Everyone loves an incurable romantic and that’s why Dulquer Salmaan, with his impish grin, holds sway over millions of fluttering hearts through his Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films.

The 35-year-old looker will step into the shoes of yet another character in pursuit of impossible romance in the Telugu film Sita Ramam, co-starring Mrunal Thakur and Rashmika Mandanna, which releases on August 5. Salmaan plays an army officer of the Madras Regiment in the film that traces the journey of star-crossed lovers for over three decades.

Here are six romantic films starring Dulquer Salmaan which made us fall in love with the actor.

Ustad Hotel (2012)

Dulquer Salmaan plays a chef in Anwar Rasheed’s 2012 Malayalam film Ustad Hotel, which marks the first outing of Salmaan and Nithya Menen as a romantic pair. Dubai-based Faizi leaves for his homeland in India when he doesn’t get help from his father in following his dream of becoming a chef. Back in India, Faizi assists his grandfather Kareem in managing a hotel and attempts to realise his ambition. Ustad Hotel celebrates the cuisine of Kerala and explores the joy of feeding people. The same themes have been explored in some episodes of Amazon Prime’s Modern Love Mumbai and Hyderabad.

Watch it on: Disney+ Hotstar

OK Kanmani (2015)

Mani Ratnam’s 2015 Tamil blockbuster OK Kanmani explores the millennial perspective on romantic relationships and their utter disregard for the institution of marriage. Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menen play a young couple in a live-in relationship that is based on the understanding that they would one day go their separate ways to fulfil their ambitions. However, fate has a separate plan as they get to know their landlord and his ailing wife. Mani Ratnam remade the film in Hindi with the title OK Jaanu but failed to capture the sizzling chemistry between the lead pair as well as the emotional turmoil portrayed in the original.

Watch it on: Netflix

Charlie (2015)

Martin Prakkat’s 2015 Malayalam adventure-romance film Charlie is an ode to all those who have been enthralled by the wonders of nature and art. Dulquer Salmaan plays Charlie, a wandering soul who moves from one place to another in search of adventure. Parvathy Menon portrays a graphic artist who is fascinated by sketches made by Charlie. How the two fall in love will definitely keep you glued to your couch. Charlie’s character is different from any other romantic character portrayed by Salmaan. Charlie won eight Kerala State Film Awards, including a Best Actor Award for Salmaan.

Watch it on: Jio Cinema

Varane Avashyamund (2020)

Dulquer Salmaan plays the boy-next-door in Anoop Sathyan’s 2020 Malayalam romcom Varane Avashyamund. This film treats crucial issues like mental health, abandonment, loneliness and marriage in the guise of comedy. It tells the story of a single mother, played by Shobana, and Kalyani Priyadarshan as her daughter, with the latter trying to find a groom for herself. Soon, their lives change when a retired army officer and a young man move into their apartment building. The movie has a feel-good vibe that is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Watch it on: Netflix

Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal (2020)

In Desingh Periyasamy’s 2020 Tamil romcom Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal, Dulquer Salmaan plays a fraudster who runs online shopping scams in cahoots with his friend. The two live together as they have no family. Things change when they fall in love and decide to quit the dirty business to start a new life. Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal is the most straightforward film in this list and resembles a heist thriller in some ways.

Watch it on: Netflix

Hey Sinamika (2022)

Brinda’s 2022 Tamil romcom Hey Sinamika features a stellar cast of Dulquer Salmaan, Aditi Rao Hydari and Kajal Agarwal. Written by Madhan Karky, the film weaves together themes of mental health, work-life imbalance and separation. The premise of Hey Sinamika is centred around Mouna (Aditi Rao Hydari) and Yaazhan (Dulquer Salmaan). The two fall in love and get married, but their bliss is short-lived and Mouna soon wishes to get away from the relationship. She devises a plan to make Yaazhan fall in love with another woman, played by Kajal Agarwal. Salmaan plays a caring husband and a sensitive DJ in this film. The second half of the film is as emotionally charged as the fun of the first half.

Watch it on: Netflix