Why the 2010s Matter for Bollywood

The 2010s saw Hindi cinema mature in fascinating directions. Alongside the expected masala blockbusters, a wave of content-driven films found massive audiences. Stories about social issues, female protagonists, and unconventional heroes broke through. Meanwhile, the multiplex boom and later the streaming revolution transformed who was making films and who was watching them.

Here are the 10 films from that decade that best capture its spirit, ambition, and achievement.

The List

1. Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) — Dir. Anurag Kashyap

A sweeping, Scorsese-esque gangster epic spanning decades and generations in the coal mafia of Dhanbad. Uncompromising, brilliantly acted, and endlessly rewatchable. Arguably the greatest Hindi film of the modern era.

2. Dangal (2016) — Dir. Nitesh Tiwari

Aamir Khan's portrayal of real-life wrestling coach Mahavir Singh Phogat became a global phenomenon. A sports drama about daughters, discipline, and defying expectation that broke multiple box office records.

3. Queen (2014) — Dir. Vikas Bahl

Kangana Ranaut gives the performance of her career as a Delhi girl who takes her honeymoon solo after a broken engagement. A quiet, beautiful film about self-discovery that resonated deeply with audiences.

4. PK (2014) — Dir. Rajkumar Hirani

Aamir Khan as an alien questioning religious superstition in India. Funny, sharp, and unexpectedly moving — one of the most commercially successful social satires ever made in India.

5. Kahaani (2012) — Dir. Sujoy Ghosh

Vidya Balan's tour-de-force as a pregnant woman searching for her missing husband in Kolkata. A masterclass in thriller filmmaking with a genuinely shocking finale.

6. Barfi! (2012) — Dir. Anurag Basu

A charming, visually inventive comedy-drama about a deaf-mute man and his relationships with two very different women. Ranbir Kapoor's finest performance.

7. Udta Punjab (2016) — Dir. Abhishek Chaubey

A raw, unflinching look at the drug crisis in Punjab. Controversial at the time of its release, it holds up as one of the bravest mainstream Hindi films of the decade.

8. Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) — Dir. Kabir Khan

Salman Khan at his most likeable, in a heartfelt story about a man trying to return a lost Pakistani girl to her home. Emotionally devastating in its final act.

9. Article 15 (2019) — Dir. Anubhav Sinha

A searing investigation into caste discrimination in rural India, anchored by Ayushmann Khurrana's career-best work. Important, angry, and brilliantly constructed.

10. Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) — Dir. Zoya Akhtar

A sophisticated ensemble comedy-drama about a wealthy family's dysfunctions, set on a cruise ship. Zoya Akhtar's sharpest, most entertaining film.

Honourable Mentions

  • Andhadhun (2018) — Sriram Raghavan's deliriously inventive thriller
  • Masaan (2015) — A quiet masterpiece of grief and small-town life
  • Talaash (2012) — A haunting supernatural mystery with a devastating emotional core

The 2010s proved that Hindi audiences were ready for films that challenged and surprised them — and that quality, when delivered with passion, could coexist with commercial success.