi. 

When Rani sets off on this adventure she is sad, shy, and unaware of the world that exists beyond her middle-class Delhi upbringing. However, as she meets new people, and goes through different experiences, she realizes that there’s more to life. She remembers how her fiance behaved with her and realizes the intricacies of her relationship with him. The film explores locations such as Amsterdam and Paris yet the portrayal isn’t larger than life. 

In fact, the grounded treatment of the locations makes it more relatable and makes the audience feel that these dream destinations do not need to be dreams. It’s films like these that inspire us the most because they bring together realism and utopia in a perfect way.

7. Jab We Met (2007)

Theme: Romantic Comedy | Coming-of-Age | Strangers on a Train

Let’s be honest, the theme of two strangers meeting on a train has been done quite a few times. But Jab We Met, directed by Imtiaz Ali, is still one of our favorites in the genre. The story is about Aditya and Geet who bump into each other in a train while the latter goes to her hometown, Bhatinda. Aditya is a troubled businessman who just saw his ex-girlfriend at her wedding reception and is almost done with life. In comes Geet who transforms his life in the most silly, annoying, yet profound way. 

The film’s beauty is that it is realistic yet a little romantic. For once the trains and the train stations don’t seem fancy and the different locations such as Punjab and Rajasthan are presented in an authentic way. The director, Imtiaz Ali does have a way of exploring destinations and showcasing them through a lens we have never seen before.

8. Highway (2014)

Theme: Drama | Kidnapping | Freedom

Highway is an offbeat tale in this list. The story is about a girl who gets kidnapped but only while she’s held captive does she understand the meaning of freedom. Veera is engaged with a person whom she doesn’t love and gets kidnapped by a group of captors led by Mahabir. Mahabir keeps shifting Veera in his truck across various cities to avoid being caught. However, during this time, a realization dawns upon Veera and changes her life. 

Can anyone find beauty in something dark and murky? Highway shows that the answer is 100% yes. Through the long winding roads, both the audience and Veera realize how freeing life can be if only one learns to make peace with past incidents and emotional baggage. The film is subtle in its tiny moments, yet impactful as a whole.

9. Tamaasha (2015)

Theme: Coming-of-Age | Following Passion

This is the third Imtiaz Ali directorial in this list and you can’t blame us. There’s something enigmatic yet mesmerizing about his portrayal of locations. Almost every time we watch one of Imtiaz Ali’s movies we learn about new spots, locations, or destinations. Tamaasha is no different. 

The tale is about a man who lives one kind of life but wants to live another kind. It portrays how traveling is the only outlet for the protagonist, Ved. However, when Tara enters his life, his life turns upside down because of the simple insight – your life can be lived however you want. Tamaasha showcases the power of travel and storytelling. It depicts how escapism works when people yearn to travel but also emphasizes that one must ‘experience’ things while traveling. After all, life is too short to just escape.

10. Jagga Jasoos (2017)

Theme: Adventure | Coming-of-Age 

Ranbir Kapoor has somehow managed to become part of films that are coming of age, about finding something or someone. In Jagga Jasoos, Ranbir’s character, Jagga goes on a quest to find his missing father.

Now, many people didn’t enjoy this film due to the bad visual effects and underwhelming narrative. But what we couldn’t deny was the way different locations such as Morocco, Kolkata, and South Africa. The different frames in the movie can be used as laptop and phone wallpapers. In fact, the overall cinematography is pretty solid and makes you want to visit the places in person. If the film achieves that, then there’s nothing like it.

Well, as always we’ve arrived at the end of the list. Check out all these films and if you’re wondering which location can you go to for your next trip, visit our blog! We’ve got travel guides, itineraries, destination guides, and more. All of these can help you plan the perfect getaway! You can also subscribe to our social channels, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, to stay updated with our latest content.