Five films that celebrate diverse shades of friendship

Here is a specially curated list of superhit films that embody the true meaning of friendship.

Three young men arrive at an engineering college carrying the baggage of their personal issues and end up bonding over funny pranks, shared laughter, joy and sorrow. When one of them vanishes mysteriously, the remaining two get together after three years to follow a trail of clues to find him. Packed with humour, life lessons and camaraderie, '3 Idiots' is a wholesome reminder of the role genuine friends can play to bring inspiration and transformation in our lives. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, the film starred Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Boman Irani. The Vidhu Vinod Chopra production can be watched on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.

Like Raj Kapoor's 1949 film 'Barsaat', this 2001 cult hit also celebrated bromance and set the tone for films about friends coming of age while dealing with love, loss and heartbreak. Siddharth, Akash and Sameer are close friends who find themselves at crossroads when a misunderstanding tears them apart and life takes them in different directions. Years later, when they have found their own paths in life, destiny brings them together once again to make peace with each other. Packed with refreshing humour and a new cinematic language, this Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar production perfectly summarises what true friendship is all about. The debut directorial of Farhan Akhtar stars Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Preity Zinta and Dimple Kapadia. Watch it on Netflix.

This Anand Pandit and Vaishal Shah production was a bumper hit in 2023 and revolved around three friends who cook up a harebrained scheme to get rich quick. They decide to turn a home into a gambling den but what follows is a hilarious chain of events that turns their lives upside down. However, what helps them to navigate this unpredictable ride is their strong loyalty to each other. Starring Malhar Thakar, Yash Soni, and Mitra Gadhvi, the entertainment blockbuster was directed by Rajesh Sharma.

Sooraj Barjatya sprung a surprise when he departed from the tried and tested template of family sagas to tell this touching story about a bunch of senior citizens who in the twilight of their life, decide to undertake a gruelling trek to the Everest Base Camp to fulfill the last wish of their late friend. They encounter derision, mockery and many challenges but manage to reach their destination fuelled by their friendship and mutual support. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Parineeti Chopra and Neena Gupta and is jointly produced by Rajshri Productions, Boundless Media and Mahaveer Jain Films. Watch it on Zee5.

Zoya Akhtar brought a breath of fresh air to Hindi cinema with this delightful road film about friendship and a lot more in 2011. The story is about three friends who are dealing with conflicts in their professional and personal lives and meet years after finishing college to travel together across Spain. As the journey begins, their masks begin to melt and they are forced to confront truths they have been hiding from themselves and each other. Starring Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin, the film was produced by Excel Entertainment and can be watched on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.