Five creatives spill the beans on their all-time favourite rendition of love

Name a Hollywood romcom from the early aughts and I can guarantee you, this writer has not only watched it, but memorised it scene-by-scene, too. Despite years of criticism against the perils of Hollywood’s age-old formulaic romantic tropes, the familiarity they breed cannot be discounted. At the end of a long day, where you’ve cosplayed the strong, independent woman, it’s the predictability of the conventional romcom that comes to the rescue. Read as five creatives reflect on love, relationships and how their favourite love stories have shaped who they are.

Nin Kala, 28 
Model and Interior Designer 

My favourite romcom isn’t a film but a feeling—Taylor Swift’s song 'Love Story' blended with Pretty Woman (1990). That mix of romance, fantasy, and vulnerability reflects how I love. For me, love is like a butterfly, as Lana Del Rey sings in Happiness is a Butterfly—it’s fragile, free, and never meant to be forced. Films like Me Before You (2016), Guzaarish (2010), Sadma (1983), and Tamasha (2015) shaped my understanding of love as unconditional and without boundaries. They taught me that loving freely is beautiful, but expecting the same love in return often leads to disappointment.

Agou Hengoulal Sitlhou, 25 
Content Creator 

My favourite romcom is Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009). The central character, Rebecca Bloomwood’s love for fashion runs so deep that she’s willing to go to great lengths to create a version of herself she believes in—even if that means pushing herself to the very last credit card. I relate to how she goes all in for what she wants. I’ve done the same whether it’s to make a shoot happen, or building something meaningful from nothing. Even when resources are scarce, I’ve found ways to make it work. The love story, too, is casual and organic—two people meeting without pressure, connecting slowly, and falling in love naturally. That’s something I deeply believe in and still hope for. I’m single, and I want love to arrive without force. At its core, the film reflects my journey: Loving fashion, dreaming big, taking risks, and trusting that things will fall into place. And honestly, all I want is for men to love couture, and of course, to always speak Prada.

Nayanika Chatterjee, 29 
Animator and Illustrator 

I absolutely love Roger Michell’s Notting Hill (1999). I’m not sure if I relate to it, but the warmth that surrounds the film is something that makes me a little hopeful, especially when it comes to dating in this world while struggling with app fatigue. I also blame the film for setting extremely high benchmarks, since I now expect my future partner to be just as charming and perfect as Hugh Grant. But no matter what, I come back to these romcoms because they feel familiar, heartwarming, and make me a tad bit less cynical about the dating world.

Pranjal Jain, 24 
Content Creator and Fashion Writer 

My favourite love story is the limited series A Suitable Boy (2020). Directed by Mira Nair, and based on Vikram Seth’s iconic novel, I see it as India’s answer to Tolstoy’s 19th century War and Peace. Set against the backdrop of religious turmoil, it revolves around Lata Mehra (played by Tanya Maniktala) who is trying to find a husband. After all her suitors, she meets someone who is honest and hard-working. Sometimes they don’t mesh well, but he’s consistent. He shows up and cares for her. After watching the series, I’ve become keen on finding someone who is consistent; who has a very gentle masculinity to them—someone that has a quiet but strong confidence and higher emotional intelligence than me. With Lata, you also learn that it’s okay to be “soft”. She is kind without giving too much of herself. She continues to be independent, and has her own thoughts and ideas.

Dikshant, 25 
Musician 

My favourite romcom is Hasee Toh Phasee (2014), starring Sidharth Malhotra and Parineeti Chopra. Whenever I need comfort, this is the film I return to. I relate to it because I believe love often finds you when you think you’re not ready for it, and yet it turns out to be exactly what you deserve and need. The film captures this feeling beautifully. It genuinely changed my perspective on love. It made me realise that love is not about grand gestures or material displays meant to impress someone; it is about being understood, seen, and accepted. It is about the small, seemingly insignificant things that quietly end up meaning everything.

All images: IMDb and Getty Images 

This article first appeared in Cosmopolitan India's January-February 2026 print edition.

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