Happy Father’s Day!!!! There are so many traditional “father” movies, someone being all authoritative to their biological child. I want to think about all the movies where a male character fulfilled a loving mentoring role to a younger character.
Dear Zindagi
Shahrukh is a father, we know his character has an estranged son somewhere. But the way he behaves with Alia is also fatherly, giving her unconditional love and support, making her feel good about who she is in the world. And seeing her as fragile, less experienced, needing guidance.
Bharat
Salman is the head of a family, without ever having his own children. He interacts with his younger siblings as a half-brother, half-father. But their grandchildren see him as fully the head of the family, the father of fathers.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan
The little girl heroine of this movie has a father, Salman isn’t a replacement for that. But he is a loving adult who cares for a child and puts her needs before his own. Which makes him in some ways a second father to her.
Thugs of Hindostan
Amitabh! Such a great part for him, I wish the film had given more weight to his foster father relationship with Fatima. Being the one who raised her, and who loves her, but also feeling like he should serve her and keep his distance as a servant.
Jiwani Jaaneman
An actual father! Like, the biological male parent of a child. Only one who didn’t even know she existed for years and struggles to find his way as a parent once he learns she is in his world.
dontcallitbollywood 
Pankaj Tripathi in Bareilly ki Barfi. The role is fairly small but seeing a small town Dad empathize with his daughter as she is judged by their society and as she longs to have her own personality and desire love worthy of movies is sadly unusual and he does a great job at it!
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Good one! He’s not all caught up in the proper role of father, he just loves her as she is.
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Yes! Love him in that movie.
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He and Rajkummar are the best parts of the film.
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Sai’s dad in Fidaa is a similar kind of awesome.
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And Anupam in Daawat E Ishq. To heck with it, I’m doing another theme list post!
On Sun, Jun 21, 2020 at 5:11 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Shahrukh in One 2 Ka 4, taking on Jackie Shroff’s kids with Juhi’s help. He was a hot shot with zero responsibility and then bam–his police partner is dead and here are four little kids he has to care for. He grows from the reluctant guardian of the children to a dad who learns how to apologize to them and show them that he values their feelings and wants to look after them properly.
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Good choice! I don’t like the way the film played out entirely, I think he could have been a bit of a better father from the start, but I agree it was a great interesting original take on fatherhood. Would have been easy to make him naturally brilliant at it, better to show him struggle.
On Sun, Jun 21, 2020 at 12:45 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I agree–especially since he knew the children and had some sort of relationship with them prior to getting stuck with them. I like that he wasn’t naturally brilliant at it, but they overplayed how lost he was and how much of a jerk he acted like at the beginning.
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Soubin Shahir in Kumbalangi Nights, especially by the end of the movie. Also, come to think of it, maybe Soubin Shahir in Sudani from Nigeria.
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Oooo, good one! Soubin in Kumbalangi Nights is one of the best “brother struggling to fulfill father figure role”. The way he eases from trying to be something he isn’t capable of, to just offering what he can and knowing it is enough, is beautiful.
On Sun, Jun 21, 2020 at 5:13 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Odd choice but VTV Ganesh’s role in Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaya. He is there for Simbu all the way starting from his entry to movies to going to Trisha’s wedding in the church. Cannot think of a better mentor!!
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Finally, some Tamil in here!
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How about Amitabh in Baabul?
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Oooo, good one!
On Mon, Jun 22, 2020 at 6:39 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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We have already agreed that Renji Panicker is always a good father and he is even if he is not a father, best example: Godha.
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YES!!!! Not necessarily a great father to his own daughter (“you have asthma? Really?”) but a very good foster father.
On Mon, Jun 22, 2020 at 7:20 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I forgot about the asthma scene!
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Kattappa until the moment he backstabs.
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Good one!
On Mon, Jun 22, 2020 at 1:48 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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