🎬 Khan-tastic Stories – A 90s Bollywood Writing & Graphics Contest

✨ The 90s weren’t just a decade — they were a feeling.✨

A train in Switzerland, a dramatic misunderstanding, a station chase, a lover drenched in rain — and characters who defined a generation of cinematic dreams.

This contest is a tribute to that magical era — celebrating the Khans who made us fall in love with Bollywood. Full of romance, drama, unforgettable characters, and that unmistakable filmy magic. From Raj’s charm to Prem’s innocence to Raghu’s quiet intensity, their stories gave us laughter, heartbreak, friendship, and love that could only happen in slow motion.

This contest is for Writer + Graphicer pairs!

Please join because the dialogues, the rain, the trains — the characters themselves — remind us why we fell in love with Bollywood stories in the first place.

You’ll work with two distinct sets of tropes — Set A for your storyline and Set B for the Bollywood elements. Please choose one trope from each set.

Choose one character from the Character List and pair them with any leading lady from the movies below. Mix and match hero-heroine if you wish.

Give your story a creative title and make sure it captures the magic of the Khan Era.

Writers and Graphicers must pair up before starting. You can post on the thread to find a partner.

Each writer can submit up to 2 stories, but each must have a different storyline trope + Bollywood element + character combination.

Word count: 1100–1300 words.

All stories must be original and unpublished. Full AI-written stories are not allowed, though AI can be used for brainstorming or idea generation.

Genre: Romance / Drama / Bollywood

Language: English or Hindi

Entries that follow all rules and meet contest standards will earn a Khan-tastic badge. Low-effort or off-theme stories won’t be eligible.

Collaborate with your partner to create a Bollywood-style book cover for the story.

Size: 512W x 800H.

Must be non-animated.

No copyrights, watermarks, or author names — only the story title should appear.

Graphicers may pair with more than one writer.

Covers should reflect the story in a Bollywood-style aesthetic. AI-generated posters are not allowed.

Covers that follow all rules and meet contest standards will earn a Khan-tastic badge. Off-theme or low-effort entries won’t qualify.

📜 Scroll down for Trope Sets and Character List!

Permission: Minionite

Tags: oh_nakhrewaali

1. Lost-and-found reunion

2. Love triangle

3. Undercover identity

4. Redemption arc

5. One night that changes everything

6. Secret love letters

7. Rivals turned partners

8. Reunion after years

9. Sacrifice for love or duty

10. Double role or mistaken identity

1. A wedding backdrop

2. Rain scene

3. Airport or train scene

4. 90s college or campus setting

5. NRI / Desi abroad story

6. Love through music or dance

7. On vacation

8. Stardom / celebrity love story

9. Magical realism (dreams, reincarnation, déjà vu)

10. Love letters / diaries / cassettes

Rajveer "Raj" Singh (Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, 1988) – Innocent, romantic young man caught in a family feud.

Prem Choudhary (Maine Pyar Kiya, 1989) – Loving, devoted, playful, the quintessential small-town hero.

Raghu Jetley (Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, 1991) – Free-spirited, responsible, quietly intense.

Sanjaylal "Sanju" Sharma (Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, 1992) – College underdog, determined and loyal.

Ajay Sharma / Vicky Malhotra (Baazigar, 1993) – Charming but vengeful anti-hero.

Amar Manohar (Andaz Apna Apna, 1994) – Mischievous, comedic, romantic at heart.

Prem Nath (Hum Aapke Hain Koun…!, 1994) – Traditional, caring, devoted to family and love.

Vijay Agnihotri (Anjaam, 1994) – Obsessed, vengeful, intense.

Karan Singh / Ajay (Karan Arjun, 1995) – Reincarnated hero, brave and righteous.

Raj Malhotra (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, 1995) – Charming, modern lover with a heart of gold.

Raja Hindustani (Raja Hindustani, 1996) – Passionate, humble, fiery outsider.

Suraj Khanna (Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, 1998) – Playful, daring, full of youthful energy.

Amarkant Verma (Dil Se, 1998) – Intense journalist caught in love and political turmoil.

Rahul Khanna (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, 1998) – College charmer, thoughtful and sensitive.

Aman Mehra (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, 1998) – Innocent, shy, secretly in love.

Sameer Rosselline (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, 1999) – Romantic, idealistic, devoted.

Ajay Singh Rathod (Sarfarosh, 1999) – Tough, patriotic police officer with a strong sense of justice.

Raj Aryan Malhotra (Mohabbatein, 2000) – Confident music teacher and mentor, romantic yet principled.

Akash Malhotra (Dil Chahta Hai, 2001) – Modern, stylish, sensitive urban professional navigating love and friendship.

📅 9th November 2025

Submit your completed entries (story + book cover) to minakrish via PM

All eligible participants will receive a Khan-tastic badge, and the winners will get a siggy to display in their signature box.

Stories and Book Covers will be judged separately:

Stories: Title relevance, adherence to theme/guidelines, creativity, engagement, narrative flow.

Covers: How well they depict the story, creativity, aesthetic/mood.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the thread — we’ll update the FAQs accordingly.

🎉 Lights, camera, nostalgia — let’s celebrate the era that made our hearts go filmy! 💃

📜 Scroll down for FAQs!

1. Can I make the Book Cover for a story I wrote?

No. For this contest, you’ll participate as a team. If you write a story, please get someone else to make the book cover for it.

2. Can I participate as both Graphicer and Writer?

Yes! You can create a book cover for another writer while writing your own story — just get a different graphicer to design your cover.

3. Can I team up with the same Graphicer for more than one story?

Yes, we’re allowing that. Just remember — each of your stories must have a different Set A + Set B + Character combination.

4. Can I use AI for my story or cover?

You can use AI for inspiration or brainstorming ideas, but your story must be fully written by you, and no AI-generated or AI-edited graphics are allowed.

Everyone, please come over and check out this contest. I would love for all the writers and graphicers across IF to participate.

Come over and invite others by tagging them.

Originally posted by: minakrish

Everyone, please come over and check out this contest. I would love for all the writers and graphicers across IF to participate.

Come over and invite others by tagging them.

Originally posted by: tellyme

Thanks for the tag. Is there a word limit?

Yes there is. 1100-1300 words.

Please go through the rules.

Mera graphicer ban jaao koi

Originally posted by: minakrish

Everyone, please come over and check out this contest. I would love for all the writers and graphicers across IF to participate.

Come over and invite others by tagging them.

Wow! A writing contest after so long! I was looking for some motivation.

Anyone want to pair up with me as graphicer?

Originally posted by: minakrish

Hey, imgur is blocked in some countries. I'm unable to see the tags/images.

Originally posted by: heavenlybliss

Wow! A writing contest after so long! I was looking for some motivation.

Anyone want to pair up with me as graphicer?