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What Are Bollywood Item Songs?

Item songs, also known as item numbers, emerged in mainstream Bollywood in the ‘80s. Since then, they have become an important part of Hindi films. While these songs are not popular with the older generation, youth have taken a liking to these catchy songs.

Typically, a Bollywood item song is accompanied by a dance sequence where an actress, who's dressed in revealing attire, does hypnotic dance moves. Item songs involve complex choreography, lyrical absurdity, and and whimsical, theatrical visuals.

In the past, these songs were often performed by a sidekick in the movie. Now, it's popular for Bollywood lead actresses to perform these visually stunning dance moves in item songs.

The list below showcases a diverse number of item songs from Bollywood movies. The actress performing in the item song and the movie in which the song appear beside the song titles. If you like all things Bollywood, then you will definitely want to voice your views and opinions. Feel free to say it all in the comments section.

Top 10 Best Bollywood Item Songs

1. “Dilbar” by Nora Fateh—Satyameva Jayate
2. “Chamma Chamma” by Eli Avram—Fraud Saiyaan
3. “Ek Do Teen” by Jacqueline Fernandez—Baghi 2
4. “Chikni Chameli” by Katrina Kaif—Agneepath
5. “Sheila Ki Jawani" by Katrina Kaif—Tees Maar Khan
6. “Husn Parcham” by Katrina Kaif—Zero
7. “Haseeno Ka Deewana” by Urvashi Rautela—Kaabil
8. “Gali Gali” by Mouni Roy—KGF: Chapter 1
9. “Pink Lips” by Sunny Leone—Hate Story 2
10. “Hello Hello” by Malaika Arora—Pataakha

Popularity of Item Songs in Bollywood

Most of the time, item songs do not have any relevance to the plot or the events that are unfolding in the film. These songs are purely for entertainment value. These songs, which were once associated with raunchy Bollywood dance songs in the 80s, have now become a staple in mainstream Bollywood movies. In fact, a number of item songs have become chartbusters. Post 2000, a number of foreign actresses working in Bollywood have performed sizzling item songs. Every commercial Hindi film incorporates an item song to add glitz, glamour, sensuality to the film. These songs have become popular for their absurdly provocative lyrics, mystical beats, and jaw-dropping dance moves.

Best Bollywood Item Songs #11-20

11. “I Wanna Tera Ishq” by Urvashi Rautela—Great Grand Masti

12. “Maee Re” by Scarlett Wilson—Dassehra

13. “Laila Mein Laila” by Sunny Leone—Raees

14. “Rock the Party” by Nora Fatehi—Rocky Handsome

15. “Kamariya” by Nora Fatehi—Stree

16. “Fashion Khatam Mujhpe” by Malaika Arora—Dolly Ki Doli

17. “Baby Doll” by Sunny Leone—Ragini MMS 2

18. “Shake That Booty” by Sunny Leone—Balwinder Singh Famous Ho Gaya

19. “Do Peg Maar” by Sunny Leone—One Night Stand

20. “Yaar Na Miley” by Nargis Fakhri—Kick

Visuals in Bollywood Item Songs

The highly entertaining visuals that accompany these songs are a big part of attracting a large audience. Theatrical releases, movie trailers, and promos of new Bollywood films often feature clips of item songs to entice audiences. These scenes are often shot using rapidly shifting camera angles, which adds extra excitement to the dance number. While certain item songs in the South Indian film industry have been criticized for their display of vulgarity, the majority of new Bollywood item songs have been praised for their slick choreography and camera work.

Best Bollywood Item Songs #21-40

21. “Lipstick Laga Ke” by Sonali Raut—Great Grand Masti

22. “Mashallah” by Katrina Kaif—Ek Tha Tiger

23. “Chhote Chhote Peg” by Nushrat Bharucha—Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety

