Top 10 Financial Tips from Bollywood Movies

You can tie your investments and Personal Finance concerns to almost anything you do daily, so Investing need not always be uninteresting. Continuous financial advice comes your way in different forms, and taking them up with an open mind helps in the longer run. The same applies to Bollywood movies. While these movies feature a lot of drama with top-class entertainment, they also teach some amazing financial lessons. And this has been a trend for decades of movie creation. In this article, let's discuss the financial lessons that may be drawn from Bollywood films and their discourse.

Financial Lessons from Bollywood Movies

Bollywood is a sizable Industry that annually produces dozens of films. Whether for mere entertainment or to learn some hard lessons of life, this industry has never stepped back from providing us value. So, when it comes to money, Bollywood films on finance can also teach us a few things.

1. Gharaonda - Research Well Before You Invest

Sudip (Amol Palekar) and Chhaya (Zarina Wahab), a couple in love, work hard and save money to purchase a home. Still, their aspirations are dashed when they discover the builder is a crook and disappears with their money. Investors lose their money as a result of the building project being abandoned. The movie demonstrates why it's important to:

• Research Real Estate developers before entrusting them with your money
• Be prepared for unforeseen circumstances

2. Avtaar - Plan Your retirement Well

When an accident leaves Avtaar Kishen (Rajesh Khanna) partially crippled, he struggles to provide for his three children with a good education. Avatar and his wife Radha (Shabana Azmi), who spent everything on their sons' education and marriage, financially rely on them. Nevertheless, their kids do not look after them; in fact, one of them even has the house he purchased with his life savings registered in the name of his wife. Rashid Ahmed, an acquaintance of Avtaar (A.K. Hangal), has the same issue.

The movie emphasises:

• Using your nest fund for other things may make retirement a misery
• Make proper investments in retirement plans a priority
• Make investments such that you do not have to depend financially on others during your old age

3. Judaai - Value Relationships as Much as You Value Money

Kajal (Sridevi), the wife of Raj (Anil Kapoor), is dissatisfied with the meagre wage he receives and longs to live a life of luxury. Jahnvi (Urmila Matondkar), a wealthy woman who falls in love with Raj, promises Kajal Rs. 2 crores in exchange for allowing her to wed Raj. Kajal accepts the opportunity and begins pursuing her ideal life. Yet she quickly realises her error and expresses regret. It teaches us that:

• Relationships are just as important as money
• No amount of wealth can replace your loved ones

4. Khosla ka Ghosla - Think Well Before Investing in Real Estate

Anupam Kher's portrayal of Kamal Kishore Khosla, whose Land plot is taken by builder Khurana (Boman Irani), is a funny and charming tale. Then, with the aid of theatre professionals, Parvin Dabas and Ranvir Shorey, two of Khosla's sons, sell Khurana a sizable plot of land that belongs to the government. They use the money they receive to repurchase their land parcel from the cunning Khurana. The movie emphasises the value of:

• Protecting your property from land speculators
• Thoroughly inspecting property papers before purchasing.

5. Baghban - Invest to be Financially Independent Post-Retirement

Another movie examined the issues faced by retirees who are financially dependent on their children. Raj (Amitabh Bachchan) and his wife Pooja (Hema Malini) are forced to live apart after 40 years of marriage because their kids don't want to support both of them. They undergo hardship and shame while cohabitating with their kids before eventually separating from them to live alone. Thankfully for the retirees, Raj's book becomes a hit, allowing him to support his wife and themselves. The movie teaches us:

• You need better financial investments in retirement plans
• Making money is about skills as well as determination

6. Ta Ra Rum Pum - Savings are Important

Rajveer Singh (Saif Ali Khan), a professional car racer, experiences hard circumstances after an accident ends his career. Despite their mounting debt, he and his wife cannot find employment. The family downsizes their home and makes considerable savings. Tragically, Rajveer's child ends up in the hospital, requiring him to return to the racetrack. Rajveer succeeds in the race and can get his son's medical care. The movie stressed the value of:

• Saving money for unforeseen expenses
• Prioritising the savings and wealth accordingly for the future

7. Hum Saath Saath Hain - Future Planning is Essential for Everyone

Hum Saath Saath Hain is the only movie from the 1990s that deals with sibling love. A business family led by Ram Kishen and Mamta includes three sons. When it's time for the adopted eldest son to run the business, the mother feels uneasy about doing so. Afterwards, he is told to leave so the biological sons can take his place. The movie teaches us that:

• Although sibling ties might sometimes be stronger than water, you should still plan for the future
• Everyone can experience a loss of employment, a physical disability following an accident, a stock Market crisis, losing their Inheritance portion, etc. We must be ready for these unpleasant situations

8. Dil Dhadakne Do - Bes an Optimistic investor and Learn to be Financially Independent

Dil Dhadakne Do centres on the brother-sister duo of Ayesha and Kabir Mehra while spotlighting the dysfunctional Punjabi family. No matter what happens in their family, the siblings always have each other's backs. From the duo, we can learn the following:

• Ayesha is a role model for financial success since she started her own business by selling her jewellery and became financially independent without the help of her family
• Kabir, who is always there for her, never fails to congratulate her on a job well done
• Ayesha is a prime example of an optimistic investor who manages her funds, makes investments in her business, and turns it into a profitable endeavour

9. Baazigar - Learn to Accept Failures

"Kabhi kabhi kuch jeetne ke liye kuch harna bhi padta hai, aur haar kar jeetnay wale ko baazigar kehte hain". This debate from Baazigar teaches us a lesson related to Salman Khan's dialogue about commitment. Here, Shahrukh explains:

• Investing is only sometimes about success, and you may have a few setbacks in the form of losses
• Be the baazigar and dare to accept failure along the way to wealth development. Although the path will inevitably be challenging, the final goal is what counts

10. Lagaan - Plan your Taxes Well for Better Financial Benefits

In the film Lagaan, Amir Khan played the role of Bhuvan, a responsible, upbeat, and self-assured person who opposed paying double taxes to the British. Bhuvan eventually defeated the Britishers after overcoming his fear of learning and playing cricket. This film's every element has to work together flawlessly for it to become a hit. From this movie, we get the following financial lessons:

• It would be best to focus on every facet of your financial life, including taxes
• You can prevent yourself from paying a significant amount of tax each year if you choose the appropriate investments and use various IT Act tax-saving provisions
• The finest Investment plan for tax benefits include ELSS, term plan, health plans, ULIP-based investment plans, and others that provide you with sizable yearly tax benefits

Conclusion

A picture speaks a thousand words! Many useful investing lessons can be learned from the outside investing world. Do keep in mind that while some of the information you read may not be applicable right now, as you amass more and more of it, it compounds and makes you a better trader. So, the next time you finish watching a movie, reflect on what you took away from it. Have an open mind and horizon; every film contains lessons that can be imparted.