If you were charmed by the delightful chaos and magnetic chemistry of Aap Jaisa Koi, then you’re a fan of the classic “opposites attract” trope, where mismatched personalities collide, clash, and ultimately connect in the most unexpected ways. Many Indian films explore this theme, offering stories that not only entertain but also give hope, celebrating love built on acceptance, belief, and emotional growth.
R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh’s Aap Jaisa Koi is a prime example, where two individuals from entirely different cultures and mindsets come together in a heartwarming union. Whether it’s introverts meeting extroverts, free spirits paired with rule-followers, or idealists locking horns with realists, these love stories thrive on friction, fun, and fiery tension.
To keep your binge-watch buzz going, we’ve rounded up 10 other OTT gems that capture the essence of love between unlikely pairs, proving that sometimes, love is about embracing the unexpected.
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1. Jab We Met
- IMDb Rating-7.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes- 100%
- Smartprix Rating-8.5/10
- Release Date-26 October 2007
- Streaming on- Amazon Prime Video & JioHotstar
- Director- Imitaz Ali
- Runtime- 2 hours 18 minutes
- Starring-Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor & others
Plot- Aditya, a heartbroken business tycoon on the verge of committing suicide, aimlessly boards a train. He meets Geet, a bubbly girl who plans to elope with her lover, and finds himself pulled into her crazy life.
‘Opposites Attract’ explored- This quintessential Bollywood romance beautifully explores the theme of opposites attract via its central characters Aditya and Geet. The two have contrasting personalities, which becomes the reason behind their mutual transformation as Geet pulls Aditya out of an emotional slump while Aditya stands strong for Geet when she is ditched by her lover. The movie is a journey of self-discovery made possible by the unlikely bond between two people who are poles apart, showing sometimes what the heart wants, the mind can’t explain.
2. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
- IMDb Rating-8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes- 100%
- Smartprix Rating-8.5/10
- Release Date-20 October 1995
- Streaming on- Amazon Prime Video
- Director-Aditya Chopra
- Runtime- 3 hours 9 minutes
- Starring-Shahrukh Khan, Kajol & others
Plot- Raj and Simran meet during a trip across Europe, and the two fall in love. However, when Raj learns that Simran is already promised to another, he follows her to India to win her and her father over.
‘Opposites Attract’ explored- This one is one of Bollywood’s most iconic love stories, and it explores the theme of opposites attract via Raj and Simran, who are chalk and cheese. Their diverging personalities lead to clashes at first, which slows changes into admiration and then love. Their personal growth happens via love as Raj begins to respect tradition and Simran learns to let loose at times. Their journey is about two opposites who meet halfway and change for good. Dialogues of the movie remain iconic even today.
3. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
- IMDb Rating-7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes- 70%
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Release Date-31 May 2013
- Streaming on- Amazon Prime Video & Netflix India
- Director-Ayan Mukherjee
- Runtime- 2 hours 40 minutes
- Starring- Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone & others
Plot– Naina, a studious girl, yearns for some fun. A chance meeting with an old classmate, Aditi, leads to a trip that changes her life forever. She meets and falls for Bunny, but he has no time for love.
‘Opposites Attract’ explored- This vibrant coming-of-age movie beautifully captures the opposites attract theme via the story of Naina and Kabir aka Bunny. Their worlds are contrasting until they take a trip to Manali together, where, despite contrasting views, the two find connection and comfort with each other. Their chemistry is not love at first sight but a slow burn that grows with time. These two opposites don’t try to change each other, but grow together and towards each other. The movie showcases how love can be an anchor and yet a catalyst that heals.
4. Tanu Weds Manu
- IMDb Rating-6.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes- N/A
- Smartprix Rating-7.5/10
- Release Date-25 February 2011
- Streaming on- Apple TV+
- Director-Anand L. Rai
- Runtime- 1 hour 59 minutes
- Starring-R. Madhavan, Kangana Ranaut & others
Plot- Manu, an NRI doctor, comes to India in search of a bride and falls in love with Tanu. Poles apart from her suitor, Tanu, a fun-loving girl, rather enlists his help in eloping with her lover.
‘Opposites Attract’ explored– This quirky romantic drama brings to life the opposites attract theme in a delightful and unpredictable way via the story of Tanuja and Manoj. Tanu is fiery and rebellious, while Manu is calm and introverted, which means their personalities couldn’t be more different. Though Tanu rejects Manu various times, as their paths keep crossing, she starts to see something that her chaotic life lacks otherwise: sincerity, respect, and loyalty. Their love is messy, uneven, and full of friction, but it works precisely because of their differences. The film shows how love might not be easy when opposites attract, but at the end of the day, it is passionate, healing, real, and transformative.
5. Salaam Namaste
- IMDb Rating-6.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes- 83%
- Smartprix Rating-7.5/10
- Release Date-9 September 2005
- Streaming on- Amazon Prime Video
- Director-Siddhartha Anand
- Runtime- 2 hours 38 minutes
- Starring-Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan & others
Plot– Nikhil proposes to Ambar, a radio jockey, and they decide to stay together. However, Ambar’s unexpected pregnancy throws their lives out of gear and threatens to disturb their relationship.
