What if you have to introduce Bollywood to a foreign friend?

Suppose you have to introduce a foreign friend to Bollywood who has never watched a Hindi movie, and you can only do that with five films.

Which 5 films it should be according to you?

I chose these movies because they are all of different genres, so as to not generalise Bollywood movies.

3 Idiots: Very relatable and I know many foreigners who's first Bollywood movie was 3 idiots

QSQT: The songs, forbidden romance, the innocence...its true Bollywood and not too melodramatic

Bajirao Mastani: Bollywood grandeur wali film. Ranveer-DP and PC were great.

Andhadhun: Amazing film, fantastic direction.

Dil Dhadhakne Do: Contrary to what most people feel about this film, I personally loved it. It is a task to manage so many characters, they storylines and sub-plots and imo Zoya did it very well. Also, Westerners have generalised India as a country with slums and poverty (SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE), but there is so much more to us. This movie actually shows how the elite live and that not many working class in foreign countries can even afford what the upper middle class from India can afford. And that we have the money honey 😉

Bollywood or Indian cinema? Cause thats a completely different list.

Pure Bollywood would be the staple : Mughal-e-Azam, Sholay, Anand, Guide,DDLJ.

Special mentions : Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Lamhe, Pakeezah, Parinda, Arth, Pyasa, and ofcourse K3G and Devdas 😆

I already have.

I showed my German friend, Devdas,Jodha Akbar,K3G and she loved them 😃

Good question! I think about this lots, but have never had the opportunity because none of my friends show interest :/

Anyways, I would start with Zindagi na Milegi Dobara because the story and characters feel very western so that would be a good introduction because I wouldn't need to explain much cultural stuff and also, similar to what someone said above, it shows the types of Indian people that Hollywood movies about India don't seem to show.

After that Jab We Met (fun romantic comedy, good songs) and NH10 or Kahaani (great thrillers with kick-a** female leads)... after that, I'm not sure, maybe Andhadhun, Veer-Zaara, 3 Idiots, or Chak de India. I feel like I would be doing my friend a bit of a disservice not showing an older classic, but I prefer contemporary stuff and I know my friends would too!

Tried and tested on a couple of friends over the years..

1) Lagaan (India's independence struggle background is an interesting context and most of my friends were immediately curious about the movie)

2) DDLJ

3) Veer Zaara

4) Swades (after-effects are usually fun because suddenly all the NRI's with us want to eat Indian food/ talk in hindi LOL)

5) Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Barfi because it goes beyond language

Depends on what the friend likes.. if he/she is romantic, DDLJ without a doubt.. if he is into thriller, Kahani or Andhadhun.. if I think he would like a slice of life movie or friendship type stuff, DCH or DZ.. if I think he would appreciate melodrama, K3G would be the choice of the day

Here in Germany, many of my friends are SRK fan. they watched DDLJ and SRK- Kajol is their favorite jodi. Interestingly many even didn't heard about today's heartthrobs RS-DP 😆

Most I have met are familiar with SRK .. So recommend his good and fun movies: DDLJ, DTPH, KKHH, Swades, CDI. Have also rec'd 3 Idiots in the past!