2016 was a fantastic year for Bollywood with films that made us laugh, cry, and think deeply. From intense dramas to big action entertainers, the year gave us many memorable movies. Here’s a complete list of the top 10 Bollywood movies of 2016 based on popularity, box office, and audience love.
Top 10 Movies of 2016
- Dangal
- Sultan
- M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story
- Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
- Airlift
- Rustom
- Housefull 3
- Shivaay
- Udta Punjab
- Kapoor & Sons
Detailed Reviews – Best Bollywood Films of 2016
1. Dangal
• Release Date: 23-12-2016
• Genre: Sports Drama
• Director: Nitesh Tiwari
• Lead Cast: Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra
• IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
• Box Office Collection: ₹387 crore (India)
• Verdict: All Time Blockbuster
• Watch Now on OTT: Disney+ Hotstar
Review of Dangal 2016:
I watched Dangal in the theatre, and it still gives me goosebumps when I think about it. The father-daughter bond, the training scenes, and that final wrestling match were just brilliant. I especially loved the emotional depth—it felt real.
What I didn’t enjoy much was the slow pace in the beginning, but once it picked up, it had me hooked.
Behind‑the‑Scenes Insights:
Aamir Khan went through a big body transformation—gaining weight and then getting fit again. Also, I read that the actresses trained with real wrestlers. No wonder the matches felt so intense.
2. Sultan
• Release Date: 06-07-2016
• Genre: Action, Sports Drama
• Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
• Lead Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma
• IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
• Box Office Collection: ₹300.45 crore (India)
• Verdict: Blockbuster
• Watch Now on OTT: Amazon Prime Video
Review of Sultan 2016:
Sultan was entertaining from start to finish. I watched it with my family, and we all had a great time. I liked how Salman Khan showed both strength and emotion—it wasn’t just action.
However, I felt the love story part dragged a bit in the second half.
Behind‑the‑Scenes Insights:
Salman actually trained like a wrestler, and it showed in the fight scenes. I was surprised to see Anushka in such a tough role, and she nailed it.
3. M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story
• Release Date: 30-09-2016
• Genre: Biographical Sports Drama
• Director: Neeraj Pandey
• Lead Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Kiara Advani, Disha Patani
• IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
• Box Office Collection: ₹133 crore (India)
• Verdict: Super Hit
• Watch Now on OTT: Disney+ Hotstar
Review of M.S. Dhoni 2016:
As a cricket fan, this movie was very close to my heart. Sushant looked and acted just like Dhoni—it gave me chills. I loved the part showing Dhoni’s journey from a ticket collector to a cricket legend.
The only thing I felt could’ve been better was showing more behind-the-scenes cricket moments.
Behind‑the‑Scenes Insights:
Sushant trained with Dhoni himself and practiced cricket for months. That’s why his shots and body language looked so natural.
4. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
• Release Date: 28-10-2016
• Genre: Romantic Drama
• Director: Karan Johar
• Lead Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
• IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
• Box Office Collection: ₹112.5 crore (India)
• Verdict: Hit
• Watch Now on OTT: Amazon Prime Video
Review of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil 2016:
This film really made me think about how one-sided love feels. I personally connected with Ranbir’s character—his emotions felt raw and real. The songs were on loop in my playlist for months!
But to be honest, the story did feel a bit stretched towards the end.
Behind‑the‑Scenes Insights:
A lot of the film was shot in London, and the snowy scenes added beauty. Aishwarya looked stunning in every frame—such elegance.
5. Airlift
• Release Date: 22-01-2016
• Genre: Thriller, Drama
• Director: Raja Krishna Menon
• Lead Cast: Akshay Kumar, Nimrat Kaur
• IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
• Box Office Collection: ₹129 crore (India)
• Verdict: Super Hit
• Watch Now on OTT: ZEE5
Review of Airlift 2016:
I didn’t expect much when I started watching Airlift, but it totally surprised me. The tension, the heroism, the pride—it was all so well done. Akshay’s calm but strong role gave me goosebumps.
Some scenes did feel a bit too dramatic, but overall, it was a powerful experience.
Behind‑the‑Scenes Insights:
The evacuation scenes were huge productions. It was interesting to know they used real accounts from people who lived through the Gulf crisis.
6. Rustom
• Release Date: 12-08-2016
• Genre: Crime, Drama
• Director: Tinu Suresh Desai
• Lead Cast: Akshay Kumar, Ileana D’Cruz, Arjan Bajwa
• IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
• Box Office Collection: ₹127 crore (India)
• Verdict: Hit
• Watch Now on OTT: ZEE5
Review of Rustom 2016:
This was one of those films that made me curious about real-life crimes. I liked how the story kept unfolding like a mystery. Akshay Kumar was classy and controlled—it suited the Navy role.
