#paheli

(together or not)

"i will elbow/pinch/step on you

in every universe whenever we meet"

What do these hopeless romantics have in common? None of them are named Raj or Rahul 😄

These are some of the less famous loverboys - they don't always get the girl, some go through enormous trials (including death!), and they definitely win our hearts in the end.

- my favorite filmi; various indian popular cinema industries included

aaj ki raat - don (2006)

aaja nachle - aaja nachle (2007)

aal izz well - 3 idiots (2009)

aaya re toofan - chhaava (2025)

amar akbar anthony - amar akbar anthony (1977)

anaganaga - magadheera (2009)

ankhiyon se goli maare - dulhe raja (1998)

anthapuramlo - rudhramadevi (2015)

aplam chaplam - azaad (1955)

apsara aali - natarang (2009)

are re are - dil to pagal hai (1997)

aura of ustaad - ustaad bhagat singh (2026)

azeem-o-shaan shahensha - jodhaa akbar (2008)

badtameez dil - yeh jawaani hai deewani (2013)

bhaje bhaaje - gopala gopala (2015)

bhale bhale banjara - acharya (2022)

bharata vedamuga - pournami (2006)

bho shambho - phullwanti (2024)

billo rani - dhan dhana dhan goal (2007)

bole chudiyan - kabhi khushi kabhie gham (2001)

chaiyya chaiyya - dil se.. (1998)

chal pyar karegi - jab pyaar kisise hota hai (1998)

chalak chalak - devdas (2002)

chale jaise hawaien - main hoon na (2004)

chamma chamma baaje re - china gate (1998)

chand sifarish - fanaa (2006)

chandra - chandramukhi (2022)

chikni chameli - agneepath (2012)

chola chola - ponniyin selvan pt 1 (2022)

choli ke peeche - khal nayak (1993)

chunnari chunnari - biwi no.1 (1999)

dard-e-disco - om shanti om (2007)

dastaan-e-om shanti om - om shanti om (2007)

deewangi deewangi - om shanti om (2007)

deewani mastani - bajirao mastani (2015)

dhindhora baje re - rocky aur rani kii prem kahaani (2023)

dhivara - baahubali: the beginning (2015)

dholi taro dhol baaje - hum dil de chuke sanam (1999)

dholida - gangubai kaithiawadi (2022)

dholna- pyar ke geet (2000)

dhoom taana - om shanti om (2007)

didi tera devar deewana - hum aapke hain koun (1994)

dil to pagal hai - dil to pagal hai (1997)

dilbara - dhoom (2004)

dola re - devdas (2002)

dosti - rrr (2022)

doubtwa - laapataa ladies (2023)

dulha bhi lajawab hai - haseena maan jaayegi (1999)

etthara jenda - rrr (2022)

fear song - devara pt 1 (2024)

ga ee ga ee ga ee - eega (2012)

gallan goodiyaan - dil dhadakne do (2015)

ghagra - yeh jawaani hai deewani (2013)

ghamand kar - tanhaji: the unsung warrior (2020)

ghar more pardesiya - kalank (2019)

ghoomar - padmaavat (2018)

gori gori gori gori - main hoon na (2004)

gulaabo - shaandaar (2015)

gulebakavali - bimbisara (2022)

gumma gumma - bhale thammudu (1969)

gun gun guna - agneepath (2012)

hamsa naava - baahubali 2: the conclusion (2017)

hawa hawai - mr. india (1987)

hey vaada vaada - kacheri aarambam (2010)

jaago narasimhaa jaagore - syeraa narasimha reddy (2019)

jhoomka gire re - mera saaya (1966)

jhume re gori - gangubai kaithiawadi (2022)

jimmy jimmy jimmy aaja - disco dancer (1982)

jinguchaa - thug life (2025)

jiya re - jab tak hai jaan (2012)

kali shakti - maa (2025)

kamariya - stree (2018)

kangna re - paheli (2005)

khal nayak hoon main - khal nayak (1993)

khalibali - padmaavat (2018)

kissik - pushpa 2: the rule (2024)

laahe laahe - acharya (2022)

lets rock soniye - bhool bhulaiyaa (2007)

lodi - veer zaara (2004)

lovely - happy new year (2014)

maahi ve - kal ho naa ho (2003)

maar dala - devdas (2002)

main aai hoon up bihar lootne - shool (1999)

main agar kahoon - om shanti om (2007)

maine pi rakhi hai - tu jhoothi main makkaar (2023)

malhari - bajirao mastani (2015)

