Holi Special: Iconic scenes in Bollywood films built around Holi celebrations

Holi is the festival of colours. Not only does the festival usher-in new spirit in our lives but also sometimes changes the course of a film and gives it the much-needed twist. Love is expressed, bonds are sealed, villains are shamed, conflicts are resolved… all by the grace and use of colours. Here we take a look at some iconic scenes in Bollywood that is built around Holi celebrations...

The ‘Jolly LLB’ franchise has been hitting the right chord with the audience. After Arshad Warsi in the first installment, Akshay Kumar too won over the audience and critics alike in its subsequent part.
While everything seems to be working just fine for the jolly good Jagdishwar Mishra (Akshay), it is the Holi celebration scene in the movie that changes the course of the story.
Right after the Holi song ‘Go Pagal’, Hina (Sayani Gupta) realises that she has been deceived by Jagadishwer. She confronts him and challenges him to fight for truth. The event that follows forces him to take up her case and fight for it with all his might.

Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar’s social drama ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’ was hailed by audience and critics alike. This Akshay Kumar starrer also boasted of a Holi song titled ‘Latth Maar’. However, unlike other Holi songs in the Bollywood films, this one featured Mathura’s traditional lath maar.
After trying hard and failing to win back his wife Jaya (Bhumi), who is at her parents’ house, Akshay comes to her village for the Holi celebrations and asks her to hit him as per the traditions. Bhumi too is seen removing all her anger and frustrations on him by hitting him.
It is only after this scene that Bhumi asks Akshay to do something materialistic to get her back instead of trying to woo her back. Akshay is then seen taking over his father for getting a toilet in the house.

‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ still remains to be one of the most loved films of Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. The Holi song ‘Balam Pichkaari’ in the film still makes it to the top Bollywood songs played during the Holi celebrations.
In the film, it is during this song that Naina (Deepika) is seen shedding all her inhibitions and dancing. However, it is after this song that she realises that despite her love, Bunny (Ranbir) should not be bound and lets him go without confessing her feelings for him.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela’ happens to be one of the most appraised films for both the lead actors Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. Apart from having a gripping storyline and power-packed performances, the film also had some foot-tapping songs and dance sequences.
One of the scenes in the film shows Holi celebration. This is the scene where the song ‘Lahu Muh Lag Gaya’ plays and when Ram (Ranveer) and Leela (Deepika) meet for the first time. And we absolutely loved Leela’s fearlessness and how unabashedly she expressed her sexuality and desires!

Who can forget the iconic scene from ‘Mohabbatein’ where Shah Rukh Khan’s character seeks the permission from Amitabh Bachchan to play Holi in Gurukul for the very first time. While he doesn’t allow it, he says that the students who want to play can go outside and enjoy.
But the best part was when he accepted the Tilak from Raj- signifying his acceptance of the festival!