I personally found the courtroom scenes a little over-dramatic at times, but still engaging.
Behind‑the‑Scenes Insights:
They recreated old Bombay with attention to detail—vintage cars, old uniforms, everything looked accurate.
7. Housefull 3
• Release Date: 03-06-2016
• Genre: Comedy
• Director: Sajid-Farhad
• Lead Cast: Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh
• IMDb Rating: 5.2/10
• Box Office Collection: ₹109 crore (India)
• Verdict: Hit
• Watch Now on OTT: Disney+ Hotstar
Review of Housefull 3 2016:
Honestly, I watched this one just to relax and laugh. It’s a full-on nonsense comedy, and that’s the fun of it. Akshay’s comic timing made me laugh the most.
Some jokes were too silly even for me, but it’s fine for a light mood.
Behind‑the‑Scenes Insights:
Shot mostly in London, the team looked like they were having a great time. The bloopers during the credits were actually very funny.
8. Shivaay
• Release Date: 28-10-2016
• Genre: Action Thriller
• Director: Ajay Devgn
• Lead Cast: Ajay Devgn, Erika Kaar, Sayyeshaa
• IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
• Box Office Collection: ₹100 crore (India)
• Verdict: Average
• Watch Now on OTT: Amazon Prime Video
Review of Shivaay 2016:
I loved the visuals of this movie—it felt like watching a Hollywood action film. Ajay’s emotional side as a father was touching.
However, the story was confusing at times, and the second half felt too long.
Behind‑the‑Scenes Insights:
Ajay directed it himself, and that’s impressive. He did many of his stunts in freezing temperatures—true dedication!
9. Udta Punjab
• Release Date: 17-06-2016
• Genre: Crime Drama
• Director: Abhishek Chaubey
• Lead Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan
• IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
• Box Office Collection: ₹60 crore (India)
• Verdict: Above Average
• Watch Now on OTT: Netflix
Review of Udta Punjab 2016:
This one shocked me—it was raw, bold, and emotional. Alia Bhatt was unbelievable; I couldn’t believe it was her.
It’s not an easy movie to watch, and some scenes were too disturbing for me, but the message is powerful.
Behind‑the‑Scenes Insights:
The film faced heavy censorship, and I remember the buzz before its release. Shahid and Alia both gave career-best performances.
10. Kapoor & Sons
• Release Date: 18-03-2016
• Genre: Family Drama
• Director: Shakun Batra
• Lead Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Fawad Khan, Alia Bhatt, Rishi Kapoor
• IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
• Box Office Collection: ₹73 crore (India)
• Verdict: Hit
• Watch Now on OTT: Netflix
Review of Kapoor & Sons 2016:
This is a warm, emotional family movie. I personally loved the little moments—the sibling fights, the grandfather’s jokes, the family secrets. It felt so real.
Only thing I didn’t enjoy was the slow pace in some parts.
Behind‑the‑Scenes Insights:
Rishi Kapoor’s makeup took hours, and it was worth it. He was the soul of the film, and the entire cast had amazing chemistry.
Conclusion
Looking back, 2016 was a year that truly gave us a variety of emotions through Bollywood movies. From the inspiring journey of Dangal to the powerful performances in Udta Punjab and the family feels in Kapoor & Sons, I personally enjoyed watching almost all of these films—each one left something behind.
Some made me laugh, some made me cry, and a few even made me think deeply about life and society. Whether you’re into action, romance, or emotional drama, the top 10 Bollywood movies of 2016 had something for everyone. If you haven’t seen a few of these, I highly recommend catching up—especially on the ones I personally connected with the most like Dangal, Airlift, and Kapoor & Sons.
FAQs – Top 10 Bollywood Movies of 2016
A. In my view, Dangal tops the list. It had a strong story, emotional depth, and great performances. Box office numbers also prove its success.
A. Dangal was the highest-grossing film of the year, collecting over ₹387 crore in India.
A. Personally, I feel Sushant Singh Rajput in M.S. Dhoni and Alia Bhatt in Udta Punjab gave outstanding performances.
A. Yes, most of them are streaming on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and ZEE5.
A. I recommend Kapoor & Sons or Dangal. Both have great emotional stories and are family-friendly.
A. No, it wasn’t banned, but it faced many issues with the censor board before its release. Still, it made it to theatres after court intervention.
A. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil had my favorite music of 2016. I still listen to the title track and “Channa Mereya”.
A. If you like stunning visuals and emotional action, then yes. But the story might feel a bit stretched at times.
A. Housefull 3 is a good choice for light entertainment and silly laughs.
A. Tough one! But if I had to pick, it would be Airlift—it’s inspiring, patriotic, and Akshay Kumar’s performance truly moved me.
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