7 Life Lessons You Can Take Away From Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt's 'Dear Zindagi'

Gauri Shinde’s ' Dear Zindagi ,' released on November 25, 2016, continues to warm hearts with its gentle wisdom and refreshing take on life. Through Alia Bhatt’s vulnerable journey and Shah Rukh Khan’s calm, grounded guidance, the film drops several life lessons that remain just as relevant today. Here are seven reminders the film beautifully leaves us with.

1. Learn To Express
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SRK’s Jehangir Khan delivers one of the film’s most memorable lines: “Tum agar khul ke ro nahi sakogi, toh khul kar hass kaise paogi?” The message is simple, bottling up emotions only weighs us down. Speak, share, release. Expression is the first step toward healing.

2. Stop Searching for the ‘Perfect’ Partner
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The movie gently breaks the myth of finding a flawless partner. Instead, it encourages choosing someone real, compatible, and comforting, because perfection is a trap, not a promise.

3. Don’t Judge Your Parents
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Dear Zindagi reminds us that parents, too, are human. They make mistakes, carry their own wounds, and sometimes don’t know better. Judging them harshly only distances us from understanding their side of the story.

4. Don’t Stay in a Hurtful Relationship
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A relationship is meant to feel safe, not suffocating. The film emphasizes the courage it takes to walk away when love starts hurting more than healing.

5. Learn To Let Go
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Holding on to old pain only steals the joy of new beginnings. The film encourages us to stop letting our past dictate our future, letting go is not losing, it’s choosing yourself.

6. Embrace Imperfection
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Life doesn't need to be picture-perfect. Neither do we. Accepting our quirks, chaos, and flaws opens the door to real happiness. Self-acceptance isn’t a destination; it’s a daily practice.

7. Don’t Fear Failure
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Mistakes don’t define us, they refine us. 'Dear Zindagi' beautifully teaches that every setback is an invitation to grow. Failure isn’t the end; it’s the curve that redirects us toward something better.

'Dear Zindagi' isn’t just a film, it’s a gentle reminder to live with a little more honesty, softness, and courage. Its lessons encourage us to heal at our own pace, choose what feels right, and embrace life with an open heart. In the end, the movie teaches us that when we understand ourselves better, everything else begins to make sense.