Must watch underrated romantic films

Intro

When it comes to romance in cinema, we all have our go-to favorites, from DDLJ to The Notebook. But once in a while, a quiet, emotionally rich love story sneaks past the mainstream radar and ends up becoming a personal favorite. These aren’t just romantic films, they’re moods, vibes, and sometimes even life lessons wrapped in poetry.

Here’s our list of underrated romantic films that deserve way more love than they got:

Lootera (2013)

If heartbreak had a visual, it would look like Lootera. Inspired by O. Henry’s “The Last Leaf,” this period romance between a conman (Ranveer Singh) and a zamindar’s daughter (Sonakshi Sinha) is gorgeously shot, quietly poetic, and devastatingly emotional. Amit Trivedi’s soundtrack? A masterpiece.
Why it’s a must-watch: The restraint in emotions, the vintage aesthetic, and a heartbreaking climax that stays with you.

Fitoor (2016)

Adapted from Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, this film is a visual painting. Katrina Kaif and Aditya Roy Kapur are tragic lovers caught in a web of obsession, art, class, and heartbreak. Tabu’s performance as the haunted Begum is hypnotic.
Why it’s a must-watch: For its stunning visuals, haunting music, and the quiet ache of unfulfilled love.

The Lunchbox (2013)

A romance without physical meetings, just lunchboxes and handwritten notes. Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur are strangers who find a soulful connection through Mumbai’s dabbawala system. Slow, simple, and filled with unspoken yearning.
Why it’s a must-watch: It redefines modern love and the magic of companionship, even between two people who never meet.

Masaan (2015)

This isn’t your typical love story. It’s raw, painful, and deeply rooted in real India. Vicky Kaushal and Shweta Tripathi’s tragic romance is tender and gut-wrenching, intertwined with themes of caste, loss, and hope.
Why it’s a must-watch: For how it shows love amidst grief, and how the river of life keeps flowing.

Sir (2018)

A quiet domestic drama where love blooms in silence — between a wealthy architect and his live-in maid. Tillotama Shome and Vivek Gomber deliver powerful performances in this slow-burn, socially-conscious romance.
Why it’s a must-watch: For breaking class boundaries without dramatics, and showing love as mutual respect and longing.

October (2018)

Varun Dhawan like you’ve never seen him before, playing a hotel management trainee who develops a quiet, inexplicable devotion to a comatose colleague. Shoojit Sircar turns an unlikely premise into something beautiful.
Why it’s a must-watch: It’s not about romance in the traditional sense, it’s about love as selflessness, patience, and care.

Ekk Deewana Tha (2012)

A soft, dreamy romance full of angst and longing. Prateik Babbar falls head over heels for Amy Jackson, but religious and cultural differences complicate their relationship. The soundtrack by A.R. Rahman is pure gold.
Why it’s a must-watch: If you love dramatic, poetic love stories with a killer album, this is your film.

Guzaarish (2010)

A romance stitched with pain, grace, and magic. Hrithik Roshan plays a paraplegic magician who wants euthanasia; Aishwarya Rai is his nurse. Sanjay Leela Bhansali delivers a visual and emotional opera.
Why it’s a must-watch: For its philosophical questions on life and love, and some of the most haunting visuals in Hindi cinema.

Love Per Square Foot (2018)

A modern urban romance about two people who enter into a marriage of convenience just to own a flat in Mumbai. It’s funny, relatable, and unexpectedly tender.
Why it’s a must-watch: For millennials navigating love, ambition, and property struggles, it hits home.

Final Thoughts

Not all love stories need grand gestures or popular playlists. Some just need silence, a lingering gaze, a heartbreak that refuses to heal. These films may have flown under the radar, but they’ve touched hearts, quietly, profoundly, and permanently.

So grab a blanket, dim the lights, and let these underrated romances break your heart, in the best way possible.