Bollywood isn’t just a mirror to Indian society — it’s also a dramatic reflection of our relationship with money. Whether it’s the rags-to-riches journey of Guru, the extravagance of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, or the financial betrayal in Badla, Indian cinema often paints compelling money stories.
But behind the songs and suspense, many of these stories reflect real financial biases, mistakes, and lessons. Let’s decode what Bollywood unintentionally teaches us about personal finance — and how we can avoid turning our financial lives into melodramatic scripts.
Ambition bias
In Guru, a small-town boy rises to become a business tycoon, driven by vision and unapologetic ambition. It’s an inspiring tale, but it also subtly romanticises risk-taking without boundaries.
Financial lesson: Ambition is powerful, but unchecked ambition without risk management can lead to downfall. Investors often get influenced by “success stories” and dive into high-risk ventures, penny stocks, or speculative real estate without due diligence. The confirmation bias also plays a role — we seek out stories of success and ignore the thousands of failures.
The smart move: Ambition needs to be balanced with a solid financial plan, risk tolerance, and diversification. Take inspiration, but not without preparation.
Retirement planning is must
Baghban is a heartbreaking tale of ageing parents left helpless by their children. Emotional? Yes. Rare? Unfortunately, no.
Financial lesson: Many parents in India still depend emotionally and financially on their children for retirement, assuming their sacrifices will be repaid. The film painfully highlights the dangers of not planning financially for retirement.
The bias: Normalcy bias — the belief that things will continue the way they always have — often keeps people from preparing for a future that could be very different.
The smart move: Build your retirement corpus early. Don’t assume your children will or should be your retirement plan. Independence is dignity.
Money without meaning
In Tamasha, Ved leads a dual life — one that pleases society and one that pleases his soul. Professionally successful but emotionally hollow.
Financial lesson: Many of us chase high-paying jobs, materialistic success, or degrees purely for social acceptance, often side-lining what truly brings fulfilment. This leads to lifestyle inflation — the tendency to increase spending as income increases, often without increased happiness.
The bias: Hedonic adaptation — we quickly get used to our lifestyle upgrades, and they no longer bring joy, just more expenses.
The smart move: Align your money with your meaning. Budget for joy, not just status. Financial planning isn’t just about returns, it’s about relevance.
Secrets and greed
Badla is a murder mystery unravelling a hidden affair, betrayal, and cover-ups — and underlying it all, greed.
Financial lesson: We all know someone who’s fallen for a “shortcut” to wealth — a Ponzi scheme, an unregulated investment, or a deal “too good to be true”. Greed clouds judgment, especially when urgency or secrecy is involved. And once you’re in, loss aversion keeps you trapped, unwilling to accept the mistake.
The smart move: Stay transparent — with your spouse, your advisor, and yourself. Avoid anything that promises “guaranteed high returns”. In finance, slow and steady isn’t boring — it’s sustainable.
Wedding or event?
Indian weddings are not just events; they are full-blown financial productions. From grand venues to designer lehengas, families often spend years of savings — or loans — on a few days of celebration. Bollywood movies like Band, Baaja, Baarat, among others have given a glimpse of the big fat Indian wedding.
Financial lesson: Cultural pressure often drives overspending. The social comparison bias (also known as “keeping up with the Joshis”) can ruin years of disciplined saving.
The smart move: Set a budget based on your comfort, not comparison. A memorable wedding doesn’t need to be a financially devastating one. Spend smartly, and save the real show for your life ahead.
Budgeting dreams
Gully Boy is a powerful story of a boy from Mumbai slums who dreams beyond his circumstances. It’s a beautiful example of how financial constraints don’t have to limit ambition — but they do need planning.
Financial lesson: Dreams are valid, but they’re stronger when backed by discipline. Even modest income can create wealth with the right habits: budgeting, saving early, avoiding debt traps.
The smart move: Don’t wait for a “better job” to start investing. The best time to start was yesterday. The next best time is today.
Unintentional lessons
Bollywood may not be a financial literacy classroom, but its stories reflect our deepest money-related fears, beliefs, and hopes. From the emotional pressure to spend, to the dreams of success, to the burden of financial dependence — it’s all there, in technicolour. But unlike movies, our financial story doesn’t get a second take. So maybe it’s time to become the director of your own financial script — one that doesn’t just end in wealth, but in wisdom.
