For the longest time, the only way you could see Bollywood movies was to go down to Little India and rent bootleg tapes from one of the Indian markets. These days Bollywood movies are much more accessible. In San Diego, they often play at the multiplex near Little India. You can also stream them. Prime, Netflix, Hulu, and Tubi have Hindi (Bollywood), Tamil (Kollywood), and Telegu (Tollywood) movies in their libraries. There are also streaming services that specialize in Indian cinema.

Note: There’s also a Mollywood for films in the Malayalam language but the term Mollywood is also used to describe the Mormon film industry. The Kannada film industry is called Sandalwood. The Pakistani film industry is called Lollywood.

I love musicals. Fred & Ginger, the technicolor musicals of the 50s, the big stage-to-screen musicals of the 60s and early 70s. Hollywood doesn’t make many musicals these days, except the occasional Broadway hit like Wicked. That’s why I like Bollywood. They feature big colorful musical numbers. I love the music, the dancing, the sets, the clothes, the exotic locations, the melodrama (there’s always melodrama). Years ago there was a cable network called the International Channel that aired Bollywood movies every weekend. I saw a lot of Hindi movies there.

Most of the Bollywood movies I have seen are from circa 1995—2005. During that era, every Bollywood movie starred Shah Rukh Khan, or so it seems. I’m not really up on current trends and actors though I have seen the 2022 Telegu film RRR that won the Best Song Oscar. RRR is a lot of fun but as I recall, it’s pretty light on musical numbers. I like wall-to-wall songs in my Indian Cinema.

The list below covers Indian movies I have seen and if/where they are currently streaming. You’ll find a lot more on Prime and Netflix. I also included the runtimes because Bollywood movies tend to be long and you’ll need to budget your time. Drop a comment if you have any favorites you’d like to share.

Note: The films below are streaming on the platforms listed as of July 2026. If you are reading this post at a later date, they might be gone from those streamers. Check JustWatch or Reelgood to see where they are streaming now.

Chennai Express (2013) [Hindi] — Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) runs a confectionery shop in Mumbai. When his grandfather dies, his grandmother asks him to scatter his ashes in Rameswaram in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. On the train, Rahul becomes entangled with Meenamma (Deepika Padukone), the daughter of a village crime boss. Meenamma’s father plans to marry her off to a thug in a neighboring village but she keeps running away. This is mainly a comedy but like all Bollywood movies, there’s a large dose of melodrama towards the end. Filming locations: Dudhsagar Falls, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary, Mollem National Park, Goa, India. Runtime: 141 minutes.

Devdas (2002) [Hindi] — One of the most visually beautiful Bollywood movies. It was the most expensive Indian movie ever made at the time of release. Devdas is based on a 1917 Bengali novel that has been filmed multiple times. It’s a tragic love story with interfering relatives coming between lovers Devdas (Shah Rukh Khan) and Parvati (Aishwarya Rai). He becomes a raging alcoholic. Madhuri Dixit plays a courtesan who also loves Devdas. Filming locations: Bikaner Rajasthan, Aarey Colony & Mumbai, India. Runtime: 184 minutes. Not streaming free, rent or buy.

Dil Se.. (1998) [Hindi] — This movie has a terrific musical number on top of a train near the beginning. The song, “Chaiyya Chaiyya”, has been used in a number of films, including Spike Lee’s Inside Man. The music was written by A.R. Rahman who later won two Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire (Best Score and Best Song). The plot of Dil Se.. concerns an insurgency in the Indian city of Silchar. Shah Rukh Khan plays a journalist covering the insurgency when he encounters a mysterious woman (Manisha Koirala) who may be involved. Filming locations: Ladakh, Jammu, Kashmir, Assam & Kerala, India. Runtime: 167 minutes. Streaming on Netflix.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) [Hindi] — Arguably the most popular Bollywood movie of all time. It has been running nonstop at a theater in Mumbai for 30 years and counting. Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) and Simran (Kajol) are Indians living in London. Simran is soon to be married to the son of her father’s friend back in India, an arranged marriage. Raj is rich and carefree. The two meet while traveling in Europe with friends. They fall in love and Raj follows Simran to Punjab where the wedding is to take place. Simran’s mother (Farida Jalal) urges Raj and Simran to elope but Raj is determined to win the blessing of her father (Amrish Puri), who already hates him for his antics back in London. Filming locations: London, UK; Saanen, Montbovon & Gstaad, Switzerland; Haryana, India. Runtime: 189 minutes. Streaming on Netflix.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) [Hindi] — Shah Rukh Khan plays Rahul, the older, adopted son of wealthy Delhi industrialist Yash Raichand (Amitabh Bachchan) and his wife Nandini (Jaya Bachchan). When Rahul falls in love with Anjali (Kajol), a shopkeeper’s daughter, Yash disowns him. Years later, Yash & Nandini’s younger son Rohan (Hrithik Roshan), tries to reunite the family. Filming locations: Buckinghamshire, UK; Giza, Egypt. Runtime: 210 minutes. Streaming on Netflix.

Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000) [Tamil] — If you are a Janeite, this is the Kollywood movie for you. It is based on Austen’s Sense & Sensibility, updated to modern India. Tabu plays the Elinor Dashwood role, Aishwarya Rai plays Marianne. The music, by A.R. Rahman, is top notch. Filming locations: Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland; Giza, Egypt; Munnar, Kerala, India. Runtime: 158 minutes. Not streaming free, rent or buy.

Om Shanti Om (2007) [Hindi] — Shah Rukh Khan plays Om Makhija, a background actor who dreams of being a star. He worships Bollywood starlet Shanti Priya (Deepika Padukone) from afar. When Shanti’s husband Mukesh (Arjun Rampal), murders Shanti, Om tries to save her and also dies. 30 years later, Om Kapoor is a big star. He begins to remember his past life as Om Makhija and plots his revenge against Mukesh. This was the highest grossing Indian film ever at the time of its release. Filming locations: Mumbai, India. Streaming on Netflix.

Paap (2003) [Hindi] — An almost scene-for-scene remake of Witness. The little boy here is the current incarnation of the Dalai Lama, or something. Watched this years ago on the International Channel so I’m a little hazy on the details but they did include that scene from Witness with the grain silo. Filming locations: Manali, Delhi & Mumbai, India. Runtime: 115 minutes. Not currently streaming.