Looking back at 2004, it becomes clear that the year wasn&rsquo;t just another blip in Bollywood&rsquo;s history, it was a creative pivot, a moment when commercial cinema, rooted storytelling and genre experiments collided to produce films that have aged better than many that came after.
Farah Khan burst onto the scene with a debut that was equal parts tribute and transformation. Main Hoon Na channelled the chaotic charm of Manmohan Desai, sprinkled with Prakash Mehra&rsquo;s flamboyance, and delivered a campus entertainer that still hums with nostalgia. Shah Rukh Khan, playing an action hero long before Pathaan and Jawan, balanced swagger with his signature goofy sweetness, especially in scenes opposite a chiffon-draped Sushmita Sen, moments that remain fan favourites.
At the other end of the spectrum was Swades, Ashutosh Gowariker&rsquo;s grounded, introspective drama that gave SRK one of his finest performances, a role that still towers above his filmography. Vishal Bhardwaj matched that energy with Maqbool, his haunting, atmospheric adaptation of Macbeth, fronted by Irrfan in a career-defining turn. Alongside Tabu, Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri, he forged a film that rewired gangster cinema with Shakespearean melancholy.
2004 also gave us Rajkumar Santoshi&rsquo;s gripping cop drama Khakee, a film many still consider his best. Akshay Kumar delivered a sharp, grey-tinged performance, Amitabh Bachchan opened the film with a sly, unforgettable scene, and even Tusshar Kapoor surprised with a solid act.
It was, undeniably, the year of Yashraj Films. Dhoom arrived as India&rsquo;s first true &ldquo;item&rdquo; movie fast bikes, louder thrills, and slick music, a formula perfected in its sequel. Veer Zaara offered star-crossed romance infused with cross-border longing, a theme that feels almost utopian in today&rsquo;s charged climate. And with Hum Tum, Kunal Kohli brought India its first polished rom-com free of the usual family clutter, carried effortlessly by Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji.

2004: The Year Bollywood Reinvented Its Magic

SRK, Irrfan, Farah Khan and Yashraj shaped a milestone year with films still defining cine

2004: The Year Bollywood Reinvented Its Magic

SRK, Irrfan, Farah Khan and Yashraj shaped a milestone year with films still defining cine

November 9, 2025 | 16:44 IST