From Bole Chudiyan to Kudmayi: A Cinematic Journey Through Bollywood Weddings

Weddings in Bollywood movies – The fantasy, the drama, the couture, the emotions... Bollywood doesn’t just portray weddings—it defines what Indian weddings look and feel like. For many of us, our idea of a dream wedding has been shaped by the grandeur of onscreen shaadis, whether it was a chiffon-clad Kajol twirling in DDLJ, Rani Mukharjee’s sequined white lehenga in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, or Deepika Padukone’s pink & orange mehendi lehenga in Jeh Jawani Hai Deewani. Let’s talk about how Bollywood weddings have evolved on screen, and how they continue to influence real-life celebrations.

The OG Era: Tradition Meets Melodrama

In the late ’90s and early 2000s, Bollywood weddings were all about ‘sanskaari grandeur’. Movies like Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge showcased wedding festivities that were full of family, emotional music montages, lots of ritual-heavy drama, and those iconic matching lehengas for the whole girl gang.

Worn during the iconic ‘Bole Chudiyan’ song in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Kareena (as the unforgettable Poo) dazzles in a shimmering pink lehenga with a bold backless choli and delicate silver embellishments. The outfit, designed by Manish Malhotra, was daring for its time—blending Y2K glam with traditional Indian elements—and it immediately became a trendsetter for sangeets and mehendis.

Over two decades later, Shloka Ambani stepped out in a modern re-creation of the same outfit, also designed by Manish Malhotra, for Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani’s pre-wedding festivities. Staying true to the original, her version featured the same glimmering pink palette, delicate embroidery, and signature blouse silhouette, but with updated embellishments and contemporary detailing. It was a full-circle fashion moment—one that paid homage to Bollywood nostalgia while proving that these iconic styles have truly influenced and shaped fashion – and, they will never go out of trend!

From sangeets with full dance numbers (hello, Didi Tera Devar Deewana) to bidaais that left half the audience in tears, these films glorified every ritual—and in doing so, made every real wedding aspire to that same cinematic flair.

The Fashion Fairytale Phase

Then came the Karan Johar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali era, where weddings were elevated into sheer visual opulence. Think: Devdas, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Student of the Year, and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

These weren’t just weddings—they were fashion shows with emotions for us growing up! Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi became household names. The bride's lehenga was a character in itself. Weddings in these films set trends for years—be it Deepika’s red lehenga in Ram Leela, Kalki’s floral jewellery in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, or Anushka’s ivory look in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Alia Bhatt’s lehenga in the song ‘Radha’ sparked a fashion wave like no other—suddenly, every sangeet look was infused with neon hues, sequins, and sparkle. It wasn’t just a costume; it became the blueprint for an entire era of youthful wedding style.

Bollywood was no longer just showing weddings—it was influencing how they looked in real life and what people were using as their template—consciously or subconsciously!

The Relatable Romance Era

More relatable films like Band Baaja Baaraat, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, and Made in Heaven (okay, technically a series, but iconic nonetheless) have shifted focus from extravagance to emotion and individuality.

These stories moved away from over-the-top sets and designer lehengas to give us a glimpse into the messy, chaotic, and very real side of Indian weddings. They dive into the drama behind the sparkle—the over-involved families, unpredictable vendors, guest list politics, and couples navigating the push-and-pull between age-old customs and modern values. We see bridezillas lose their cool, grooms have existential crises, and best friends who turn into unlikely wedding planners. Yet, even in this more grounded storytelling, the visual flair never takes a backseat.

In Band Baaja Baaraat, the color and energy of Delhi’s wedding scene are captured through quirky baraats, genda-phool décor, and relatable startup hustle. Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan explores a groundbreaking LGBTQ+ love story, set against the backdrop of a traditional North Indian wedding—reminding us that all love stories deserve celebration. Lastly, Made in Heaven, which pulls back the curtain on big, fat Indian wedding excess, only to reveal the personal struggles, class divides, and emotional upheavals that lie beneath the shimmer.

Even 2 States gives us a taste of cultural fusion, with a Tamil-Brahmin bride and a Punjabi groom navigating both love and logistics—how to plan a wedding that honors both identities without losing their own voices in the process. Through all this, Bollywood continues to be our guide—offering a mirror to our emotions, a canvas for our creativity, and a mood board for every bride, groom, and guest looking for inspiration that’s not just stylish but real.

Circling back to Grandeur of Palaces

Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani deserves a mention on its own. Karan Johar came full circle—he created a wedding that was most relevant to what we are seeing today – Palace Weddings! Their ceremony is rich in tradition and opulence, with vibrant floral decor and regal detailing. Alia Bhatt stuns as a traditional bride in a gold-embroidered Manish Malhotra lehenga, while Ranveer Singh complements her in a classic ivory sherwani. From her bridal entry to the colour palette of the outfits and wedding – this could not be more real today – think Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif’s wedding, or even Siddharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani’s etherial Suryagarh Wedding!

Why We Still Obsess Over Bollywood Weddings

Because they’re aspirational, yes—but also because they reflect who we are and who we want to be. Whether it's the over-the-top glam of a Bhansali film or the intimate emotion of a Zoya Akhtar production (think the beautiful wedding ceremony at the end of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara), Bollywood weddings have always mirrored our evolving idea of love, celebration, and tradition. Every decade brings with it a defining set of weddings in Bollywood movies—iconic scenes and outfits that shape the way real-life weddings look and feel. From décor and fashion to photography styles, these cinematic moments become templates, inspiring what weddings look like for the next few years!

They inspire our mood boards. They help us dream—and even bring our dreams to life! More often than not, they show us that the most beautiful wedding moments aren’t the ones with the biggest budget—they’re the ones with the biggest heart.