In a surprising blend of contradiction and candor, actor-director R Madhavan recently stirred up conversation in the film industry by stating that Bollywood’s old-school romance formula is “dead”—even while promoting a new film that appears to follow many of its same tropes. Known for his heartfelt performances in cult romantic dramas like Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein and Tanu Weds Manu, Madhavan’s commentary offers a nuanced look at how romance in Indian cinema is evolving, why traditional formulas no longer resonate with today’s audience, and why he still believes there’s room to reimagine them.
The statement, made during a press interaction while promoting his upcoming romantic drama, sent ripples through Bollywood circles, with many interpreting it as both a critique and a reflection. So, is the classic Bollywood romance truly obsolete—or are we simply in a transitional phase?
Let’s unpack what Madhavan meant, what his own movie says about love today, and where the future of romantic storytelling in Bollywood could be headed.
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Toggle“That Romance is Over”: What Madhavan Meant
Speaking to reporters, Madhavan remarked:
“The era of slow-burning love stories where everything hinges on glances, fate, and family opposition—those stories don’t click with the new generation anymore. Audiences have changed. Relationships have changed. The old formula doesn’t work.”
Coming from someone who has long been a poster boy for romance in Indian cinema, this statement was more than casual commentary. It hinted at a deep awareness of how the romantic landscape, both on-screen and off, has shifted drastically over the past decade.
Once upon a time, Bollywood love stories thrived on emotional melodrama, love-at-first-sight tropes, and drawn-out family conflicts. Think Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, or even Madhavan’s own RHTDM. These films were less about realism and more about escapism, fairy-tale romances, and exaggerated drama.
But today’s audience—exposed to global cinema, digital storytelling, and a more self-aware media environment—seems to crave authenticity, complexity, and relatability. And that’s what Madhavan was pointing to.
The Irony: His Own New Film Feels Like a Throwback
Here’s where the contradiction gets interesting.
The very movie Madhavan was promoting when he made his “romance is dead” remark—titled “Forever Yours”—is, ironically, a romantic drama that leans heavily on the same narrative tropes he just dismissed. The plot involves a small-town boy falling for an urban girl, miscommunication driving the second half, a large, emotionally invested joint family, and—yes—a dramatic airport climax.
The film’s trailer is a blend of nostalgia and glossy romance, with sweeping violin scores, emotional gazes, and dialogues like “Pyaar sirf ek baar hota hai” (Love happens only once).
So what gives?
When asked about the contradiction, Madhavan clarified:
“Yes, my film does follow that format—but only on the surface. It’s more of a commentary on that very style. It’s my homage and my critique at the same time. The difference is in how it’s told.”
In other words, he’s not rejecting old-school romance entirely. Instead, he’s exploring how it can be reshaped, repurposed, and challenged from within the genre.
The Death of the Formula, Not the Emotion
What Madhavan really seems to be saying is that the formula is dead—not love itself. And that’s an important distinction.
Audiences are still drawn to love stories. OTT platforms are filled with shows and films centered around romance, but the characters are flawed, the endings are open-ended, and the emotions are more rooted in everyday life.
Take, for example:
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Geet and Aditya in Jab We Met (2007): The last of the classic romance hits with a modern twist.
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Ved and Tara in Tamasha (2015): A love story wrapped in psychological exploration.
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Mismatched and Little Things (Netflix): These series portray realistic, often awkward modern relationships.
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Masaan, Lunchbox, Bandish Bandits: Each explores love in unconventional ways—across caste, age, and societal boundaries.
The shift is clear: audiences are craving emotional truth over cinematic fluff.
Why The Classic Romance Stopped Working
There are several reasons why Bollywood’s traditional romance formula has lost its sheen:
1. Audience Maturity
Modern viewers are more discerning. Social media, streaming content, and real-life relationship dynamics have made many romantic clichés feel dated or even regressive.
2. Rise of OTT Platforms
Streaming has led to a surge in nuanced storytelling. Shows like Made in Heaven, Modern Love Mumbai, and Feels Like Ishq explore the messy, grey areas of relationships.
3. Feminist Perspectives
The era of passive heroines and aggressive male lovers is passé. Today’s audience demands more equitable, consent-driven, and self-aware portrayals of love.
4. Societal Changes
With dating apps, long-distance relationships, and changing marital expectations, the new Indian love story needs to reflect evolving social realities.
Madhavan’s Role in the Romance Canon
It’s worth noting that R Madhavan himself has played a key role in shaping Bollywood’s romance genre. His characters—be it the soft-spoken, love-struck Maddy or the quirky, stubborn Manu Sharma—resonated deeply with audiences.
His appeal lay in his ability to play romantic leads who were intense yet vulnerable, traditional yet modern. He was never the over-the-top macho lover. Instead, he offered sincerity, depth, and charm.
So when he says the formula is outdated, it carries weight—not just as an actor but as someone whose career was partly built on that very format.
Romance Isn’t Dead—It’s Evolving
While the “formula” may no longer excite the masses, romantic cinema is far from extinct. It’s simply going through a transformation—shedding its skin, adapting to new contexts, and finding more relatable expressions.
Recent examples include:
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Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023): Blends melodrama with modern-day sensibilities and social commentary.
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Shershaah (2021): Combines biopic and war drama with a touching romantic thread.
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Gehraiyaan (2022): Explores infidelity, trauma, and emotional entanglements in modern urban life.
These films show that love still holds powerful sway—it just needs to be believable.
What’s Next for Romantic Films?
According to industry insiders and film critics, the future of romantic storytelling in Bollywood is likely to focus on:
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Authentic storytelling over spectacle
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Complex characters instead of archetypes
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Subtle narratives that explore emotional intelligence
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Inclusive love stories spanning LGBTQ+, interfaith, and intercaste relationships
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Slice-of-life realism with bittersweet or ambiguous endings
Directors like Zoya Akhtar, Imtiaz Ali, and Shakun Batra are already leading this change, pushing the genre into deeper, more layered territory.
Final Thoughts
R Madhavan’s comment wasn’t a rejection of romance—it was a challenge to creators to rethink how love is portrayed. While his new film may lean into nostalgia, it also serves as a bridge between Bollywood’s romantic past and its more grounded future.
In his words, “Love stories will never go out of fashion. But how we tell them—that’s where the change has to happen.”
So is the classic Bollywood romance truly dead? Perhaps. But from its ashes, a more honest, diverse, and emotionally intelligent genre is rising.
And that’s a love story worth watching.
FAQs
Q1. What did R Madhavan mean when he said the romance formula is “dead”?
He was referring to outdated Bollywood storytelling tropes—like overly dramatic love-at-first-sight tales and predictable endings—which no longer resonate with modern audiences.
Q2. Is Madhavan’s new film a contradiction to his own views?
Not entirely. While the film may follow traditional structures, Madhavan claims it critically examines and updates those old formulas for today’s viewers.
Q3. What is the future of romance in Bollywood?
Romantic films will likely focus on realism, character depth, inclusivity, and emotionally intelligent storytelling rather than grand, fantastical tropes of the past.
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