When Bollywood served! 5 films where food is at the heart of romance between the lovebirds

Food is a beautiful language in itself, which has the power to communicate the most complex and inexpressible feelings. Filmmakers, too, have therefore used it as a significant element in their movies where food is the ‘starter’ of love and romance between the characters.  

Nothing brings people together like food. It isn’t just a medium to sustain life but also to express love, care and connection between individuals. Remember the good old saying? ‘The way to a person’s heart is through their stomach’. It implies that affection and food are connected and that you can win over someone through your shared love for it. 

Also Read: 6 Bollywood films that highlight the comfort of subtle romance

Here we take a look at some Bollywood films that 'served' romance through the language of food!

Wake Up Sid 

Who can forget Ayesha’s cosy midnight birthday celebration marked by ‘Do cup chai’ and Sid’s creative bread jam cake? The scene marks an important moment in their evolving friendship. It signified Sid’s intentions to do something special for Ayesha, despite limited time and resources in his hands. Through something as simple as stacking some jam coated bread slices and planting a candle on top of it, Sid showed that he is thoughtful and caring and will do anything in his control to make Ayesha happy. 

Love Aaj Kal 

Love Aaj Kal’s parallel storyline where Saif Ali Khan also plays Rishi Kapoor’s younger version when the latter recounts his own love story from the past was one of the most surprising and smartly curated double roles in Bollywood. In the flashback scenes, Veer Singh (young Rishi Kapoor), is smitten by a girl and to express his love, he is often seen handing her some piping hot jalebis dodging the glances of her family members and ‘mohalla-walas’. She too reciprocates it by smuggling him a hot cup of tea whenever possible. These moments soaked with simplicity and nostalgia are a sweet reminder that it is always the little things that count.

The Lunchbox

The Lunchbox is another example where food is used as a significant element to express feelings, create a bond, and even bridge distances in a film. Ila, the protagonist, leaves no stone unturned to pack the best meals in the lunchboxes she prepares. Each dish is meticulously created and garnished with love and hope as she attempts to impress her husband and rekindle the spark in her marriage. Ila’s cooking is an expression of her longing for love and connection, something that resonated with a lot of married women in India. 

Kal Ho Na Ho 

Although, Kal Ho Naa Ho is a timeless film about love, loss and important life lessons, food is subtly plugged into the narration to highlight Aman’s attempts to show affection and care for Naina, the girl he is secretly in love with and also to help her family. Remember his efforts to revamp their struggling restaurant and make it a profit making entity? He does so by refurbishing the place and curating a menu inspired by their Indian roots in order to make it stand out in the overly competitive New York market. Food here acts as a catalyst to deepen the connection between Naina and Aman.

Hum Tum

In this Rom Com, food is woven into the narration of the plot to signify connection and romance in subtle ways. The protagonists Karan and Rhea are often seen sharing meals together which gives them the opportunity to bond. These moments are often filled with playful banter and light teasing, which inturn builds their amazing chemistry.

Are there any other movies that you think should've made this list? Tell us in the comments below.

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