24. “Trippy Trippy” by Sunny Leone—Bhoomi

25. “Suraiyaa” by Katrina Kaif—Thugs of Hindostan

26. “Ki Kariye Nachna Aaonda Nahin” by Mouni Roy—Tum Bin 2

27. “Ishq Da Sutta” by Sunny Leone—One Night Stand

28. “Dance Basanti” by Shraddha Kapoor—Ungli

29. “Assalam-e-Ishq” by Priyanka Chopra—Gunday

30. “Kamli” by Katrina Kaif—Dhoom 3

31. “Ram Chahe Leela” by Priyanka Chopra—Ram-Leela

32. “Mehbooba” by Natasa Stankovic—Fukrey

33. “Dekhega Raja” by Sunny Leone—Mastizaade

34. “Dhoom Machale Dhoom” by Katrina Kaif—Dhoom 3

35. “Oh Boy” by Mandana Karimi—Ky Kool Hain Hum 3

36. “Maahi Ve” by Zareen Khan—Wajah Tum Ho

37. “Hug Me” by Sunny Leone—Beiimaan Love

38. “Zara Zara Touch Me” by Katrina Kaif—Race

39. “Sexy Baby Girl” by Sunny Leone—Tera Intezaar

40. “Curves Mere Killerrr Killerrr” by Gauhar Khan—Fuddu

The New Beginning: New Bollywood Item Songs

Post 2010, a number of item songs have become popular with youth because of catchy anthem-like choruses interspersed with visuals of slickly crafted high-energy dance moves. Thanks to these songs, Bollywood Item girls have become hugely popular with the masses in India. The present trend is leading Bollywood actresses and foreign actresses performing item numbers on remixes of songs from the classic era. The bold and sexy visuals interspersed with spunk and groove makes these songs popular dance anthems at every party destination.

The leading ladies in Bollywood are paid staggering amounts of money to do an item song in films. Certain actresses in Bollywood have become popular doing specifically item numbers in Hindi films. In present times the popularity of hot Bollywood item songs has risen to a new level. Filmmakers are well aware of audience preferences and are allocating huge budgets for shooting highly stylized item numbers. Item girls are trending in Bollywood, and there’s definitely more that will unfold in the near future.

Best Bollywood Item Songs #41-60

41. “Nachan Farrate” by Sonakshi Sinha—All Is Well

42. “Ladies Paan” by Amanda Rosario—Fraud Saiyaan

43. “Aashiq Banaya Aapne” by Urvashi Rautela—Hate Story 4

44. “Dan Dan Cheeni” by Nathalia Kaur—Department

45. “Manzoor-e-Khuda” by Katrina Kaif—Thugs of Hindostan

46. “Tunu Tunu” by Sherlyn Chopra—Independent Video

47. “Bulbul” by Mahi Gill—Hey Bro

48. “Afghan Jalebi” by Katrina Kaif—Phantom

49. “Pinky” by Priyanka Chopra—Zanjeer

50. “Mungda” by Nathalia Kaur—Commando: A One Man Army

51. “Oh Janiya” by Sonakshi Sinha—Force 2

52. “Mera Naam Mary” by Kareena Kapoor Khan—Brothers

53. “Mummy Kasam” by Sanjeeda Shaikh—Nawabzaade

54. “Khullam Khulla” by Koena Mitra—Road

55. “Patne Wali Hoon” by Claudia Ciesla—Desi Kattey

56. “Khallas” by Zareen Khan—Veerappan

57. “Madamiyan” by Shruti Hassan—Tevar

58. “Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast” by Kiara Advani—Machine

59. “Paani Waala Dance” by Sunny Leone—Kuch Kuch Locha Hai

60. “Calcutta Kiss” by Lauren Gottlieb—Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!

Best Bollywood Item Songs #61-80

61. “Lovely Accident” by Sunny Leone—Independent Video

62. “O-Saki Saki” by Nora Fatehi—Batla House

63. “Fevicol Se” by Kareena Kapoor—Dabangg 2

64. “Beedi” by Bipasha Basu—Omkara

65. “Luv Letter” by Aditi Rao Hydari—The Legend of Michael Mishra

66. “Babli Badmash Hai” by Priyanka Chopra—Shootout At Wadala

67. “Tipsy Ho Gai” by Natalia Kapchuk—Dilliwali Zaalim Girlfriend

68. “Jugni Peeke Tight Hai” by Elli Avram—Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon

