India and Pakistan had a sour partition in the past. In addition, the pending issues between the two countries and a set of wars have hampered the mutual feelings on both sides of borders to a great extent. However, the countries share strong historical ties that make a perfect backdrop for films. In this article, we have explored some of the most popular cross border love stories in Indian Cinema.
On the other hand, love is known to transcend boundaries and go across borders easily. It can cross any limits and care about not societal bounds. So, it makes the perfect combination with the cross-border theme. The resulting stories are a mix of unwanted hate, conflicts, rivalry, and unconditional love.
If you are fascinated with the idea of watching a Cross-border love story, we have listed the 6 Popular Cross-Border Love Stories in Indian Cinema that you must.
6 Popular Cross Border Love Stories in Indian Cinema:
1. Gadar- Ek Prem Katha
The sour Indian-Pakistan relations began from the painful partition following the independence of India. A film that captures that era beautifully is Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. It is one of the most successful hits of all time for Bollywood. Even its sequel Gadar 2 has broken several records.
The plot is based on a love story between a simple truck driver and a wealthy girl left behind during the partition. Later, a series of twists follows them. It became the biggest-grossing movie in 2001. Gadar created havoc in the cinema houses with people from both cities and rural areas rushing to watch the film in great numbers.
2. Veer Zaara
Yash Chopra is one of the most well-known directors and filmmakers of Bollywood. He transformed the genre of romance in the Hindi Film Industry. One of his finest films has been Veer Zara. It is one of the most classic romantic films in Bollywood.
Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta played the lead and titular characters of Veer and Zara. Veer is an Indian Pilot who falls in love with Zara from Pakistan. He travels to Pakistan to find her but is falsely accused and put behind bars. For several years, Zaara has considered him dead. So, she devotes her life to living in India.
The movie is a roller-coaster story with emotional scenes, melodious music, and intense chemistry between the lead characters.
3. Ek Tha Tiger
As you read above, several films showcased individuals from different sides of the border falling in love. But, how about a Spy from one country falling in love with a spy from another? This is the exact plot of Ek Tha Tiger where an Indian Spy falls in love with a Pakistani Spy.
In the plot, Salman Khan plays the role of a RAW Agent from India. He goes on to investigate a case where he falls in love with Zoya played by Katrina Kaif. She happens to be a Pakistani ISI agent. As they fall in love on the mission, they later meet each other with their original identities and run away together. They change their locations escaping the spy agencies of their respective countries searching for them.
The film was a big hit with chartbuster music, powerful performances, high-voltage action, and a plot spanning across different foreign locations.
4. Raazi
One of the most recent cross-border love stories was Raazi. The film was an adaptation of Harinder Sikka’s 2008 novel Calling Sehmat. It follows the plot of true events where a RAW agent marries a Pakistani military officer. She does this to gather crucial intelligence data and communicate it to India.
Although, the climax of this film was different from other cross-border love stories. It was directed by Meghna Gulzaar and features Alia Bhatt as the main lead. Alongside, she is paired with Vicky Kaushal and other cast members, including Rajit Kapur, Shishir Sharma, and Jaideep Ahlawat in supporting roles. The film was a box office success proving crucial for the actors. At the same time, its music was loved by the audiences.
5. Refugee – Love Born in Adversity
Amid the wars and Conflicts on borders, many people have to leave their homes in adversity and become Refugees to find a safe shelter. Their lives undergo a complete transformation as they drive for a safe and peaceful life. A similar theme is reflected in the film Refugee which was an average grosser.
It marked the debut of Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor. The plot was a gripping cross-border love story. At the same time, it showcases the struggles and harsh realities faced by refugees. The plot is based on an unnamed Indian Muslim. He helps some illegal refugees from India and Pakistan. He helps them cross the international border from Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. In those difficult times, he falls in love with Nazneen played by Kareena.
Conclusion
These cross-border love stories showcase the common set of challenges, emotions, and problems faced by people on both sides of the border. It sheds light on the harsh realities of Conflicts between nations and its impact on people.
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