Three friends, one car, Goa. So powerful is its imagery that millions can recognise the film in a heartbeat. With Dil Chahta Hai (2001), first-time director Farhan Akhtar did more than just reflect our Goa plans on screen, or influence popular hairstyles. In telling the coming-of-age story of three friends, he shunned over-the-top drama and dialoguebaazi, thus giving Bollywood a new cinematic language. Result? The Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna-starrer remains one of Hindi cinema’s cult films against which every buddy comedy is measured.   

Shankar Mahadevan and Farhan Akhtar. Pics/Bipin Kokate, AFP