69. “Neendein Khul Jati Hain” by Puja Gupta—Hate Story 3

70. “Jaaneman Aah” by Parineeti Chopra—Dishoom

71. “Aaj Raat Ka Scene” by Deeksha Kaushal—Jazbaa

72. “Daddy Mummy” by Urvashi Rautela—Bhaag Johnny

73. “Kundi Mat Khadkao” by Chitrangada Khan—Gabbar Is Back

74. “Yeh Mera Dil” by Kareena Kapoor—Don: The Chase Begins Again

75. “Munni Badnaam Hui” by Malaika Arora Khan—Dabangg

76. “Shakira” by Lauren Gottlieb—Welcome to Karachi

77. “Halkat Jawani” by Kareena Kapoor—Heroine

78. “Aao Kabhi Haveli Pe” by Kirti Sanon—Stree

79. “Resham Ka Rumaal” by Urvashi Rautella—Great Grand Masti

80. “Mayya Mayya” by Mallika Sherawat—Guru

Best Bollywood Item Songs #81-100

81. “Desi Look” by Sunny Leone—Ek Paheli Leela

82. “Ishq Samundar” by Isha Koppikar—Kaante

83. “Main Aai UP Bihar Lootne” by Shilpa Shetty—Shool

84. “Jaado Ki Jhappi” by Jacqueline Fernandez—Ramiya Vastavaiya

85. “Naughty No.1” by Sara Loren—Barkhaa

86. “Khallas” by Isha Koppikar—Company

87. “Awari” by Prachi Desai—Ek Villain

88. “Hotty Naughty” by Neha Dhupia—De Dana Dan

89. “Oye Oye” by Nargis Fakhri—Azhar

90. “Parda Parda” by Gauhar Khan—Once Upon a Time in Mumbai

91. “Mit Jaaye Gham” by Deepika Padukone—Dum Maaro Dum

92. “Crazy Kiya Re” by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan—Dhoom 2

93. “Manali Trance” by Lisa Haydon—The Shaukeens

94. “Neeyat Kharab Hai” by Maria Gomez—Teen Patti

95. “Hor Nach” by Sunny Leone—Mastizaade

96. “Aao Raja” by Chitrangada Singh—Gabbar Is Back

97. “Ishq Ka Garam Masala” by Poonam Chopra—Ranbanka

98. “Aisa Jadoo” by Lara Dutta- Khakee

99. “Kaddu Katega” by Ragini Dwiwedi—R… Rajkumar

100. “Sun Suniyo” by Koena Mitra—Musafir

Other Notable Bollywood Item Songs

• “Namak Pare” by Humaima Malick—Raja Natwarlal
• “Maala Seenha” by Raai Laxmi—Julie 2
• “Babuji Zara Dheere Chalo” by Yana Gupta—Dum
• “Chammak Challo” by Kareena Kapoor—Ra. One
• “Piya Aa” by Sarah Anjuli—Haseena Parkar
• “Character Dheela” by Zarine Khan—Ready
• “Lovely Jind Wali” by Sana Saeed—Fugly
• “1234 Get on the Dance Floor” by Priyamani—Chennai Express
• “Ghoor Ghoor Ke” by Neha Dhupia—Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami
• “Party on My Mind” by Deepika Padukone, Ameesha Patel, and Jacqueline Fernandez—Race 2
• “Thank God It’s Friday” by Sonakshi Sinha—Himmatwala
• “Phoonk De” by Bipasha Basu—No Smoking
• “Choli Blockbuster” by Sunny Leone—Dongri Ka Raja
• “Lukkhe Bade Aate Hain” by Meera—Bumper Draw
• “Shut Up and Bounce” by Shilpa Shetty—Dostana
• “20-20” by Sambhavna Setha and Lauren Gottlieb
• “Chamki Jawani” by Mahek Chahal—Yamla Pagla Deewana
• “Jawaani Le Doobi” by Gauhar Khan—Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3
• “Aa Zara Karib Se” by Yana Gupta–Murder 2
• “Meri Jawani Sode Ki Botal” by Sunny Leone—Spark
• “Dhak Dhak Karne Laga” by Madhuri Dixit—Beta
• “Jhalla Wallah” by Gauhar Khan—Ishaqzaade
• “Aa Ante Amalapuram” by Hazel Keech—Maximum
• “Dekhta Hai Tou Kya” by Rakhi Sawant—Krazzy 4
• “Marjaani” by Kareena Kapoor—Billu
• “Razia Gundo Mein Phas Gayi” by Malaika Sherawat—Thank You
• “Ghungta” by Bidita Das—Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
• “Naach Basanti” by Hrishita Bhatt—Miss Tanakpur Haazir Ho
• “Bewafa Beauty” by Urmila Matondkar—Blackmail
• “Tere Ishq Se Meetha” by Sameera Reddy—Aakrosh
• “Sharara Sharara” by Shamita Shetty—Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hain
• “Dekh Le” by Mummaith Khan—Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.
• “Tinky Jiya” by Madhuri Bhattacharya—Yamla Pagla Deewana
• “Dil Jaane” by Neha Dhupia—Nehlle Pe Dehlla
• “Tattoo” by Lauren Gottlieb—ABCD 2
• “Ishq Khudai” by Negar Khan—Rudraksh
• “Love Mera Hit Hit” by Deepika Padukone—Billu
• “Jelabi Bai” by Malika Sherawat—Double Dhamaal
• “Jhuki Jhuki” by Mumaith Khan—Chocolate
• “Ghaghara” by Mallika Sherawat—Dirty Politics
• “Daant Saiyaan Ne” by Hazel Keech—Baankey Ki Crazy Baraat
• “Kambakth Ishq” by Urmila Matondkar—Pyar Tune Kya Kiya
• “Ghagra” by Madhuri Dixit—Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
• “Jhoom Jhoom Ta Tu” by Sonam Kapoor—Players
• “Bipasha” by Bipasha Basu—Jodi Breakers
• “Pyaar Ki Chutni” by Dia Mirza—Phir Hera Pheri
• “Chori Pe Chori” by Shamita Shetty—Saathiya
• “Anarkali Disco Chali” by Malaika Arora Khan—Housefull
• “Chamia No. 1” by Shriya Saran—Zilla Ghaziabad
• “Mujhe Tumse Mohabbt Hai” by Diya Mirza—Tumsa Nahin Dekha
• “O-Saki Saki Re” by Koena Mitra—Musafir

