Onscreen matriarchs in Indian cinema have been portrayed as wise, nurturing, and occasionally stern. Over the decades, many actresses have embodied the role of the mother, grandmother, or family matriarch, becoming iconic in their portrayals. Check out the most memorable ones so far

Being a single parent is not easy, but several actresses in Bollywood have stood strong as pillars of strength for their kids even after parting ways with their former partners. As Mother's Day 2026 approaches, here's a look at some of Bollywood’s single moms—from Seema Sajdeh, Malaika Arora, and Ektaa Kapoor to Amrita Singh