Happy Father’s Day: Here are 5 Iconic Fathers from Bollywood movies

By Nikita Saha

He has been your pillar, your shoulder to cry on, your first cricket buddy, your protector and caretaker – all rolled into one. He is well aware that you love your mom more than him, but nevertheless his love for you remains unchanged. The first instance you step on your tricycle, he is there by your side to hold if you fall. And for him, you will always be that little bundle of joy whom he held in his arms moments after you came into this world.

Well folks! It’s that day of the year again when we love to celebrate, cherish and thank the first superhero of our lives – our ‘Dad’. To commemorate the sacrifices of our fathers and all that they do for us unconditionally, we decided to delve into some of the most memorable roles of fathers that have been portrayed on the big screen over the years that we all loved and appreciated:

Amrish Puri as Baldev Singh in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Although shown to be very conservative, rigid and god-fearing, this character is equally gentle and loving, especially in the last scene where he lets his daughter go with the man she’s in love with. Which girl wouldn’t want a father like that? Although he is shown to be stern throughout the movie, his anger melts away when he sees his daughter’s emotions. Amrish Puri infuses life in that character with his big round eyes and baritone voice, making us sweat with fear every time he appeared on screen.

Anupam Kher as Dharamvir Malhotra in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge

The quintessential ‘best friend’ dad that we all wish to have in our lives. This was also the first time that the metropolitan word ‘pops’ was dropped into the Indian community. So did the concept of a dad who is so cool that he drinks beer with his son, gifts him a big car and sends him on a vacation to Europe only because he flunked in his exams. This impressive portrayal of a modern and liberal father is often touted to be the best example in current times.

Kamal Haasan as Jaiprakash Paswan in Chachi 420

This character is shown to be a middle-class, hardworking man who struggles to keep his family (a wife and a lovely daughter) together with him as he faces financial constraints. The conviction with which Kamal Haasan portrayed the role of a dad beneath prosthetics and female costumes was far ahead of its time back in the 90s. What’s worth remembering in this family comedy is how a dad disguises as an old lady to become the caretaker of his daughter.

Farooq Sheikh as Mr. Thapar (Bunny’s Dad) in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Although he appeared in hardly two scenes in this blockbuster movie, his essence of being a doting father was felt throughout. Mr. Thapar gives wings to all the bare dreams of Bunny in this heart-warming story. He knows what it takes to dream big and have the courage to fulfil that dream. That’s why he was continuously supportive of his son’s ambitions.

Aamir Khan as Rohit Kumar in Akele Hum Akele Tum

Rohit Kumar has been an inspirational on-screen father who plays a struggling playback singer, trying hard to build a career, meet all expenses and raise his kid singlehandedly while having spent his life savings on his child’s custody battle. He eventually succeeds in getting his family back together and proves that a father is not only a husband to his wife but also the angel to his children.

With passing time, these ‘fathers’ have become integral to every Bollywood fan’s life as they have personified values like love, respect and family, and we shall continue to revere them for years to come.