Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl

Father's Day Special / Celebrating Bollywood’s progressive father figures

Bollywood has long been fascinated with father figures; stern, stoic, often feared, and rarely understood. But with time, the lenses and stories have softened. Over the last decade, a quiet evolution has been brewing on the big screen, one where the father is no longer just the breadwinner, disciplinarian or an almost antihero. He is a confidant, a co-conspirator, and, in many ways, a student of love, learning to grow with his children. This Father’s Day, we look at some iconic characters who challenged the rigid moulds of patriarchy, through their presence, patience, and a willingness to change. These are not heroes in capes, but fathers who became heroic simply by listening, learning, and loving better.

June 15, 2025
June 15, 2025

Celebrating Bollywood’s progressive father figures

Bollywood has long been fascinated with father figures; stern, stoic, often feared, and rarely understood. But with time, the lenses and stories have softened. Over the last decade, a quiet evolution has been brewing on the big screen, one where the father is no longer just the breadwinner, disciplinarian or an almost antihero. He is a confidant, a co-conspirator, and, in many ways, a student of love, learning to grow with his children. This Father’s Day, we look at some iconic characters who challenged the rigid moulds of patriarchy, through their presence, patience, and a willingness to change. These are not heroes in capes, but fathers who became heroic simply by listening, learning, and loving better.