Does Gen Z Still Look For Filmy Romance In The Age Of Right Swipes?

Even with dating apps ruling the scene, from late-night swipes to “serious” Hinge prompts, Bollywood still has a hold on how we picture love. The movies we grew up with, whether it’s Shah Rukh Khan stretching out his arm on a train in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge or Ranbir Kapoor strumming heartbreak on his guitar in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, still sneak into our expectations of romance, even when real life doesn’t quite match up.

Karan Johar, in particular, has written half the love language of modern India. His films basically turned airports into the ultimate stage for love, tearful departures, last-minute confessions, or dramatic reunions at the gate, you know, the "Tera mujhse hai pehle ka naata koi". It’s the kind of thing that makes your heart skip a beat on screen, even if in real life, security would have you escorted out before you reached the check-in counter.

And then there’s how Bollywood has shaped our view of everyday life as romance. Student of the Year sold us the fantasy of glamorous college campuses where love stories bloom between dance-offs and dramatic confessions in the rain. On the flip side, films like Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani gave us pure chaos: comedy, drama, heartbreak, and over-the-top gestures, which still colour the way some of us secretly expect dating to feel.

Festivals, too, have become Bollywood’s favourite playground for love, and Gen Z is catching on. We’ve already seen how weddings and Holi are treated as prime romance settings. Now, Navratri itself is being “Valentine-ised.” What’s meant to be nine nights of devotion often doubles up as nine nights of eye contact across dandiya circles, matching outfits, and post-garba selfies. For many, it’s less about divine blessings and more about “did we vibe during that aarti?” People are literally trying to find a dandiya partner on dating apps!

Bollywood Effects

Gen Z, though, sits in an interesting in-between space. On one hand, we’re practical, choosing partners based on playlists, texts, and green flags rather than just butterflies. On the other hand, the Bollywood script still plays in the background of our minds. A Hinge match who plays the guitar feels like Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, walking each other to Ubers feels like a mini DDLJ train moment, and Navratri garba nights turn into subtle Valentine’s.

Maybe that’s the charm of it all. Even in the age of swipes and algorithm-approved matches, we’re still chasing something filmi so equal parts dreamy and dramatic, equal parts practical and playful.

Bollywood gave us the template, festivals give us the stage, and Gen Z is busy remixing both into its own version of love.

Views expressed by the author are their own.