Goa used to be a sleepy little corner of India before the Hippies discovered it and spurred on the local tourist industry. Since the Goa has become India’s fave tourist destination with its beautiful beaches, the laidback locals, the cuisine, charming colonial architecture and tourist facilities that cater to every pocket. Bollywood has capitalised on this popularity with these movies set in Goa. Here is a wholly personal list of some of the best Goa movies from Bollywood.
This was the launch vehicle for the young Rishi Kapoor and teenage Dimple Kapadia. The love story was one that challenged religious and class divides. Little of the story was actually set in Goa, but we saw the Goans as simple, hearty, fun and drink loving fisher folk in the film.
This was something of a comeback film for Dimple Kapadia and saw her pairing with Rishi Kapoor many years after Bobby. The love triangle featured the lovely landscape of Goa which almost becomes a character in the film. I remember watching the film and wondering how Dimple’s character could prefer Rishi Kapoor's character to that of Kamal Haasan's.
This quintessential Goa film was one of Shah Rukh Khan’s early hits – where he doesn’t even get the girl! The charming locales, the beaches, the local community, the music --- there is good reason why this is one of SRK’s fave movies as well.
This is the movie that made Goa cool – strangely in ways that were both aspirational and nostalgic. It was all about spending time with friends, doing stupid things and getting in trouble and just being young and about friendships standing the test of time and the travails of life.
Funny, touching and peopled with wonderfully real and identifiable characters, this boasts a diverse cast of superbly talented actors; each a character with their own unique story. Goa is everyone's fave honeymoon destination and these are honeymooners of all sorts. There is the reluctant couple, true and everlasting love between soul mates, mismatched gay guys, the older couple and more. Watch this now if you haven’t yet – it’s on Netflix.
Quirky, imperfect characters, an unconventional storyline, solving an old mystery – this movie is a delightful watch. The ensemble cast of Naseeruddin Shan, Dimple Kapadia, Pankaj Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, and Arjun Kapoor is all kinds of crazy but thoroughly watchable – and not just for its beautiful Goan setting. Available on Disney+ Hotstar.
This is probably India’s only real zombie comedy and it is equal parts hilarious and startling. Goa is as much of a character in this film as Saif Ali Khan in his crazy fake-Russian mafia avatar. You can rent it or watch it for free on YouTube. It is also available on Jio Cinema.
Probably the first Indian film that took a realistic, sympathetic look at mental illnesses and perhaps fittingly it is set in lovely, laid back, comforting Goa. One of SRK’s most charming roles and the movie that proved the acting ability of Alia Bhatt. You can watch now on Netflix. Now excuse me while I go and re-watch some (or all) of these delightful films set in Goa.
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