‘Opposites Attract’ explored- This movie is a contemporary, urban spin on romance while subtly exploring the theme of opposites attract via Nick and Ambar’s story. While both of them are liberal in lifestyle, their emotional maturity levels are poles apart, creating chemistry and tension in equal measures. Their views on love and commitment go in opposite directions, and yet they decide to live together until Ambar’s pregnancy tests the depth of their relationship. The movie showcases that opposites can not only love but also evolve and become better people together.
6. Ishaqzaade
- IMDb Rating-6.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes- 56%
- Smartprix Rating-7/10
- Release Date-11 May 2012
- Streaming on- Amazon Prime Video
- Director-Habib Faisal
- Runtime- 2 hours 12 minutes
- Starring-Arjun Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra & others
Plot– Parma Chauhan and Zoya Qureshi are two rebellious individuals who belong to two rival political families. When they fall in love, their families set out to kill them.
‘Opposites Attract’ explored- This gritty and intense love story set against the backdrop of a small-town feudal politics sharply explores the theme of opposites attract, but with a dark and volatile twist. Parma and Zoya are both aggressive and headstrong, but their ideologies are different. Parma fights for pride, while Zoya has a purpose to her rebellion. Their love story begins with deception and betrayal, but slowly they find a deeper connection, getting drawn towards each other. Their fiery natures and family history create chaos, but they also become mirrors of each other’s strength and vulnerability.
7. Qarib Qarib Single
- IMDb Rating-7.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes- 89%
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Release Date-10 November 2017
- Streaming on- Netflix India
- Director-Tanuja Chandra
- Runtime- 2 hours 5 minutes
- Starring-Irrfan Khan, Parvathy Thiruvothu & others
Plot- Two contrasting personalities, Yogi and Jaya, meet through a dating app and rediscover themselves while they set out to revisit their past.
‘Opposites Attract’ explored- This one’s a refreshing, off-beat romantic journey deeply exploring the opposites attract theme via the quirky story of Yogi and Jaya. The two have chalk and cheese personalities, and from their very first meeting, the differences are hilarious and glaring. The road trip to meet Yogi’s former girlfriends leads to comic and emotional situations where their attitudes come into play. The journey together highlights how two very different people can unexpectedly complete each other, and romance isn’t always about grand declarations, but how love sneaks in when you least expect it to.
8. Hum Tum
- IMDb Rating-7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes- 86%
- Smartprix Rating-7.5/10
- Release Date-28 May 2004
- Streaming on- Amazon Prime Video
- Director-Kunal Kohli
- Runtime- 2 hours 22 minutes
- Starring-Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukherjee & others
Plot- Karan and Rhea meet on a flight and end up hating each other at the end of their journey. Things change between them when they continue to bump into each other at different stages of their lives.
‘Opposites Attract’ explored- Hum Tum cleverly explores the opposites attract theme via the romantic journey of Karan and Rhea that spans across various years. The first meeting leads to clashes, and the chemistry is born out of contrast, not compatibility. They fight each other about everything, but also create space for dialogue, change, and understanding. The two don’t change for each other but grow into each other, making the ending feel earned and authentic.
9. Namastey London
- IMDb Rating-7.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes- 80%
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Release Date-23 March 2007
- Streaming on- Amazon Prime Video
- Director-Vipul Shah
- Runtime- 2 hours 8 minutes
- Starring- Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif & others
Plot- On a trip to India, Jasmeet’s father forcefully marries her off to Arjun. However, when they return to London, Jasmeet announces her intention of marrying her boyfriend, Charlie Brown.
‘Opposites Attract’ explored- This culturally rich romance drama strongly reflects the opposites attract trope via Jazz and Arjun. The two have totally different outlooks on life, as Jazz wants freedom while Arjun believes in faith and family. Despite being opposites, Arjun’s silent strength and quiet confidence begin to break their emotional barriers as he accepts her as she is and still respects her a lot. The movie is about two opposites who not just come together through love but through values, patience, uplift, and perseverance.
10. Dum Laga Ke Haisha
- IMDb Rating-7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes- 93%
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Release Date-27 February 2015
- Streaming on- Amazon Prime Video
- Director-Sharat Katariya
- Runtime- 1 hour 50 minutes
- Starring-Ayushman Khurana, Bhumi Pednekar & others
Plot- Prem, a school dropout, hesitantly marries an educated but overweight girl, Sandhya. However, the two come closer when they take part in a race, which involves Prem carrying Sandhya on his back.
‘Opposites Attract’ explored- This movie beautifully captures the tale of Sandhya and Prem, set in a 1990s small town in India. It is about love between two completely mismatched individuals, where Prem is a shy and underconfident person, while Sandhya is smart and outspoken. Their union seems doomed at first, but underneath the bitterness, seeds of understanding and acceptance begin to grow slowly, which leads to evolution. The film’s title event is a wife carrying race, which becomes a metaphor for their relationship, which is messy, difficult, but ultimately about support and emotional bonding. The movie shows how love is not always instant or glamorous, but when it blooms, it can be full of empathy, pride, and respect.
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