On-screen Moms of Bollywood who touched our hearts

Bollywood has been and continues to be an integral part of our lives, whether as a form of entertainment or as a reality check of the prevalent social evils. While romantic interests were the most explored trope in movies and shows of the past, we have had the pleasure of watching some memorable sidekicks in our childhood that left a deep impression on our young minds. Over the years, Bollywood has moved beyond cheesy scripts to some extent to embrace relatable stories of on-screen characters that look and act like us. 

From the portrayal of sibling rivalry to the representation of the sacrifices of a mother, the layers of emotions involved in our day-to-day relationships have been showcased by Bollywood in movies. Some of these depictions touched us so much that these characters became classics, still remembered and revered today. One such portrayal in cinema that made us laugh and tear up all at the same moment is Motherhood. We have seen some phenomenal performances from actresses in the role of a mother, whose gestures and words have reminded us of our own Maa. 

While the sacrifices a mother makes for her family and how she puts everyone’s happiness before hers can’t really be cramped into a three-hour film, some actresses and scenes have managed to do absolute justice to this selfless figure called ‘Maa’. Their roles might have been minor, but their impact is not. Watching these scenes, some of us even started seeing our Moms in a totally different light as we understood their intentions, struggles and emotions whenever movies touched upon these deep topics. From being an ignorant and annoying brat to an adult who carefully prepares mother’s day special gifts, we somehow grew in our thoughts as the cinema grew in its portrayal of the real-life complexities of mothers. 

We all have our favourite moments involving a motherly figure in movies, some funny and some sad. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and commemorate the different shades of mothers shown on screen over the years. 

Jaya Bachchan as Nandini Raichand in ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’

Nandini Raichand is one of the most celebrated Mom characters from Bollywood. Her wide smile on seeing her sons and her tears when separated from them tells an authentic story of something we all go through. Especially when moving out from our parent’s nests for jobs and studies, this character comes back to us as a faded memory of what it means to be separated from our emotional support-our Maa. Her equation with her authoritarian husband, who couldn’t always be a loving figure for his kids, also presented a reality lived by many across India.  

Kirron Kher as Mrs. Acharya in ‘Dostana’

Who can forget the hilarious and melodramatic antics of Kirron Kher as a mother in Dostana? While her character was more of a comic relief, nobody can deny the realness of her acting in the way she talked and dressed. You can see a hint of your mother in her, in how she accepts her child for who he is despite not being open-minded initially. She is the kind of mother who puts her kid first and loves gestures like quality time, mothers day roses, surprises, etc., due to her jolly nature. 

Rakhee Gulzar as Durga Singh in ‘Karan Arjun’

Known for one of the iconic dialogues of Bollywood, Durga Singh’s character perfectly showcased the toughness of a mother during any adversity. Just like our mother, she might look weak, but you will be surprised by the power she holds in her tiny body to pull her children out of distress. 

Reema Lagu as Mamta in ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’

We all have a love-hate relationship with this character, who, despite being a lovely mother for most of the movie, makes a wrong decision out of selfishness. Even though that selfishness was justified at some point in her eyes, she later realises that motherly love goes beyond blood relationships. Her character was a refreshing addition to the perfect image of a mother we were used to seeing. It showed that Mothers are not perfect figures who will always know the best. They are human with faults, just like any of us.