Indian cinema has given audiences plenty of feel-good romantic comedies but with twisted endings. From Haseen Dillruba turning marriage into a tale of murder to Meri Pyaari Bindu delivering a painfully bittersweet take on love, several Indian films have played with audience expectations.
If you enjoy movies that begin like rom-coms but gradually reveal a darker side, here are 10 Indian films with surprisingly dark or bittersweet endings.
10 Indian Movies That Look Like Rom-Coms But Have Surprisingly Dark Endings
1. Haseen Dillruba
Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey’s Haseen Dillruba initially looks like a troubled marriage drama with a complicated love triangle. However, the story gradually transforms into a murder mystery filled with betrayal, obsession and shocking twists. What begins as a troubled romance eventually becomes a story about murder, deception and a dangerously obsessive marriage.
The movie is currently available to watch on Netflix.
2. Meri Pyaari Bindu
Ayushmann Khurrana and Parineeti Chopra’s Meri Pyaari Bindu looks like a breezy romantic comedy about childhood friends who may eventually realise they are meant for each other. But the film takes a much more realistic route.
The ending replaces the traditional Bollywood happy ending with the uncomfortable reality that love does not always mean ending up together.
The movie is currently available to watch on Netflix.
3. Laila Majnu
Avinash Tiwary and Triptii Dimri’s Laila Majnu begins with a passionate love story, but it slowly descends into obsession, separation and tragedy. The film’s final moments offer a poetic suggestion that the lovers’ souls are finally reunited, but that does little to soften the tragedy of what happens to them in the real world.
The movie is currently available to watch on Prime Video.
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4. Raanjhanaa
Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor’s Raanjhanaa may initially appear to be a passionate love story but its narrative becomes increasingly complicated by betrayal, politics, guilt and revenge.
Raanjhanaa movie’s ending became even more notable years later when an AI-altered version changed Kundan’s fate and showed him surviving. However, the original 2013 ending remains tragic, with Kundan imagining another life in which he could fall in love with Zoya again.
The movie is currently available to watch on Zee5.
5. Ek Villain
At first glance, Ek Villain seems like a conventional romantic story but the film’s romance is shattered when Aisha is murdered by Rakesh Mahadkar. The tragedy becomes even more painful when Guru discovers that Aisha was pregnant.
Guru eventually takes revenge and later adopts Aisha’s son, but he can never get back the life he imagined with her.
The movie is currently streaming on JioHotstar.
6. Shiddat
Sunny Kaushal and Radhika Madan’s Shiddat sells itself as an intense love story but tragedy strikes. Jaggi dies after falling from a plane while trying to reach Kartika before her wedding. The final scenes show Kartika and their friends remembering him and trying to celebrate his life.
Shiddat is available to watch now on JioHotstar.
7. Ghajini
Aamir Khan and Asin’s Ghajini combines romance, comedy and action before becoming a devastating revenge story. The movie is a playful love story becomes a tragedy about murder, memory loss and revenge.
The Bollywood movie is streaming on Zee5.
8. Jism
Bipasha Basu and John Abraham’s Jism may look like a seductive romance at first, but the relationship between Kabir and Sonia quickly turns into a dangerous game of manipulation. The film transforms attraction and desire into betrayal, murder and ultimately death.
Jism is streaming on Zee5.
9. Humraaz
Akshaye Khanna, Bobby Deol and Ameesha Patel’s Humraaz starts with romance, ambition and a seemingly glamorous love triangle. But underneath the glamorous setting is a story of deception and greed.
The movie is available to watch on JioHotstar.
10. Dev.D
Anurag Kashyap’s Dev.D is perhaps one of the most unconventional films on this list. While it draws from the classic Devdas love triangle, its modern setting, dark humour and youthful energy can initially make it feel like an edgy romantic comedy.
The movie is available to watch on YouTube for free.
Editor's Note: Not every Indian romance comes with a dreamy happily-ever-after.
From the twisted marriage of Haseen Dillruba and the bittersweet realism of Meri Pyaari Bindu to the devastating endings of Laila Majnu, Raanjhanaa and Shiddat, these films prove that romance and darkness can exist in the same story.
So, if you are searching for Indian romantic movies with unexpected endings, these films are worth adding to your watchlist.
FAQS
Q1: Which Indian rom-com has the most unexpected dark ending?
Haseen Dillruba is widely considered one of the most drastic subversions. It starts as a small-town marriage comedy before turning into a tale involving murder, physical mutilation, and faked deaths.
Q2: Is Meri Pyaari Bindu a tragic movie?
While not violently tragic, Meri Pyaari Bindu is emotionally bittersweet. It breaks the traditional Bollywood rom-com formula by showing the lead characters moving on separately rather than ending up together.