Why Films Like "Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein" Don't Seem So Cool Now

Popular romantic films that did not age well: When Reena calls Maddy's stalking antics funny in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, as an audience today, it only makes us question what exactly was funny about the obsessive and hyper-masculine behaviour of the film's male lead? Thankfully it's not just the audience questioning it.

A few years ago, Dia Mirza, who played Reena in RHTDM, in an interview accepted that the film had sexism in it. Like the actors in these films, even audiences feel awkward while watching many iconic romantic films from the recent past- because of their problematic premise and disturbing treatment of the women characters. To think that there was a time when we used to look up to characters from these films is revolting.

Here are some popular romantic Bollywood films with the cringe factor and no re-watch value today"

Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001)

Featuring Dia Mirza, R Madhavan and Saif Ali Khan in lead RHTDM was an instant hit with the masses when it was released, however, 20 years later, one feels that the film hasn't aged well. The film is a remake of the Tamil film Minnale. In both the films, the leading man falls in love with a girl, stalks her and pretends to be her fiance. The protagonist, Maddy is abusive and threatening- from no angle does this behaviour come across as 'funny antics' now.

Dilwale Dhulania Le Jayenge (1995)

Even Shah Rukh Khan's dimpled smile cannot overshadow the zillion problematic scenes of the film Dilwale Dhulania Le Jayenge. The film revolves around an NRI boy falling in love with a desi girl and then following her to India, in order to woe her family. The girl, played by Kajol, is set to marry a man settled in India because 'apna desh, sanskar, etc'.  The director tries to pass the film as a romcom but time has exposed its problematic nature. Raj harassing Simran on the train like many creepy men we block on social media. Raj pulled immature antics to look cute and desirable to Simran. And yet, the lead of this Aditya Chopra directorial ends up falling for a person who can best describe as a manchild.

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

Friends, lovers, friends- 'pyaar dosti hai' is a line that many use after watching this Karan Johar film. But as we grew up, do we still think love is friendship? The thought was extremely problematic because it insisted a man and a woman can never be friends. This concept clearly did not age well. The other problematic part was Anjali and Rahul's romance. When Anjali has cute bangs and wore jeans and t-shirts, she was 'just a friend, the moment she grows out her hair, starts applying lipstick and saree, she becomes 'desirable'.

Saajan (1991)

In this film, Aman, played by Sanjay Dutt, is a specially-abled orphan child adopted by his best friend Akash's parents. The duo grows up together, with parents not discriminating between them. Aman is a poetry lover while his brother/best friend, played by Salman Khan loves partying. Aman falls in love with Pooja, played by Madhuri Dixit, who picks fights with random strangers.

When Aman realises that Akash loves Pooja, he sacrifices his love and pushes his lady love towards his brother. Upon realising what his friend has done, Akash breaks Pooja's heart in an attempt to shove her back towards Aman. Both brothers treat Pooja like an object. However pathbreaking the ending speech of Pooja is, she still ends up choosing one of her suitors, because why not. It is not surprising now, since most Bollywood films at the time were following the love triangle trope with the women being played around. The film is directed by Lawrence D'Souza.

Vivah (2006)

Rajshri Productions is known to make family films in which women are always seen serving, cleaning up and caring for their men in the name of 'sanskari' behaviour. Vivaah treaded on similar grounds, as Amrita Rao's character is not just fair but also a 'sanskari' girl who listens to her uncle, sacrifices for the "beauty" of her sister and endures abuse at her aunt's hands silently. At the time of release, the film became popular for the love story it offered but over time all that has remained is the meme, 'aap jaal lenge'. While Vivaah's message may have seemed progressive to viewers at the time of its release, its treatment is outdated for this generation of viewers.

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