Dear Zindagi: 5 Life Lessons you can learn from this Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt starrer

Dr Khan "Jug" with Kaira

Movies are not just a source of entertainment; if made right, they can teach you to live your life. Some films are able to connect to the audience on a much deeper level than others and it's these movies that leave an impact on our lives and mindset.

Dear Zindagi is one such beautiful film made by Gauri Shinde, starring Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan in the lead roles, which addresses many problems that Indian youth faces while growing up, living and trying to make their name in the society. The major issue that it focuses on is parent's behaviour towards their children and the issues that it creates.

1. Let go of your past

In the movie, Kaira (Alia) has had a difficult childhood where she wanted her parents to love her, understand her and spend time with her which they didn't do. These memories haunted Kaira when she was faced with difficult choices and she was not able to make the right decisions because she was afraid she might get hurt again. Her therapist, Dr Khan (Shah Rukh) advises her to let go of her past and to live in present, so she can create a beautiful future for herself. 

Sometimes, we dwell too much on the past and our guilt and let it influence our choices without even realizing it. And this guilt from our past ultimately ruins our future.

Don't let your past blackmail your present into ruining a beautiful future.

2. Express your emotions freely

Have you ever struggled to express your emotions when in dire need of support?

Here, Dr Khan addresses the people who can't express their emotions in front of other people, people who care about them and love them. Often times, people who love you become too possessive and forget that you have your own individuality. They go well beyond the limit to protect you from the cold world that lies outside. They unknowingly start treating you as children which messes you up and you never really learn to express your feelings, neither your sorrow nor the joy. 

These conditioned emotions create problems when you grow up. You hold on to them and assess your current relationships and situations based on those fears and anxieties.

As Jug said: Agar khulkr ro nhi paogi, toh khul kr hasogi kaise? (If you cannot cry freely, how will you learn to express your joy freely?)

3. Don't be too hard on yourself

There are several sequences in the movies when Kaira thinks of herself as useful, purposeless and lost.

Self-criticism can be your single greatest obstacle in the path to happiness. Accept the phase you're going through in your life and cherish these moments. Know that everything is going to be alright and don't be too hard on yourself.

4. Don’t choose the tough path just because you have to.

We're often forced to believe that if we are to achieve anything in our life, we must go through hardships, and unless we go through the difficult road, we can not achieve the ultimate goal. But this is not always true. You should choose a path you're comfortable with, even if that's the easy one

5. Keep your good memories close.

We always think about the bad things that have happened to us in the past and stay depressed about it. But how often do we revisit the good things that have happened to us in the past? 

Good memories make us smile, blush and feel happy about our life and ourselves. Keep your good memories close. Treasure them; and if you don't have any, create some.

Dear Zindagi was a different approach to storytelling which is becoming more and more scarce in Bollywood. Where everyone just wants to make failed remakes of old blockbusters. Gauri Shinde came in with a beautiful movie full of messages and lessons for you to be happy. 

Shah Rukh Khan will be seen in Pathan, which he reportedly charged ₹100 crores for, and Alia Bhatt will now be seen in Gangubai Kathiawadi.