Don’t let the rain dampen things; make it a movie night with these “best dads of cinema”
Amitabh Bachchan as Bhaskor Banerjee in Piku. PIC/PINTEREST
Fathers are our anchors, an unflinching pillar in our lives. For most of us, our fathers are our first role models, but they’re not the only ones who shape us. Sunday mid-day brings you a round-up of dads on screen who have also inspired us. These fathers may not be perfect, but they try their best. This Father’s Day, fill up a tub of popcorn and watch these films with your Papa!
Bhaskor Banerjee from Piku (2015)
A rare Hindi film where a father-daughter relationship takes centre stage, Piku follows Bhaskor Banerjee (Amitabh Bachchan), a cranky, constipated, oddly endearing widower dependent on his daughter. Watch it for a nuanced take on ageing parents, single daughters, and who really parents whom.
Mahavir Singh Phogat from Dangal (2016)
Aamir Khan as Mahavir Singh Phogat in Dangal. PIC/IG @instantbollywood
Mahavir Singh Phogat (Aamir Khan) starts off as a stern, almost militant father who wants to fulfil his own dream of winning a wrestling gold vicariously through his daughters. Dangal is more than a sports biopic; it’s about how love can look like pressure, how patriarchy can be repurposed, and how belief can transform into freedom. What makes Mahavir iconic is not just his persistence but his eventual ability to evolve. He starts by training champions and ends up raising daughters who rewrite the rules.
Champak Bansal from Angrezi Medium (2020)
In one of Irrfan Khan’s most tender performances, Angrezi Medium explores a father’s stubborn, sometimes absurd commitment to making his daughter’s dreams come true, even if it means flying to London with no plan, no money, and barely any English. Champak Bansal is not a perfect father; he’s insecure, provincial, and often messes things up. But his heart is gigantic. This film is about a parent’s willingness to go to ludicrous lengths for a child’s future and the bittersweet comedy that follows.
Bhanu from Mimi (2021)
When aspiring actress Mimi becomes a surrogate mother, cab driver Bhanu (Pankaj Tripathi) steps into the role of “dad” and transforms into her fiercest protector. Mimi shows that parenthood isn’t always biological or planned, it’s about showing up.
Shiv Mehta from The Mehta Boys (2024)
Boman Irani as Shiv Mehta in The Mehta Boys. PIC/INSTAGRAM@ashdotts
Shiv Mehta (Boman Irani) and his son Amay don’t even finish a full conversation because of their differences. But over the course of the film, we learn that you are only one argument away from discovering how much your father loves you.
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