You’ve probably finished reading our list of underappreciated Bollywood films and films that were well ahead of their time. Now is the time to spoil yourself with these incredible suspense movies Bollywood has to offer with twist endings that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
A psychological suspense movies Bollywood could offer could be described as nail-biting suspense that refuses to let you rest your mind and keeps you thinking hours after the film has ended. Bollywood has produced a slew of films in this genre, many of which are highly subjective. Suspense movies, Bollywood thrillers are primarily thrillers that focus on the psychology of their characters and their dysfunctional emotional states. They engross the audience, causing you to go on a roller-coaster of hypotheses while watching the movie and then pulling the rug out from under your feet when you least expect it.
Drishyam
Drishyam (2015), starring Ajay Devgan, Tabu, and Shriya Saran, is undoubtedly one of India’s most engrossing suspense movies Bollywood has to offer. It was directed by Nishikant Kamat and is a remake of the 2013 Malayalam film of the same name, starring Mohan Lal and Meena in the lead roles and was written by Jitu Joseph. Vijay Salgaocar and his family are at the center of the story, which takes place in Goa. Ajay Devgan plays Vijay Salgaokar, a middle-class cable operator. The film’s plot revolves around his wit and the lengths to which he would go to save his family. The film received positive reviews and is regarded as one of Ajay Devgan’s and Tabu’s best performances.
Kahaani
Kahaani (2012), starring Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chatterjee, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, one of the amazing suspense movies Bollywood has to offer. Kahaani is the story of Vidya Bagchi (Vidya Balan) and her quest for her missing husband. The movie is composed and directed by Sujoy Ghosh. The plot is intricate and gripping enough to keep you on the edge of your seat for the duration of the film. The film was praised for its cinematography, impeccable in portraying Kolkatta city’s depiction and plot, direction, and Vidya Balan’s strong performance. The film was nominated for five film fare awards.
Kaun
Kaun (1999), directed by Ram Gopal Varma and starring Urmila Matondkar and Manoj Bajpai, is one of the suspense movies Bollywood has to offer. It is also one of Urmila Matondkar’s most memorable roles in her acting career. Although an unknown serial killer is on the loose, the plot revolves around a young girl alone at home waiting for her parents to return. This 90-minute film is suspenseful and intriguing, with many plot twists and turns.
Darr
Darr is a romantic thriller film directed and developed by Yash Chopra, who is also a producer. Shahrukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, Sunny Deol, and Anupam Kher star in the film are regarded as Bollywood’s most notable thrillers. It’s one of the few films in Indian cinema in which the protagonist has a negative role. The story revolves around Shahrukh Khan’s character Rahul Mehra, obsessed with his college friend Kiran, played by Juhi Chawla. On the other hand, Kiran is utterly unaware of Rahul’s life. It is smitten with her fiancé, Sunny Deol’s Sunil Malhotra.
Trapped
Trapped (2017), directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, tells the story of Shaurya, played by Rajkumar Rao, who is locked in his newly rented apartment. Shaurya becomes completely cut off from the outside world without energy or any remaining charge on his mobile phone. He has no means of reconnection. Trapped is unlike most thrillers. It has very few characters, very few dialogues, and Rajkumar Rao’s solo performance takes up 90% of the film. Despite this, the movie keeps you fascinated, engrossed, and on the edge of your seat throughout. Trapped received critical acclaim and three film fare awards for its innovative idea.
Can Bollywood movies hold suspense?
The answer is YES! For decades, Bollywood films have followed a tried-and-true formula: boy meets girl, parents object to the union, family is torn apart, and then there’s a happy ending after a few battle scenes and dance routines. The films typically featured one or two big names, had catchy songs, and focused on broad themes like good versus evil or love against the odds.
In the past, some directors have attempted to crack this mold for small audiences.
The fact that a film like Vicky Donor has achieved mainstream success demonstrates how far Bollywood has progressed.
It’s not what you’d expect from Bollywood to see a film about sperm donation and infertility with unknown actors in the lead roles. Simply put, when people go to the movies on weekends, they don’t want to see a thriller or a heartfelt drama; they want to see something that makes them happy.
What are the best Bollywood suspense movies to keep you in a loop?
Ugly
Anurag Kashyap’s film Ugly is a neo-noir psychological thriller. When the 10-year-old daughter of an ambitious actor goes missing, the film begins to tell a terrible story of greed, indifference, and structural abuse. The film delves into the mother’s minds, who is suffering from depression, and the father and stepfather, who constantly try to outdo each other while still searching for their missing daughter. The film’s supporting characters all seem to have a hidden agenda.
No smoking
Anurag Kashyap’s film is about a man named K (John Abraham) who chooses to stop smoking to save his marriage. Baba Bengali (Paresh Rawal) promises to force him to leave, but the process is unlike anything K could have expected. The film is very surreal, and it will keep you engrossed throughout.
Ek Hasina Thi
Sriram Raghavan’s film tells a woman (Urmila Matondkar) who falls in love with a man (Saif Ali Khan) who frames her for a crime she didn’t commit. She then plots her vengeance by framing him. After the events that lead up to the climax, which is creepy to the heart, the lead female character’s psyche undergoes a dramatic shift.
Special 26
Under CBI police cover, a group of con artists executes raids to rob politicians and businessmen of their black money. Anupam Kher, Akshay Kumar, Jimmy Shergill, and Divya Dutta star in Special 26, which features some of our industry’s best actors. Don’t skip the film’s final and most crucial act!
NH10 (2015)
A couple is on a road trip when they experience a series of events involving a gangster who causes them to flee for their lives. With Anushka Sharma and Neil Bhoopalam in the lead roles, this revenge thriller is a must-see.
Johnny Gaddaar
The five crooks’ narrative with one item in common, a bag containing 2.5 crore rupees, is told by police officers. Johnny Gaddaar, directed by Sriram Raghavan, is a remarkable film. Neil Nitin Mukesh, Dharmendra, Rimi Sen, and Vinay Pathak star in the movie.
Gumnaam (1965)
After winning a contest, eight people find themselves in an eerie mansion on a remote island where they get murdered one after the other. The character of Mehmood as the butler steals the show in this fantastic suspense thriller. This is highly recommended.
