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Ranbir Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra’s Anjaana Anjaani turns 15: How a film about ending your life helped me live life to the fullest

Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra-starrer Anjaana Anjaani has completed 15 years of its release. The film gave me a bucket list -- before it was a thing in India -- and how to live each day like it's your last.

Ranbir Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra's Anjaana Anjaani completes 15 years of its release, here's why it wasn't that bad

Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra‘s 2010 drama Anjaana Anjaani was largely bashed for its lack of depth and inspirations. But on the film’s 15th anniversary, I am here do defend the rom-com despite its flaws. Some films don’t flop because they are bad, they sink because they release at the wrong time or find their audience upon the digital release. I believe something similar happened with the Siddharth Anand directorial.

Two strangers meet on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco at midnight, both planning to die by suicide. The story then steers into the direction of truly living for the last 20 days of their lives, before meeting again at the same place and time to finish what they had started. The film’s detractors said Anjaana Anjaani slipped between genres and audience couldn’t understand what to do with it. However, watching it today, in 2025, doesn’t give away a confused feeling. Instead, Priyanka and Ranbir’s suicide-turned-love pact helped me live life to the fullest.

Candyfloss concept

Undeniably, the makers of Anjaana Anjaani took inspiration from The Bucket List and Girl on the Bridge. But, for the Indian audiences, stepping out to watch mainstream Bollywood romance, the film cannot be called a basic, traditional love story. Watching the concept of ‘Doing things before you die’ and living life to the fullest was intriguing to watch as a teenager. A blurry memory of going out with my cousins to watch this film still holds a special place in my heart. It gave me the idea to create my own bucket list — and mind you, that was not a thing a decade and a half back in India.

A still from Anjaana Anjaani

Sweet 2010s love

Initially, it was simply two people helping each other ‘live’. Their romance blossomed after many fights and awkward silences. To feel the sweet 2010 era love, similar to what we saw in films like I Hate Luv Storys and Break Ke Baad, was engaging for me. The candyfloss love that didn’t have two perfect lovers, but flawed characters who gave comfort in chaos.

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Everlasting music

The best part about the movie was its everlasting music. The entire playlist can compete with recent chartbusters. From “Tujhe Bhula Diya”,
“Hairat”, “Aas Paas Khuda”, to the title song, Vishal Shekhar gave us songs that outlived the film. The music had a youthful appeal that still resonates with me today. Ravi K Chandran’s splendid frames also added value to the film.

Oddball humour

There was a noticeable strange and awkward humour throughout the film that made it more intriguing to watch. From the casino scenes in Vegas to the opening bridge scene, there was a typical, mainstream Bollywood vibe to it. While the oddball jokes didn’t always land well, Anjaana Anjaani still felt charming whenever they did.

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A still from Anjaana Anjaani

Ranbir-Priyanka’s underrated act

Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra’s performances were the heart of this film. These weren’t their most celebrated roles, but deserved more love. Their underrated acts as Aakash and Kiara felt magnetic. I was able to fall in love with their characters for what they were, without changing a single thing about them. The climax of the duo ending up together makes you want to believe in fairytale romance, a rom-com without a villain.

Anjaana Anjaani was a warm hug, like having rajma chawal on a Sunday, like completing a trek, or eating your birthday cake for breakfast. The movie wasn’t a masterpiece, but also not something that deserved to be dismissed in a minute. With its own extra spice and drama, the supposed dud worked for me!

Navya Kharbanda

Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events. Experience & Professional Background Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include: The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam. Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah. Expertise & Focus Areas Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include: Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth. Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era. On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan. South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera. Authoritativeness & Trust Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More

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