One festival, more stories — can you name the films with these iconic Karwa Chauth moments?

Karwa Chauth — a festival that honours love, commitment and marital devotion — has often found itself at the crossroads of tradition and modernity. Labelled ‘regressive’ by some, the festival has nonetheless endured, evolving and growing stronger over the time. A key contributor to its mainstream popularity? Bollywood.

Over the decades, Bollywood films have not only celebrated the visual and emotional splendour of Karwa Chauth but have also cleverly used it as a narrative device. These sequences have often gone beyond showcasing mere ritual — they’ve introduced unexpected twists, exposed hidden truths, and triggered emotional climaxes. This Karwa Chauth, let’s revisit some iconic scenes where this sacred fast became a turning point in the story.

Simran, chaand nikal gaya…

The most iconic Karwa Chauth scene in Hindi films has got to be the one in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). On the night of the Karwa Chauth, Simran (Kajol), engaged to Kuljeet (Parmeet Sethi) secretly fasts for Raj (Shah Rukh Khan). As she pretends to faint, Raj, concerned and emotional, offers her water that she drinks winking at him on her inventiveness while others look concerned. The soulful Ghar Aaja Pardesi plays in the background. The scene blends cultural ritual with emotional intensity, subtly hinting at Simran’s true feelings. Raj and Simran sharing a stolen moment over a shared meal, little later — it was sentimentality wrapped in ritual, and it marked a shift in their relationship that would eventually lead to rebellion and reunion.

Fasting, faithfulness & the family dog

In a more chaotic turn, Biwi No. 1 (1999) — uses Karwa Chauth to unravel infidelity. Here, the family dog — quite literally — becomes the messenger of truth. Pooja (Karisma Kapoor) is led by the family dog to Rupali’s (Sushmita Sen) house. There she sees her husband Prem (Salman Khan) celebrating Karwa Chauth with Rupali. As the layers of deception peel away, the scene serves as a shocking turning point. The festival becomes the backdrop for a dramatic reveal, exposing Salman Khan’s double life and setting the stage for the ultimate confrontation.

Reuniting through rituals

In Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) Karwa Chauth isn’t just a romantic gesture, it becomes a symbolic bridge between estranged family members. As Rohan (Hrithik Roshan), the youngest son, reconnects with his bhabhi (Kajol), he asks her about the sargi, the traditional pre-dawn meal. The film transitions into the grand song Bole Chudiyan, which becomes a dreamlike sequence of togetherness and nostalgia. The Karwa Chauth celebration plants the emotional seed for reconciliation, nudging the fractured family toward healing and reunion.

Love, loyalty and heartbreak

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) delivers perhaps the most visually extravagant and emotionally layered Karwa Chauth scene. As Chand Chhupa Badal Mein plays, Nandini (Aishwarya Rai) is celebrating with her in-laws, with her heart still tied to her former lover (Salman Khan), even though she’s now married to Vanraj (Ajay Devgn). The festival becomes a moment of intense inner conflict. As she refuses to look at Vanraj during the fast-breaking ritual, he realises the depth of her unresolved love, and selflessly decides to reunite her with her past. It’s a powerful plot pivot — one that redefines love as sacrifice.

From romance and sacrifice to betrayal and reconciliation, Karwa Chauth scenes in Bollywood have served as much more than cultural showcases. They’ve been emotional catalysts, narrative tools, and transformative moments that deepen characters and change story arcs.

These scenes reflect the festival’s evolving role in modern India — no longer just about rituals, but about relationships in all their complexity. And if Bollywood has taught us anything, it’s that even beneath the most traditional customs, there’s room for surprise, drama, and heart.

Which Karwa Chauth scene has been your favourite?

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