Romance plays a major role in nearly all Bollywood films. Despite this preoccupation with romantic love, the family is still the predominant moral force and any illicit romance is discouraged.

Unlike western cinema where the kiss is frequently a symbol of love, it is rarely seen in Indian films. Although the censor’s ban on kissing was lifted in the 1980s, the industry has maintained a self-imposed ban, with only a few recent exceptions. The more sensual and erotic aspects of love are depicted instead in the song and dance sequences. These occur in a fantasy world where anything is possible, taking them away from the moral world of the main narrative.

This selection of posters brings together some of Indian cinema’s great old romantic couples such as Raj Kapoor and Nargis (Awara, Barsaat) as well as Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman (Kagaz ke Phool, Pyassa). In simple, bold, images their star status and the passionate intensity of their relationships is conveyed.