In the ever-dramatic rollercoaster that is Bollywood, there are hits, flops, controversies, comebacks — and then there’s 2007. While the Hindi film industry today still tiptoes through the shadow of the pandemic’s box office blow and faces the wrath of disappointed fans questioning writing choices and casting calls, there’s one year many seems to agree on as Bollywood’s undisputed golden year and that is 2007.
Yes, that year. The year Shah Rukh Khan donned a hockey coach’s whistle. When Akshay Kumar’s comic timing was at its sharpest, Aamir Khan made audiences weep with a paintbrush and Kareena Kapoor made “main apni favourite hoon” every girl’s personal mantra.
Let’s talk numbers first because Bollywood loves a good box office report. Om Shanti Om, the musical extravaganza that mashed reincarnation with glittery dance floors, raked in a whopping Rs 151 crore. Not far behind was Welcome (Rs 122 crore), proving that comedy with gangsters and confused marriages still has major takers. Chak De! India inspired a generation (and several sport brand taglines), pulling Rs 107 crore into its goalpost. And Salman Khan’s Partner danced its way to Rs 103 crore, riding on David Dhawan’s classic masala formula.
But it wasn’t just about the money. The films of 2007 brought more to the table than popcorn-friendly plots. Taare Zameen Par didn’t just tug at heartstrings, it played a full concert on them. Aamir Khan’s directorial debut made parents re-evaluate their report-card tantrums and teachers rethink the “backbencher” label. Most importantly, it opened up conversations about learning disorders, stress and the emotional world of children, something unheard of back then.
Then came Bhool Bhulaiyaa, a film that paved the way for the horror-comedy genre. Without it, we may have never had the hit Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise that now, unfortunately, doesn’t deliver chills nor chuckles. Just good box office numbers.
And the genres didn’t stop there. From laugh riots like Dhamaal and Dhol, to heartwarmers like Namastey London and Aaja Nachle, 2007’s variety box had something for everyone. Jab We Met — a sleeper hit — became a cultural touchstone for romance and runaway train encounters.
And how can we forget the new kids on the block? Deepika Padukone stunned with her debut in Om Shanti Om, while Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor twirled into the industry with (visually stunning, if not top-grossing) Saawariya.
Sixteen years on, fans still return to 2007 like it’s a comfort blanket wrapped in nostalgia and good cinema. Some go on to call it “an era”. And dare we say it still might be Bollywood’s best.