7 Bollywood female friendships that deserved way more screen time!

We stan these bonds so hard, but the stories just skimmed through them to spotlight other plots! As we're all set to celebrate Galentine's Day, let's give these on-screen BFFs the love they truly deserve!

Modern life basically consists of navigating the chaos of adulthood during the daytime and then complaining about it in the group chat after 10 p.m. And honestly, our girl gang makes everything feel better instantly! They are the unpaid therapists who give us brutal reality checks, the stylists who tell us the bangs were a mistake, the guinea pigs for our crazy food experiments, and soulmates who provide a level of emotional support that no romantic partner can replicate! Be it our coffee order or our deepest, most embarrassing trauma- our besties just know it all!

With Galentine’s Day around the corner, it’s time to celebrate these wonderful women who hold our hands through every high and low of life. This bond has also been beautifully depicted in Bollywood films, but sadly only for fleeting moments, often sidelined to focus on the romantic subplot, leaving us craving more!

Also Read: Why Barun Sobti’s Arnav Singh Raizada still remains our gold standard for romance!

Here's why!

Rani and Vijaylaxmi (Queen)

Polar opposites, Vijaylaxmi(Lisa Haydon) and Rani (Kangana Ranaut) set the gold standard for how women, with some cheerleading and honesty, can become instrumental in each other’s growth. Vijaylaxmi, a fiercely independent single mom, meets Rani, a timid girl who is heartbroken over her jilted wedding, and drags her out of her shell. She teaches Rani to live her life unapologetically and stop desperately trying to fit anyone else's expectations. She is the force that helps Rani discover her confidence and turns her into a woman who finally sees her own worth! We definitely need a whole spin-off of them exploring Europe, where Vijaylaxmi teaches Rani how to live, and Rani politely lectures her on boundaries and family values!

Shashi and Radha (English Vinglish)

We don’t talk enough about how the tender bond between Shashi (Sridevi) and Radha (Priya Anand) makes the former confront the feelings she was too embarrassed to accept. The thoughtful niece was the first person to see Shashi beyond a ‘mother’ or a ‘wife’, but as a woman with immense potential who craves independence, and the simple dignity of being seen for who she truly is- beyond the household duties, ladoos, and the sarcastic jibes that plummeted her self-confidence. We deserved more scenes of them exploring Manhattan together, away from the judgmental eyes of the family.

Sweetu and Naina (Kal Ho Naa Ho)

Sweetu (Delnaaz Irani) believed ‘delulu is the solulu’ long before the phrase became a constant in Gen Z vocabulary. The chaotic sunshine queen to Naina’s (Preity Zinta) grumpy, pessimistic self, Sweetu was always by her side despite Naina’s brutal reality checks about her ideas of love and romantic relationships, though she would always turn a deaf ear to them. We would have loved to see more of Sweetu-Naina rant sessions over finding true love in New York.

Preeti and Komal (Chak De! India)

Preeti Sabarwal (Sagarika Ghatge) and Komal Chautala’s (Chitrashi Rawat) plot arcs were powerful reminders of what women can achieve if they set their differences aside and come together for a greater purpose. The two start as rivals but end as the ultimate power duo, with Komal letting Preeti- the woman whose hockey ambitions are constantly sidelined and mocked by her star cricketer fiancé (Abhimanyu Singh)-strike the final goal to become the highest scorer of the tournament, sacrificing her own record. Some post-credit scenes on their post-World Cup friendship would have been heartwarming to watch!

Meghna and Shonali (Fashion)

Another case of rivals turned into friends, Meghna (Priyanka Chopra) and Shonali(Kangana Ranaut) delivered one of the most redemptive connections against the backdrop of the ruthless modelling industry. When the two realise the cost of their fame as the cutthroat industry strips them of their relevance, they set their egos aside and find comfort in each other’s care and company. We would have totally loved to see their friendship getting a happy ending or at least a scene where Shonali makes her comeback on the ramp!

Badru and Shamshu (Darlings)

The highly protective yet friend-like bond between mother-daughter duo Badru (Alia Bhatt) and Shamshu (Shefali Shah) was pure magic. The two women braved abuse, dreams, and traumatic relationships with unflinching solidarity, sharing everything, from small kitchen tips and life hacks to morally grey paths. Their quirky dynamic deserved a little more of their daily banter, late-night scheming, and vulnerable confessions!

Rinki and Raveena (Panchayat)

Loved how Rinki (Sanvikaa) and Raveena’s (Aanchal Tiwari) sweet childhood BFF bond added an understated yet heartwarming texture to the chaos of Phulera. Their casual phone calls, garden hangouts, and chai meet-ups were full of playful teasing and quiet support that defined some effortless girl friendships. We absolutely loved when Raveena playfully insisted Sachiv ji (Jitendra Kumar) sit on the back seat with Rinki as soon as the car crossed Phulera’s borders on their way to the Vidhayak’s house. It was such a classic bestie move, who wasn’t scared of nudging things along for her girl!

Which other BFF duo deserves to be on this list? Tell us in the comments below!