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Bollywood never fails to serve us something more delicious than romance, more nostalgic than drama, and more powerful than any plot twist. It’s food, and it has a whole genre in itself in Hindi cinema. From stainless steel dabbas that carry secret love notes to the crazy food truck idea that changes life, food in Hindi cinema has often been the real hero. Through the leap of love, food has always been a blessing in disguise, mending relationships, and bending narratives. Because let’s be honest: in India, emotions are best expressed not through words, but through a well-cooked meal. So, here’s raising a toast (and a spoon) to those moments when food wasn’t just a slip-in element, but the soul behind the stories. Shivangi Sharma, Chief Entertainment Officer at Excitel, curates iconic films where food became the heart and soul of the story. (Image: IMDb) The Lunchbox (2013): Love Served in Dabbas (Image: IMDb) How’s the world devoid of DMs and dating apps? What if love blooms over misdelivered dabba lunches? Well, this gem hovers around these questions. Ila’s (Nimrat Kaur) dabbas meant for her husband somehow finds Saajan Fernandes (Irrfan Khan). The mistake soon brews into a lovely exchange of delicious food, notes, and bonding. The wafting aroma of Ila’s cooking wasn’t just food; it was connection, comfort, and communication. On top of that there’s that silence through the eyes of Irrfan. What a perfect recipe that reminds us that sometimes, the way to the heart truly is through the stomach. (Image: IMDb) Chef (2017): Recipes, Road, and Relationships (Image: IMDb) There are only a handful of comeback stories guided by flavor, not fame. Chef is one such story of a disgraced chef. When Roshan Kalra (Saif Ali Khan) lost his culinary spark, he looked back at his hometown. A crazy food truck idea sparked off! Hitting the road in a food truck, he didn’t just serve delicious dishes, he made sure to mend his relationship with his loved ones. Each plate became therapy; each hurdle, a lesson in rediscovering joy. Food wasn’t just an aesthetic allegory; it was an element of love for life. (Image: IMDb) Stanley Ka Dabba (2011): The Tiffin tells the Story (Image: IMDb) Childhood and food have one thing in common: They put a smile whenever we talk about them. This one tugged at every heartstring of innocence and appetite. The story of Stanley’s missing lunchbox became a symbol of innocence, pride, and quiet resilience. Every scene spotlight on delicious dishes and the kindness behind the food. Yet, when it’s time for the climax, it completely shatters you to the core. It’s the kind of film that makes you rethink the little blessings (and delicious food) you are fortunate to have. (Image: IMDb)