• “Dhat Teri Ki” by Esha Gupta—Gore Tere Pyar Mein
• “Ishq Shava” by Katrina Kaif—Jab Tak Hai Jaan
• “Choli Ke Peeche” by Madhuri Dixit—Khalnayak
• “Kismat Se Chalti Hai” by Rakhi Sawant—Malamaal Weekley
• “Balma” by Claudia Ciesla—Khiladi 786
• “Loot Gaye” by Mumaith Khan—Hulchul
• “Aaj Ghar Mein Akele” by Karisma Kapoor—Rakshak
• “Laila O Laila” by Yana Gupta—Challo Dilli
• “Dhating Naach” by Nargis Fakri—Phata Poster Nikla Hero
• “It’s Rocking” by Kareena Kapoor—Kya Love Story Hai
• “Aga Baai” by Rani Mukherjee—Aiyya
• “Girls Like to Swing” by Anushka Sharma—Dil Dhadakne Do
• “Paani Paani” by Richa Chadha—Cabaret
• “Chamma Chamma” by Urmila Matdonkar—China Gate
• “Khali Dil Nahi” by Simran Bagga—Kachche Dhaage
• “Shake it Saiyyan” by Lisa Haydon—Rascals
• “Mashuqa Rubi” by Mumaith Khan—Asambhav
• “Lazy Lamhe” by Ameesha Patel—Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic
• “Awesome Mora Mahiya” by Avani Modi, Akanksha Puri, Ruhi Singh and Kyra Dutt—Calendar Girls
• “Ho Gayi Tun” by Bipasha Basu—Players
• “Blouse Ka Button” by Maryam Zakaria—Ajab Singh Ki Gazab Kahani
• “Kajra Re” by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan—Bunty Aur Bubli
• “Mahi Ve” by Malaika Arora Khan—Kaante
• “Jawani Se Ab” by Kashmira Shah—Vastaav: The Reality
• “Humne Pee Rakhi Hai” by Divya Khosla Kumar—Sanam Re
• “Dilli Ki Sardi” by Amrita Arora—Zameen
• “Jadoo Ki Jhappi” by Jacqueline Fernandez—Ramaiyya Vastavaiya
• “Alif Se” by Nora Fatehi—Mr. X
• “Sexy Sexy” by Karisma Kapoor—Khuddar
• “Oh! What a Babe” by Yana Gupta—Rakht
• “Channo Song” by Veena Malik—Gali Gali Chor Hai
• “Ankhiyan Na Maar” by Rakhi Sawant—Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena
• “Laila Teri Le Li” by Sunny Leone—Shootout at Wadala
• “I Am Single” by Shewta Sharma—Charlie Kay Chakkar Mein
• “Lovely” by Deepika Padukone—Happy New Year
• “Mehbooba Mehbooba” by Urmila Matondkar—Ram Gopal Verma Ki Aag
• “Hoth Rasiley” by Malaika Arora Khan—Welcome
• “Bebo” by Kareena Kapoor—Kambakkht Ishq
• “You Got Me Rocking & Reeling” by Priyanka Chopra—Billu
• “Aap Ka Kya Hoga Janabe Ali” by Dhanno and Jacqueline Fernandez—Housefull
• “Laila” by Malika Sherawat—Tezz
• “Bhangra Bistar” by Rakhi Sawant—Dil Bole Hadippa
• “Sarkar” by Amanda Rosario—Udanchhoo
• “Beedo” by Mahi Gill—Gulaal
• “Ya Baba” by Hrishitaa Bhatt—My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves
• “Ghaziabad Ki Rani” by Geeta Basra—Zilla Ghaziabad
• “Happening” by Preity Zinta—Main Aur Mrs Khanna
• “Oh La La” by Vidya Balan—The Dirty Picture
• “Aata Majhi Satakli” by Kareena Kapoor—Singham Returns
• “Mohabbat Hai Mirchi” by Rakhi Sawant—Chura Liyaa Hain Tumne

© 2019 Ansel Pereira