Bollywood ke Baap

Baap in Bollywood had always been an important role. Baaps are present in Bollywood from the era of Mughal E Azam to Buddha Hoga Tera Baap. Many Baaps are iconic and became role model for other actors playing the similar role. Here is my personal list of the Best Baaps of Bollywood

1.        

Dilip Kumar - Movie: Shakti, 1985 - Role: Police Commissioner Ashwini Kumar - Baap of the very famous Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) An honest cop, and an introvert father who does not want to betray the law under any threat, even the life threat for his only son. Knowing the fact that his own son has started hating him Ashwini Kumar still makes all the attempts to maintain a close relationship with Vijay and prevent Vijay from taking a wrong path in the life. Despite all the attempts, Vijay eventually becomes a criminal. This hard stoned, disciplined and honest father finally does not compromise with his principles and take the hard step of gunning down his own son. A very strong character beautifully enacted by Dilip Kumar.

2.        

Shashi Kapoor - Movie: Kabhie Kabhie, 1976 - Role: Vijay Khanna (an Architect) - Baap of so romantic Vikram (Rishi Kapoor) A romantic and rich Baap. I love this Baap who is so friendly with his son that he himself encourages Vikram to take the right path of accompanying his confused girlfriend and help her out. This Baap challenges his son to take difficult paths be it love or work. Remember the scene when he challenges Vikram to climb up the hill on construction site rather using a lift.

3.        

Naseeruddin Shah - Movie: Masoom, 1983 - Role: D.K (an Architect) - Papa of so sweet Rahul (Jugal Hansraj) I intentionally used the word Papa due to the intensity of humble role. A serious and rich Papa who has nice family. His life is shattered when he comes to know that he has a boy Rahul from his short lived extra marital affair. Rahul who is now almost of the age of his elder daughter is sent to live with his Papa. Rahul who is unaware of the fact tries to adjust in the family as a guest and Papa is struggling to settle the chaos due to his mistake. Papa is so attached with Rahul that he tries everything to convince his wife to accept the child. A highly emotional drama ends with Happy Papa and his family. This particular role of Papa is incomplete without Rahul and Indu (wife, Shabana Azmi)

4.        

Anupam Kher - Movie: Dilwale Dulahaniya Le Jayenge, 1995 - Role: Dharamveer Malhotra (an NRI Entrepreneur) - Baap of another so romantic Raj (Shahrukh Khan) This Baap is next in the league of rich and friendly Baap. The Baap is happy on his son’s (Raj) failure in studies, serves him Champagne and beer, he is willing to send his son on long vacations and enjoy the life as he could not do all this through his life. Finally he encourages Raj to take the difficult path of love and win his lover from the orthodox family. A nice friendly and comic Baap’s role beautifully enacted by Anupam Kher.

5.        

Amir Khan - Movie: Akele Hum Akele Tum, 1995 - Role: Rohit Kumar(an aspiring singer) - Papa of Sonu (Adil Rizvi) The Papa is an aspiring singer and Mom is an aspiring actor. Failures and frustrations spoil the marriage and mom moves on. Papa, despite all the difficulties and challenges in career, continues to take care of son Sonu. In a legal battle over the custody of the son he finally sells his compositions at very cheap prices to pay for the lawyer’s bills. A strong bonding between father and son very well played by both Amir Khan and Adil Rizvi

6.        

Ronit Roy - Movie: Udaan - Role: Bhairav (A factory owner) - Baap (Sir) of Rohan (Rajat Bermecha) The most arrogant Baap I have ever seen in any movie. The stern and abusive Baap sees the world only through his eyes. A bad dad who forces fitness, engineering and work on his son. The Baap is finally defeated by the son who follows his own dreams and saves his half-brother from his dad.

7.        

Sunil Dutt - Movie: Dard Ka Rishta - Role: Ravi Kant (A doctor) - Father of Khushboo A very emotional role. The father of a teenage girl who is ailing from leukemia. He does everything to save his daughter who is finally saved by his ex-wife (Smita Patil). A strong bonding between a father and daughter.

8.        

Prithvi Raj Kapoor - Movie: Mughal E Azam - Role: Emperor Akbar - Baap of Saleem Maybe the first arrogant Baap of Bollywood. The emperor loves his son but does not agree to his love affair with a dancer. A ruthless ruler, who takes on the war against his rebellious son, arrests him and announces death sentence for him for the rebel against the empire. A justice loving ruler exempts the dancer from death penalty and excuses the son. However, he still retains the honor and succeeds in separating the dancer from his son.

9.        

Amitabh Bachchan - Movie: Buddha Hoga Tera Baap - Role: Vijju (A hitman) - Baap of ACP Karan Malhotra (Sonu Sood). An angry old man who defies all the rules of being old. Vijju rides bikes, flirts, fights and an expert shooter and proves himself to be Baap of everyone and still young. This Baap comes to protect his son, who is an honest cop, from the mafia.  Young at heart Baap also sets up the girlfriend for his son.

10.    

Kamal Hasan - Movie: Chachi 420 - Role: Jai\ Lakshmi Chachi - Papa of little girl Bharti Papa is a middle class man and Mom is from rich family. Middle class life challenges spoil the marriage leading to divorce. A father goes extra mile to stay with his little daughter and takes a job of nanny in a disguise of an old woman. A middle class man, after separation from wife, takes this job and balances disguised life with his original life. The happy ending and family unites again.