mamatala talli - baahubali: the beginning (2015)

mannavanae mannavanae - puli (2015)

manohari - baahubali: the beginning (2015)

marjaani - billu (2009)

mauja hi mauja - jab we met (2007)

mehndi laga ke rakhna - dilwale dulhania le jayenge (1995)

mere dholna - bhool bhulaiyaa (2007)

minnat kare - paheli (2005)

morey piya - devdas (2002)

mourya re - don (2006)

my name is anthony gonsalves- amar akbar anthony (1977)

naa ready - leo (2023)

naatu naatu - rrr (2022)

nagada nagada - jab we met (2007)

nagada sang dhol - goliyon ki raasleeha ram-leela (2013)

namah shivaya - natyam (2021)

nee kosame - chandramukhi 2 (2023)

nimbooda - hum dil de chuke sanam (1999)

nippulaa swasa ga - baahubali: the beginning (2015)

o babuaa yeh mahua - sadma (1983)

o re kanchi - asoka (2001)

o saki saki - batla house (2019)

oka praanam - baahubali 2: the conclusion (2017)

om shanti om - karz (1980)

oo antava oo oo antava - pushpa: the rise (2021)

oru murai vanthu - manichitrathazhu (1993)

pal pal dil ke paas - blackmail (1973)

pallakivye - pournami (2006)

pardah hai pardah - amar akbar anthony (1977)

param sundari - mimi (2021)

phir raat kati - paheli (2005)

phullwanti - phullwanti (2024)

pinga - bajirao mastani (2015)

pyar kar - dil to pagal hai (1997)

raa raa - chandramukhi (2005)

ram chahe leela - goliyon ki raasleeha ram-leela (2013)

rama loves sita - vinaya vidheya rama (2019)

ramba hohoho samba hohoho - armaan (1981)

ranga ranga rangasthalam - rangasthalam (2018)

saahore baahubali - baahubali 2: the conclusion (2017)

san sanana - asoka (2001)

sar par topi lal - tumsa nahin dekha (2004)

satakli - happy new year (2014)

say “shava shava” - kabhi khushi kabhie gham (2001)

senorita - zindagi na milegi dobara (2011)

shaadi karke fas gaya - judaai (1997)

shah ka rutba - agneepath (2012)

shankara re shankara - tanhaji: the unsung warrior (2020)

show me the thumka - tu jhoothi main makkaar (2023)

silsila ye chahat ka - devdas (2002)

sivuni aana - baahubali: the beginning (2015)

sooraj ki baahon mein - zindagi na milegi dobara (2011)

sooseki - pushpa 2: the rule (2024)

sun dilruba - patthar ke phool (1991)

sun o dilruba dil ki yeh sada - aapas ki baat (1981)

swagathaanjali - chandramukhi 2 (2023)

tabaah ho gaye - kalank (2019)

tattad tattad - goliyon ki raasleeha ram-leela (2013)

teri mehfil mein kismat azmakar - mughal-e-azam (1960)

tharki chokro - pk (2014)

thoda resham lagta hai - jyoti (1981)

too cheez badi hain - mohra (1994)

tumhe jo maine dekha - main hoon na (2004)

tumse milke dil ka - main hoon na (2004)

udi - guzaarish (2010)

vashmalle - thugs of hindostan (2018)

vijayaho - bimbisara (2022)

wajle ki bara - natarang (2009)

ye ishq hai - jab we met (2007)

yeh ladka hai allah - kabhi khushi kabhie gham (2001)

yentha sakkagunnave - rangasthalam (2018)

zara sa jhoom loon main - dilwale dulhania le jayenge (1995)

zoobi doobi - 3 idiots (2009)

Pygmalion- the Greek myth about a sculptor falling in love with his own statue endures to this day. Video essayist, Pop Culture Detective identified this narrative device as the Born Sexy Yesterday trope, in which a man can not find a woman to be with him. Instead he either creates or coerces a model of feminine perfection to be his romantic partner. Not knowing any better, the woman has little choice but to comply.

I recently watched Paheli and it made me think about the female version of this power fantasy, which I regard as much healthier (even if it's just as nonsensical.) Instead of creating a man, in these stories an old powerful being is enticed by a human woman. She just has to be herself, and a mythological creature, ancient spirit, or even a god will fall for her charms.

And yes, I also make fun of 100 year old vampire Edward Cullen being impressed by a teenager because she takes AP biology, but there is something so empowering about this idea of being found exceptional by someone so intelligent and other-worldy.