This 15 August Long Weekend, Take 9 Bollywood-Inspired Road Trips from Mumbai & Pune

Bollywood has often used Maharashtra’s highways, coastal routes, and hill roads as the backdrop for some of its most loved films. From cult classics to recent hits, these journeys have made certain roads iconic for movie fans.

Pune to Lavasa – Bodyguard (2011)

Lavasa, a planned hill city near Pune, has been a backdrop in multiple Bollywood scenes, including Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor’s Bodyguard. The film’s romantic sequences captured Lavasa’s colourful buildings, lakeside promenade, and European-style streets. The drive from Pune is short, just about 60 kilometres, but scenic, with winding roads and views of hills and valleys. Travellers often stop here for boating, cycling, or simply walking along the waterfront, just like in the movies.

Mumbai to Ladakh – 3 Idiots (2009)

The final moments of 3 Idiots were filmed at Ladakh’s Pangong Lake, but for many bikers and road trip lovers, the journey begins in Mumbai. This route is long, crossing several states and landscapes, but the reward is unmatched, mountain passes, deep valleys, and the surreal beauty of Ladakh’s lakes and deserts. The film’s emotional reunion scene at Pangong turned the location into a bucket-list destination, and now many travellers dream of taking the same adventure on two wheels.

Mumbai to Jaipur – Shuddh Desi Romance (2013)

Jaipur’s vibrant pink buildings, street markets, and grand forts have always been a favourite for filmmakers. In Shuddh Desi Romance, the city’s charm adds colour to the film’s love story. The drive from Mumbai to Jaipur takes you through changing scenery, from Maharashtra’s plains to Rajasthan’s desert roads. Many travellers combine this trip with short detours to Udaipur or Pushkar, but Jaipur itself remains the main draw for its food, history, and architecture.

Pune to Mahabaleshwar – Raja Hindustani (1996)

This classic 90s romance, starring Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor, featured Mahabaleshwar’s scenic backdrop. The hill station is famous for its strawberry farms, mist-covered hills, and viewpoints overlooking deep valleys. The drive from Pune takes you through winding ghats with thick forests on both sides, making it a peaceful weekend escape. Many visitors still connect the destination with old Bollywood charm, just like in the film’s love sequences.

Ratlam, Kota, and Manali, Jab We Met (2007)

This romantic drama begins in the bustling city of Mumbai. The opening scenes capture the lively environment of local trains and busy railway stations, which are an important part of Maharashtra’s daily life. While the film’s journey eventually moves to places like Ratlam, Kota, and Manali, its early sequences set the tone for a story about unexpected travel and chance encounters. The Mumbai scenes also serve as a reminder of how many iconic Bollywood journeys begin in the heart of Maharashtra, even if the destination is far away.

Mumbai–Goa, Dil Chahta Hai (2001)

Dil Chahta Hai changed the way Bollywood portrayed road trips. The film follows three friends, Akash (Aamir Khan), Sid (Akshaye Khanna), and Sameer (Saif Ali Khan), as they set out from Mumbai on a road trip to Goa. The drive is shown through scenic parts of Maharashtra, passing through Satara and Belgaum before ending at the now-famous Chapora Fort in Goa. The open roads, coastal breeze, and carefree vibe in the film made the Mumbai–Goa trip a must-do for young travellers. After its release, many fans tried to recreate the trip exactly as shown in the movie, stopping at small towns and taking the coastal highway. The route has since become a classic choice for road trip lovers.

Mumbai–Goa, Madgaon Express (2024)

This comedy adventure film starring Divyenndu, Pratik Gandhi, Avinash Tiwary is about three childhood friends who plan a trip to Goa, only for everything to go hilariously wrong along the way. Much of the journey captures the spirit of the Mumbai–Goa drive, a route that has been a favourite in road trip films for decades. Passing through Maharashtra’s Konkan belt, the film shows winding highways, coastal views, and small villages, bringing back the nostalgia of older road trip movies. While the focus is on humour, the route itself plays a big part in giving the film its lively and energetic feel.

Mumbai to Goa, Dear Zindagi (2016)

Starring Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan, Dear Zindagi begins in Mumbai and then moves to Goa, where much of the story unfolds. The drive from Mumbai to Goa in the film showcases the beauty of the Konkan region, curved roads, green hills, coconut trees, and glimpses of the sea. The cinematography captures the slow, relaxing vibe of a coastal road trip, making the journey feel like an important part of the film. For many viewers, the travel scenes became as memorable as the therapy sessions and life lessons shown in the story.

Mumbai to Manali – Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)

In this popular film, Ranbir Kapoor’s character, Bunny, sets out on a trip to the snow-covered mountains of Himachal Pradesh. While most of the film’s travel scenes are set in Manali, the journey begins in Mumbai, giving it a Maharashtra starting point. The contrast between the city life of Mumbai and the natural beauty of the mountains makes the trip stand out even more. The film’s travel portions, especially the scenes of trekking, camping, and enjoying scenic viewpoints, inspired many young travellers to plan similar journeys starting from Mumbai.