Bollywood has a storied history, featuring numerous blockbuster hits. Within this treasure trove are some timeless 10 classic Hindi comedy movies that have attained cult status. Let’s delve into 10 of these classics that continue to charm audiences to this day.
10 best old Bollywood comedy movies that make us go ROFL:
1. Padosan
- Cast: Sunil Dutt, Saira Banu, Kishore Kumar, Mukri, Raj Kishore, Keshto Mukherjee
- Director: Jyoti Swaroop
- IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
- Movie Genre: Comedy/Musical/Romance
- Release year: 1968
- Where to watch: Prime Video
“Padosan” stands as a timeless Bollywood comedy, entertaining audiences across generations. Whether it’s our grandparents or today’s movie enthusiasts, everyone should experience this delightful film at least once in their lifetime. With iconic songs like “Mere Samnewali Khidki Mein” and “Ek Chatur Naar Karke Sringar,” it’s a cinematic gem that continues to captivate audiences.
2. Bawarchi
- Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Jaya Bhaduri, Asrani, Harindranath Chattopadhyay, A.K. Hangal, Durga Khote, Manisha, Kali Banerjee, Usha Kiran, Raju Shrestha
- Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee
- IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
- Movie Genre: Comedy/Musical/Drama
- Release year: 1972
- Where to watch: Prime Video, Sony Liv
True to its name, “Bawarchi” centers on a versatile household servant hired by a dysfunctional family notorious for driving away their staff with mistreatment. Unexpectedly, this individual becomes the household’s prized asset, intervening in their familial turmoil to mend internal conflicts.
3. Heeralal Pannalal
- Cast: Shashi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Zeenat Aman, Neetu Singh, Premnath, Ranjeet, Ajit, Amjad Khan, Madan Puri, Kamini Kaushal
- Director: Ashok Roy
- IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
- Movie Genre: Comedy/ Action
- Release year: 1978
- Where to watch: YouTube
“Heeralal Pannalal” is a delightful vintage Hindi film narrating the tale of two boys raised together in an orphanage. Their bond evolves into a deep friendship, and as they embark on a journey to uncover secrets about their parents, they also find themselves falling in love with two charming ladies.
4. Chupke Chupke
- Cast: Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, Jaya Bachchan, Om Prakash, Usha Kiran, David Abraham Cheulkar, Asrani, Keshto Mukherje
- Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee
- IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
- Movie Genre: Comedy/Romance/Drama
- Release year: 1975
- Where to watch: Prime Video
In the classic Hindi comedy film “Chupke Chupke,” audiences witnessed the dynamic duo of Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan. Their comedic chemistry was widely praised by movie enthusiasts, who continue to revisit the film for a timeless dose of laughter and entertainment.
5. Bombay to Goa
- Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Aruna Irani, Shatrughan Sinha, Nazir Hussain, Mehmood, Anwar Ali
- Director: S. Ramanathan
- IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
- Movie Genre: Comedy/Action
- Release year: 1972
- Where to watch: Prime Video
Continuing the lineup of top classic Bollywood comedy films is “Bombay to Goa.” This road comedy narrates the story of a woman fleeing from home who finds herself falling for her bodyguard, tasked with protecting her from an armed henchman. Their journey from Bombay to Goa, accompanied by a lively ensemble cast, promises a delightful and humorous ride.
6. Pati Patni Aur Woh
- Cast: Sanjeev Kumar, Vidya Sinha, Ranjeeta Kaur, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Tina Munim, Parveen Babi
- Director: BR Chopra
- IMDB Rating: 7.0/10
- Movie Genre: Comedy/Romance
- Release year: 1978
- Where to watch: YouTube
In “Pati Patni Aur Woh,” a husband juggles between his wife and another woman, dancing on the edge of getting caught. Eventually, his deceit is exposed, leaving him red-handed. Although he shows remorse, his contrition is short-lived. This classic Bollywood comedy was so beloved that it was remade under the same title in 2019, starring Kartik Aaryan, Bhumi Pednekar, and Ananya Panday.
7. Seeta Aur Geeta
Cast: Hema Malini, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Roopesh Kumar, Manorama, Satyen Kappu, Honey Irani, Pratima Devi
Director: Ramesh Sippy
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
Movie Genre: Comedy/Drama
Release year: 1972
Where to watch: Prime Video
In “Seeta Aur Geeta,” identical long-lost sisters, each with contrasting personalities, swap lives to teach Seeta’s greedy and abusive aunt a lesson. As they navigate their new identities, they encounter their respective lovers, who unknowingly fall for the sisters’ original personas. Hema Malini showcases her versatility by portraying dual roles in this beloved classic Bollywood comedy.
8. Chachi 420
- Cast: Kamal Haasan, Nassar, Tabu, Amrish Puri, Om Puri, Johnny Walker, Paresh Rawal, Rajendranath Zutshi, Ayesha Jhulka, Fatima Sana Shaikh
- Director: Kamal Haasan
- IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
- Movie Genre: Comedy/Drama
- Release year: 1997
- Where to watch: YouTube
In “Chachi 420,” Kamal Haasan shines both as a director and lead actor. He masterfully portrays a desperate father who resorts to disguising himself as his child’s nanny to stay close to him. The comedic escapade takes off when his former father-in-law becomes smitten with his alter ego.
9. Kunwara Baap
- Cast: Mehmood, Macky Ali, Vinod Mehra, Lalita Pawar, Nazir Hussain
- Director: Mehmood
- IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
- Movie Genre: Comedy/Drama
- Release year: 1974
- Where to watch: Prime Video, Zee 5
In this Hindi comedy film, a compassionate rickshaw driver adopts a child and raises him alongside his own son. However, tragedy strikes when the adopted boy contracts polio, leaving him crippled. An intriguing aspect of this movie is that Mehmood crafted it to raise awareness about polio, a disease that had afflicted his son Macky Ali. “Kunwara Baap” marks Ali’s debut in the film industry.
10. Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke
- Cast: Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla, Kunal Khemu, Baby Ashrafa
- Director: Mahesh Bhatt
- IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
- Movie Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance
- Release year: 1993
- Where to watch: Prime Video
“Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke” stands as a timeless gem among classic Bollywood comedy films. It tells the story of two lovers brought together by destiny, who must care for the mischievous children of the man’s deceased sister while also defending their family from an outsider’s attempts to tear them apart. The movie’s excellence was further recognized with a National Film Award.
That concludes our list of old Hindi comedy movies. Do you have any favorites you’d like to share? Feel free to let us know in the comments below!