Top Bollywood films with Unhappy or Sad Endings

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit

“Devdas” tells the story of Devdas Mukherjee, a wealthy young man (Shah Rukh Khan) who returns to India after studying in London. He reunites with his childhood friend Paro, and they fall in love. However, societal norms and family opposition prevent their union. Devdas spirals into alcoholism, while Paro marries another man. Despite the support of courtesan Chandramukhi, Devdas succumbs to his addiction and heartbreak, dying outside Paro’s mansion.

Director: Satish Kaushik
Cast:
Salman Khan as Radhe Mohan
Bhumika Chawla as Nirjara Bharadwaj
Sachin Khedekar as Radhe’s elder brother, Devendra Mohan
Savita Prabhune as Radhe’s sister-in-law
Sarfaraz Khan as Aslam
Ravi Kishan as Rameshwar
Anang Desai as Nirjara’s father
Mahima Chaudhry in a special appearance in the song “Oodhni”

In the climax of “Tere Naam,” Radhe, who has been suffering from a mental disorder after a violent incident, is admitted to a mental asylum. Nirjara, who deeply loves Radhe, decides to wait for him and prays for his recovery. However, due to societal pressures and her family’s insistence, she agrees to marry someone else. The film ends with Radhe, now completely heartbroken, returning to the asylum. He lives there in a state of deep sorrow and insanity, haunted by the memories of his lost love, Nirjara.

Director: Nikkhil Advani
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan

Aman Mathur, a cheerful and optimistic man, enters the lives of Naina and her family, bringing joy and love. Naina falls in love with Aman, but he has a terminal illness and hides his feelings for her. Instead, he helps her find happiness with their mutual friend, Rohit. The film explores themes of love, friendship, and sacrifice. Aman dies from his illness, leaving behind a heartbroken Naina and Rohit, who learn to find solace in their memories of him.

Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Cast: Aamir Khan, Siddharth, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kapoor, Atul Kulkarni, Soha Ali Khan

A British filmmaker decides to make a documentary on Indian freedom fighters, casting a group of carefree college students. As they delve into their roles, they become aware of contemporary political corruption. Inspired by the martyrs they portray, they take a stand against injustice but face tragic consequences. The students are killed by the police in a final stand, paralleling the fate of the freedom fighters they depicted, emphasizing the cyclical nature of resistance and sacrifice.

Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Vivek Oberoi, Konkona Sen Sharma

An adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Othello,” the film is set in the Indian political landscape. Omkara, a political enforcer, trusts his aide Langda Tyagi, who deceives him into believing his fiancée Dolly is unfaithful. Omkara’s jealousy leads to tragic outcomes. Omkara kills Dolly in a fit of rage, only to realize her innocence moments later. Overcome with guilt and grief, he takes his own life.

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai

Ethan Mascarenhas, a once-famous magician, is paralyzed from the neck down after a failed trick. After years of suffering, he petitions for euthanasia. His loyal nurse Sofia supports him, and their relationship deepens. Despite opposition, Ethan’s plea is granted. The film ends with Sofia tearfully administering the final dose, highlighting themes of love, pain, and the right to die with dignity.

Director: Vikramaditya Motwane
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Sonakshi Sinha

Inspired by O. Henry’s “The Last Leaf,” “Lootera” is set in the 1950s. Pakhi, the daughter of a zamindar, falls in love with Varun, an archaeologist who is actually a conman. When Varun’s true identity is revealed, he leaves, breaking Pakhi’s heart. Years later, they meet again, and Varun tries to make amends. Varun dies in the end, leaving Pakhi with a bittersweet memory of their love and a symbolic leaf painted by him, representing hope and sacrifice.

Director: Imtiaz Ali
Cast: Alia Bhatt, Randeep Hooda

Veera, a young woman from a wealthy family, is kidnapped by Mahabir, a rugged criminal. During their journey, Veera finds freedom and solace in her captivity, while Mahabir’s tough exterior softens. As they begin to bond, Mahabir is killed by the police. Veera, profoundly changed by her experiences, decides to live independently, breaking free from her past.

Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Tabu, Shraddha Kapoor, Kay Kay Menon

Haider returns home to find his father missing and his mother involved with his uncle. Consumed by revenge and madness, Haider’s quest leads to devastating consequences.
The film ends with Haider holding his dying mother, surrounded by the carnage of his vengeance. The tragic cycle of violence and betrayal is complete.

