The 10 Best Bollywood Movies of the Decade [2010s]

When you discuss the Best Bollywood Movies of the Decade, there are quite a few to select from each year. From the historical epics like Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat to trendsetters like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, we’ve seen, experienced, and loved all kinds of cinema this decade. However, I’m not here to highlight these aforementioned films, instead, I’ve curated and put together a list of Best Bollywood Movies which defined every year from 2010. So, here are the Best Bollywood Movies of the Decade with one movie selected from every year.

RELATED: TOP 20 MOST REWATCHABLE BOLLYWOOD MOVIES

2010 – Udaan

Honorable Mention: My Name is Khan

[This movie is also featured in our ‘Underrated Bollywood Movies’ article]

If a filmmaker like Anurag Kashyap is penning the script, it had to be a realistic movie. Udaan is a simple, sweet story that doesn’t need any explanation, it needs to be experienced. It is the story of a young boy who is forced to live with his oppressive father and a half-brother after he is expelled from his boarding school. This is a movie that defines naked realism, it looks authentic and easy to relate, and yet it has an impressive larger-than-life quality, which is wonderfully portrayed.

2011 – Delhi Belly

Best Bollywood Movies of the Decade: Delhi Belly was India’s first dark comedy, which was appreciated by the audiences. Bollywood usually doesn’t make such kind of satirical films. It was refreshing for that time. For the first time, we will find characters speaking the language of young people. One of the highlights of the film is its screenplay, brimming over with cuss and swear words, which themselves add to the fun factor of the film.

2012 – Kahaani

[This movie is also featured in our ‘Best Bollywood Climax Scenes’ article]

Kahaani explores the story of Vidya Bagchi – a pregnant woman, who comes to Kolkata from London to find her husband who has fled, but everyone she questions denies ever meeting him. The intriguing and compelling storyline accompanied by Vidya Balan’s superb portrayal of a pregnant woman makes this film one hell of a ride.

This film has it all – a brilliant script and a screenplay that runs along at a swift pace that will keep you glued to the screen. With strong acting by Vidya Balan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Kahaani is a must-watch film.

2013 – Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Best Bollywood Movies of the Decade: Since the world didn’t end in 2012 (fortunately or unfortunately), we came across this beautiful movie. Those who have read my previous articles know about my love for this film. I have been very vocal about it. It is a happy-go story beautifully weaved into two separate-yet-defining times in the lives of its characters.

First, when they are standing on the crossroads of multiple decisions that will shape who and what they will become. And second, in their late 20s when they meet again with a bundle of fulfilled or unfulfilled dreams. I can bet that this movie can set your mood up anytime. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani even has the best set of dialogues.

2014 – Ugly

[This movie is also featured in our ‘Best Bollywood Movies on Netflix’ article]

The movie isn’t ugly. It is beautiful in more ways than one. Ugly is what you’ll feel in the end. It is a dark movie. Being an Anurag Kashyap movie, it lacks all the usual glitter of Bollywood. Every single thing you see in this movie is screaming one thing, and one thing only; that the world is ugly. And the last scene will have you wondering to yourself, “What sort of world are we living in?”

The ugliness in the characters, seemingly born with different motivations, can be brought down to a common denominator – greed, one of the seven deadly sins. How ugly it is will be realized only when you put it against the ending.

2015 – Masaan

Best Bollywood Movies of the Decade: If you only remember Vicky Kaushal for his splendid performances in Raazi, Sanju, and URI: The Surgical Strike, then you’ve not seen him act in this terrific film. Masaan is a tale of love, loss, and guilt that follows two linear stories. One is about a girl named Devi, who lost the love of her life, and the other is about a guy – Deepak, who helps in burning pyres at the Varanasi Ghats. Interestingly, this film also marked the debut of two of the most talented actors in Bollywood – Shweta Tripathi, a.k.a Battatawada and Vicky Kaushal.

2016 – Dear Zindagi

[‘Dear Zindagi’ is primarily featured in our ‘Top 10 Bollywood Life Quotes’ article]

The hero of the film is, without a doubt, Alia Bhatt and her remarkable acting skills. Kaira is a rude and moody individual. She speaks her mind, and she yells when she feels like yelling. She is fighting against a handful of inner battles within herself and is still surviving with a smile.

She is strong, ambitious, and chose an unconventional career. Yet she is loving, dreamy, vulnerable, and insecure. Isn’t her character reflecting our lives and different shades of our own? And most importantly, Dear Zindagi highlights a very undiscussed problem in our country – Mental Health. It is genuinely one of the best films I have ever seen.

2017- A Death in the Gunj

Best Bollywood Movies of the Decade: Konkona Sen Sharma is a well-known personality on camera and thoroughly impressed everyone with her acting skills. With her 2017 feature film debut, the entire world saw her skills behind the camera for the first time, and believe me when I say she nailed it. Vikrant Massey seems to be the next big thing in Bollywood. His eyes reflect a thousand emotions, and he completely stole the show with his performance.

2018 – Andhadhun

[This movie is also featured in Surya’s ‘Best Movies of Ayushmann Khurrana’ article]

Andhadhun is a psychological thriller we all deserved as an Indian audience. Probably, one of the biggest surprises of 2018, this Sriram Raghavan film got overwhelmingly positive reviews and scored decent box-office numbers. And is now touted as one of the Best Psychological Thrillers of Bollywood. The amazing performances not only by the lead actors – Ayushmann Khurrana and Tabu but, from the entire ensemble of cast and the suspense-filled storyline are the two best aspects of one of the most impressive films 2018.

2019 – Article 15

Honorable Mention: Gully Boy

[This excerpt comes from Anushree’s ‘Article 15’ Review]

Anubhav Sinha’s Article 15 may be one of the most important movies of this year and most certainly one of the Best Bollywood Movies of 2019, and it definitely lives up to those expectations. This movie deals with some very important social issues that plague modern India – the caste system and its impacts. The story is based on several incidents that happened over the past few years, particularly the rape and murder of two young girls in Badayun, UP.

In the film, the cops are unwilling to investigate the case as the victims belong to a lower caste when they are reported missing. When the two girls turn up dead, the police pin the murders on the girl’s families without conducting an investigation.

Article 15 could so easily have been a heavy-handed film as it tries to show the realities of the caste system in India. Instead, it opts for a realism that is refreshing and allows the audience to absorb the story on their own. This is a must-watch movie for everyone because sometimes those of us in the cities lose touch with the real India and this story is a real eye-opener.

What are your favorite Best Bollywood Movies of the Decade? Comment now!