Father’s Day 2023: These iconic dads in Bollywood films deserve a special mention

Some fictional and some inspired by real-life characters, Hindi cinema has introduced us to many doting dads and strict fathers over the decades. This Father’s Day, let’s roll back time a bit and celebrate some of the most iconic on screen dads, who have either inspired us by their towering personality or tickled us to laugh at their quirks. 

Pankaj Tripathi in Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl 

The bond between an ambitious daughter Gunjan Saxena (Jhanvi Kapoor) and a supportive father Anup Saxena (Pankaj Tripathi) in Sharan Sharma’s 2020 biographical drama film Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is both inspiring and adorable. The film chronicles the life of Indian Air Force pilot Gunjan Saxena, who was one of the first women to fly in a combat zone. 

Kumud Mishra in Thappad 

In director Anubhav Sinha’s 2020 movie Thappad, the relationship between Amrita Sabharwal (Taapsee Pannu) and her father Sachin Sandhu (Kumud Mishra) is one of love and admiration. Defining their bond, Taapsee once wrote on social media, “Being daddy’s girl is what made things easy and difficult for Amrita. The fact she always thought her life partner will be someone like her father got her expectations soaring high. But when they crashed, he was there to hold her from falling”. 

Aamir Khan in Dangal 

Aamir Khan plays a pehlwani amateur wrestler (Mahavir Singh Phogat) in the Nitesh Tiwari-directed 2016 biographical sports drama film Dangal. Mahavir inspires his daughters - essayed by Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra - to follow their dreams and win a gold medal for the nation. ‘Hamari choriyan choro se kam hai ke?’ is a popular dialogue from the movie. 

Amitabh Bachchan in Piku 

As Bhashkor Banerjee, Amitabh Bachchan pulls off an eccentric yet adorable character in Shoojit Sircar’s comedy-drama film Piku, released in 2015. Progressive and selfish at the same, he drives his daughter Piku (Deepika Padukone) mad every other day. Meanwhile as a chauffeur and travel buddy, Rana Chaudhary (Irffan Khan) feels stuck between the two.

Amitabh Bachchan in K3G 

In Karan Johar’s 2001 family drama film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…, Amitabh Bachchan played Yashvardhan ‘Yash’ Raichand, a patriarch and a man of principles. His relationship with his adopted elder son, Rahul Raichand (Shah Rukh Khan), and his younger son Rohan Raichand (Hrithik) exemplifies sacrifice, love and a deep respect for each other. 

Anupam Kher in DDLJ 

As Kajol’s father (Chaudhry Baldev Singh), Amrish Puri’s dialogue ‘Ja Simran ja, jee le apni zindagi’ is no doubt more iconic. But who can forget Raj Malhotra’s (Shah Rukh Khan) ever-supportive and jovial father Dharamvir Malhotra (Anupam Kher) in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), directed by Aditya Chopra.