Director: Imtiaz Ali
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone

Ved and Tara meet on vacation and decide not to reveal their real identities. They part ways but reconnect years later. Tara realizes Ved is not the adventurous man she met but is instead trapped in a mundane job. Their relationship forces Ved to confront his true self.
Though Ved ultimately finds his true calling, he and Tara’s relationship is left unresolved, symbolizing the bittersweet nature of self-discovery and unfulfilled love.

Director: Ram Madhvani
Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Yogendra Tiku

Based on the true story of Neerja Bhanot, a flight attendant who saved passengers on a hijacked plane. Neerja’s courage and quick thinking save many lives, but she sacrifices her own. Neerja dies from gunshot wounds, leaving her family and loved ones devastated. The film honors her bravery but ends on a poignant note of loss.

Director: Abhishek Chaubey
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor, Diljit Dosanjh

A gritty portrayal of the drug epidemic in Punjab, the film follows the lives of a rockstar, a migrant worker, a doctor, and a cop as they navigate the challenges and corruption fueled by drug abuse. The film ends with some hope but many unresolved issues, highlighting the ongoing battle against drug addiction and the personal toll it takes.

Director: Nishikant Kamat
Cast: Irrfan Khan, Vishesh Bansal, Jimmy Shergill

Nirmal, a common man, kidnaps the son of a politician to avenge his own son’s death due to governmental negligence. His desperate act brings attention to systemic corruption and apathy. Nirmal’s tragic story highlights the powerlessness of ordinary citizens against a corrupt system, leaving audiences with a sense of injustice and sorrow.

Director: Shashank Khaitan
Cast: Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor

A remake of the Marathi film “Sairat,” “Dhadak” tells the story of Madhukar and Parthavi, whose love defies societal norms and caste barriers. They elope, facing numerous challenges.
The film ends with the couple being brutally murdered, underscoring the harsh realities of caste-based violence and the tragic consequences of defying social norms.

Director: Shoojit Sircar
Cast: Varun Dhawan, Banita Sandhu

Dan, a hotel management trainee, forms an unexpected bond with his colleague Shiuli after she falls into a coma following an accident. Dan’s unwavering care and devotion to Shiuli become the central theme. Despite Dan’s efforts, Shiuli dies, leaving him heartbroken and changed forever. The film’s ending reflects the impermanence of life and the profundity of human connections.

Director: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani

Kabir Singh, a brilliant but self-destructive surgeon, spir
als into addiction and rage after his girlfriend Preeti is forced to marry someone else. His self-destructive behavior affects everyone around him. Although the film ends with Kabir and Preeti reuniting, the journey is fraught with pain and turmoil, highlighting the destructive nature of obsessive love.

Director: Mohit Suri
Cast: Aditya Roy Kapur, Shraddha Kapoor

“Aashiqui 2” is a modern-day romantic tragedy about Rahul (Aditya Roy Kapur), a successful singer battling alcoholism, and Arohi (Shraddha Kapoor), a talented singer he mentors. The film’s heart-wrenching end sees Rahul taking his own life to save Arohi from his destructive path, a testament to his love and sacrifice.

Director: Balu Mahendra
Cast: Kamal Haasan, Sridevi

“Sadma” is the touching story of Somu (Kamal Haasan) and Reshmi (Sridevi), a woman with retrograde amnesia. The film’s tragic ending, where Reshmi regains her memory and forgets Somu, leaving him heartbroken, is one of the most emotional conclusions in Bollywood history.

Director: Yash Chopra
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, Sunny Deol

“Darr” explores the dark side of obsessive love. Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) is infatuated with Kiran (Juhi Chawla), leading to a tragic climax where Rahul dies, unable to attain his love, leaving a haunting impression on the audience.

Director: Imtiaz Ali
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri

“Rockstar” follows the journey of a musician, Jordan (Ranbir Kapoor), whose love for Heer (Nargis Fakhri) fuels his success and pain. The film’s ending, with Heer’s death and Jordan’s continued agony, is a powerful depiction of love and loss.

Director: Abbas-Mustan
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Shilpa Shetty

“Baazigar” is a tale of revenge and deception. Ajay (Shah Rukh Khan) seeks vengeance for his father’s death but the film ends with his death, a tragic end to a dark journey of retribution.