Gen Z and the Rise of Old-School Romance: Breaking the Stereotypes Through Cinema
In recent months, the Indian box office has witnessed a surprising yet heartwarming trend: the massive success of deeply emotional romantic dramas—Sanam Teri Kasam (2016), Laila Majnu (2018), and the newly released Saiyaara (2025). What’s even more astonishing is that these films—either re-releases or spiritual successors—are finding their most passionate audience in Gen Z, a generation often typecast as impatient, emotionally detached, and relationship-averse.
These unexpected box-office waves and emotional fan reactions offer a powerful counter-narrative. Gen Z is not what mainstream culture often makes them out to be. In fact, they might be the most emotionally attuned and love-seeking generation of modern times.
The Stereotype vs. Reality
Gen Z is frequently depicted as a generation driven by instant gratification. The popular perception suggests they:
- Jump between relationships quickly,
- Prefer casual flings over commitment,
- Are obsessed with social media validation,
- Lack emotional depth or patience,
- Are easily distracted and disconnected from long-form content.
But the growing popularity of emotionally intense romantic films tells a different story. Films like Sanam Teri Kasam and Laila Majnu were initially moderate performers. Years later, they’ve not only found cult status but also a rebirth in the hearts of Gen Z through OTT, social media, and now theatrical re-releases. Saiyaara, a fresh release in the same genre, is further proof that the youth today crave more than just reels, memes, and hookups.
Why These Films Resonate
1. Longing for Depth in a Shallow World
In an age where dating apps promote speed over substance and breakups happen via text, films that focus on unconditional, painful, soulful love strike a chord. Gen Z is experiencing love in fragmented ways—likes, swipes, and ghosting. But deep down, they’re yearning for authentic emotional connection.
This is why stories like Laila Majnu, where the lover spirals into poetic madness, or Sanam Teri Kasam, where love transcends death, resonate so powerfully. Saiyaara, with its heartbreak narrative and emotionally charged music, continues that tradition—and finds a willing, tear-filled audience.
2. Emotional Expression Is No Longer Taboo
Gen Z has grown up in a world that encourages emotional openness. Mental health discourse, therapy normalization, and vulnerability on social platforms have empowered them to embrace their emotions. Crying, longing, or loving too much isn’t “uncool” for them—it’s authentic.
Videos of young men and women openly weeping in theatres, creating tribute reels, or watching romantic scenes while hooked to IV drips may look “cringe” to some—but they reveal a generational shift in emotional courage.
3. Old-School Love as Rebellion
Ironically, embracing classic, intense romance is a rebellious act today. In a world where detachment and casualness are normal, wanting a love that consumes, sacrifices, and endures is revolutionary. Gen Z is reviving what millennials and Gen X dismissed as “too dramatic.”
By embracing re-releases like Sanam Teri Kasam, Gen Z is saying: “We want a love that hurts, lasts, and matters.”
The Role of Music and Aesthetics
Music plays a massive role in this shift. Gen Z is deeply influenced by soundtracks that evoke longing, melancholy, and nostalgia. The songs of Sanam Teri Kasam like Tera Chehra or Haal-e-Dil, or Laila Majnu’s Tum and Aahista are among the most used in Instagram reels and aesthetic edits—even years after release.
The Saiyaara soundtrack is already trending, despite being a new entrant. Gen Z doesn’t just “listen” to music—they live in it. Emotional music becomes a refuge, a reflection, and a language for their inner world.
Attention Span Is a Myth (Sometimes)
Another myth is that Gen Z has no patience for long-form storytelling. While it’s true that short-form content dominates online platforms, it doesn’t mean they cannot engage deeply. Films like Laila Majnu or Saiyaara are slow burns, often with poetic dialogues and lingering scenes.
Yet, Gen Z sits through them, engages with them, and returns to them. They don’t resist deep storytelling—they resist superficiality.
Cinematic Healing in an Anxious World
Post-pandemic anxiety, social media pressures, economic instability, and an uncertain future have made Gen Z one of the most emotionally complex generations. Films that offer catharsis—especially through tragic or eternal love—serve as both escape and therapy.
They allow viewers to process their own heartbreaks, their yearning, and their hopes for love in a world that often feels emotionally bankrupt.
Love Beyond Logic
The recurring theme in all these films is love that defies logic, time, and reason. This deeply appeals to a generation raised in cynicism. In a world full of filters and facades, they crave rawness.
They relate to characters who:
- Fall in love once and never again,
- Fight societal norms for love,
- Choose emotional truth over practical outcomes.
They don’t just want to watch love stories. They want to believe in them.
What This Trend Means for Cinema and Culture
The success of these films is not a one-off trend. It signals:
- A creative opportunity for filmmakers to return to emotionally rich narratives.
- A cultural correction in how we talk about Gen Z—as emotionally immature or love-averse.
- A revival of poetic language, tragic endings, and soulful expressions in mainstream media.
Conclusion: Time to Rethink Gen Z
The revival and success of Sanam Teri Kasam, Laila Majnu, and Saiyaara offer an important cultural insight:
Gen Z is not running from love—they are running towards it.
They may live in a fast world, but they long for timeless connections. They may appear distracted, but they are deeply introspective. They may be tech-savvy, but their hearts beat to age-old rhythms of longing and loyalty.
It’s time we stopped viewing Gen Z through the lens of superficial assumptions. If cinema is a mirror to the soul of a generation, then today’s box-office and social media reactions are screaming one truth loud and clear:
Gen Z wants love—the kind that scars, stays, and sings.
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