What about Daddy cool!

Bollywood has long been dominated by melodramatic “Maa” moments, but it’s the fathers — stern, soft, selfless, and at times flawed — who have quietly carved a space in our hearts. This Father’s Day, we revisit some of the most unforgettable dads on the silver screen, from dream-chasing disciplinarians to tender single fathers who wear their hearts on their sleeves.Whether it’s an akhara in Haryana, a train station in Punjab, or a courtroom battle in Ujjain, these cinematic fathers remind us that behind every strong child often stands a stronger parent. Here’s to the dads of Bollywood who made us laugh, cry, and believe in the power of paternal love.Ja Simran Ja… Jee le apni zindagiDilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is the gold standard for Bollywood. The movie not only set romance standards for the teeming teens of ’90s, but gave not one but two powerful father roles. On one side is the friendly father Dharamvir Malhotra (Anupam Kher), ready to go to any length to get his son’s wish fulfilled. On the other is the strict Chaudhary Baldev Singh (Amrish Puri), for whom a promise means more than his daughter’s wish.The conflict is resolved ever so beautifully in the train station climax. As the train chugs, he leaves his daughter’s hand, saying, “Ja Simran jaa… Jee le apni zindagi.” That three decades on, it’s still part of common parlance and that you can order T-shirts with this dialogue on the back, speaks of its significance!Ungli pakad ke tune, Chalna sikhaya tha naA brief but impactful role by none other than Rajit Kapur, that of Hidayat Khan, rings in the patriotic fervour like none other. As an Indian intelligence agent, Khan, close to the end due to cancer, asks his daughter Sehmat (Alia Bhatt) to carry on the mission. A quick training at RAW and she is packed off to Pakistan as Iqbal Syed’s (Vicky Kaushal) wife.While the film belongs to Alia for her powerful performance, in yet another story picked from real life, Rajit’s brief role, and specially the emotional vidai in the song Dilbaro, moves one to the core.Tu mera dil, too meri jaan, Oh, I love you, daddyIt is another 1995 gem that still makes it to T-shirts sold today. Akele Hum Akele Tum has stayed relevant through the decades. As many fathers fight custody battles or navigate challenges of single parenthood, Aamir Khan brought it to the big screen while playing Rohit Kumar, an aspiring singer and a tender father.An emotionally charged court scene, this film is an ode to a father’s love, and one of the few in Indian cinema where Paa takes if not larger but equal space!Baapu sehat ke liye, Tu toh haanikaarak haiThis Bapu may be ‘hanikarak’ for sehat to begin with, but is one of the most memorable that Bollywood has seen. Inspired from the real-life story of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, who trained his daughters to be international athletes, Dangal is one of the most celebrated sports drama. Aamir Khan in the role of the father who lives his dream to get India ‘gold’ through his daughter’s prowess on the mat was funny, inspiring, sentimental and hugely entertaining.The scene in the climax when he listens to the national anthem when locked in a room gives goose bumps!When Anjali Khanna turns Anjali SharmaAnother single father from the ’90s, raising Anjali with her dadi, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was as much a love story as a father-daughter one at its heart. Shah Rukh Khan played Rahul Khanna, a fun parent raising Anjali (Sana Saeed) with all love; till the daughter takes the matters of heart in control. An indulgent father dropping everything at hearing his daughter’s sneeze on phone, this one has a peppy track.Increasingly, fathers are getting more screen time. Champak Bansal (Irrfan Khan) in Angrezi Medium literally crosses seas for his daughter’s dreams. Kanti Sharan Mudgal (Pankaj Tripathi) fights against his son Vivek’s (Aarush Varma) expulsion from school, and wins his pride back.Fathers have been presented in many hues and shades. The eccentric Bhashkor Banerjee of Piku, idealistic Vishwanath in Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., self-centred Kamal Mehra in Dil Dhadakne Do and the progressive Anup Saxenai in The Kargil Girl, the list goes on. Who’s been your favourite?

What about Daddy cool!

Mona

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