The most iconic motorcycle rides in Indian cinema include Jai and Veeru singing “Yeh Dosti” in Sholay, Laila on her Royal Enfield in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, DJ and Karan in Rang De Basanti, Deepak chasing Shaalu in Masaan and Jordan with Heer in Rockstar. Each ride says something about friendship, freedom or love.
Motorcycles in Hindi films are rarely just transport. They stand for youth, rebellion, a love story about to begin or a friendship that will last. Sometimes they are there just for fun. This list looks at five rides we love, what each one means in its film, and where you can watch them in India today.
Iconic motorcycle rides in cinema: quick facts
| Film | Year | Riders | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sholay | 1975 | Jai and Veeru (Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra) | Ramesh Sippy |
| Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara | 2011 | Laila (Katrina Kaif) | Zoya Akhtar |
| Rang De Basanti | 2006 | DJ and Karan (Aamir Khan, Siddharth) | Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra |
| Masaan | 2015 | Deepak and Shaalu (Vicky Kaushal, Shweta Tripathi) | Neeraj Ghaywan |
| Rockstar | 2011 | Jordan and Heer (Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri) | Imtiaz Ali |
5 iconic motorcycle rides in cinema that we love
1. Jai and Veeru in Sholay (1975)
Sholay released on 15 August 1975 and is still one of the most loved films in Indian cinema. Ramesh Sippy directed it from a script by Salim-Javed, and the friendship between Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) and Veeru (Dharmendra) is at its heart.
The ride everyone remembers is the song “Yeh Dosti”, sung by Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey. The two friends ride together and sing about never breaking their bond. The sequence runs about five minutes and reportedly took 21 days to shoot. It has been called the ultimate friendship anthem, and it is still the first song many Indians think of when they talk about dosti.
Updated for 2026: a fully restored director’s cut, Sholay: The Final Cut, was released worldwide on 12 December 2025 to mark the film’s 50th anniversary. It runs 209 minutes and includes Sippy’s original ending and two scenes that were cut in 1975.
2. Laila in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)
Zoya Akhtar’s road trip film made a whole generation want to plan a holiday with friends. Katrina Kaif plays Laila, a free-spirited diving instructor the three friends meet in Spain.
Laila on her Royal Enfield is one of the coolest images in the film. There is also the scene where she rides after Arjun (Hrithik Roshan) to meet him and tell him how she feels. The film streams on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
3. DJ and Karan in Rang De Basanti (2006)
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s film follows a group of friends who act as freedom fighters in a film-within-the-film and slowly start to see their own country differently. Aamir Khan plays DJ and Siddharth plays Karan.
Their ride captures the gang’s carefree energy before the story turns serious. Later, after a peaceful protest is broken up by police force, the mood turns darker and Karan takes a drastic step against a corrupt minister. Rang De Basanti won the National Award for Best Popular Film and was India’s official Oscar entry. It streams on Netflix.
4. Deepak in Masaan (2015)
Neeraj Ghaywan’s debut film is set in Varanasi. Vicky Kaushal plays Deepak, who falls for Shaalu, played by Shweta Tripathi. Their story is one of the two main threads in the film.
In the song “Tu Kisi Rail Si”, Deepak follows Shaalu on his motorcycle, and their small, shy romance begins. Vicky Kaushal has said in interviews that in a town like Benaras, young lovers have to steal moments to express their feelings, and that is what this ride shows. Masaan won two prizes in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes in 2015.
5. Jordan in Rockstar (2011)
Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar tells the tragic love story of Jordan (Ranbir Kapoor) and Heer (Nargis Fakhri). A.R. Rahman’s music, Ranbir’s performance and the film’s locations made it a cult favourite. It won five Filmfare Awards, including Best Actor and Best Music Director.
The ride we love is Jordan and Heer on a motorcycle through a snowy winter setting, a short escape from everything that is about to go wrong. Parts of the film were shot in Prague and Kashmir. Rockstar was re-released in cinemas on 17 May 2024 and found a new audience.
Honourable mentions
A few more bike moments that almost made the list:
- Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani: Prem and Jenny’s light-hearted ride.
- Bareilly Ki Barfi: Pritam’s ride after he passes the “bad boy” test.
- Ek Villain: Ayesha’s bike moments in the film’s love story.
For more film lists, see our listicles and the latest from Bollywood.
Why motorcycle scenes work so well in Hindi films
A bike puts two people close together, out in the open, moving away from family and rules. That makes it perfect for friendship songs and first romances. From Sholay in the 1970s to Masaan in the 2010s, the bike has stayed a simple way to show young people trying to find their own space.
Frequently asked questions
Which song in Sholay has the famous bike ride?
“Yeh Dosti”, sung by Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey, shows Jai and Veeru riding together. It is one of the most famous friendship songs in Hindi cinema.
Which bike does Katrina Kaif ride in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara?
Katrina Kaif’s character Laila rides a Royal Enfield in the film.
Which song in Masaan shows Deepak on his motorcycle?
“Tu Kisi Rail Si”, sung by Swanand Kirkire with lyrics by Varun Grover, based on a poem by Dushyant Kumar.
Where can I watch Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Rang De Basanti?
ZNMD streams on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and Rang De Basanti streams on Netflix. More picks are in our movies section.
Sources: Wikipedia: Sholay, Wikipedia: Masaan, Wikipedia: Rockstar, Wikipedia: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
