The Dads of Bollywood

A lot has been said about how a mother’s love differs from a father’s. Whether that’s entirely true is a debate for another day. What is true is that fathers, just like mothers, have long been assigned certain roles: the provider, protector and the shield between their family and the world.

The fathers of Bollywood are no different.

This Father’s Day, we’re looking at some of Bollywood’s most fascinating dads, not because they are perfect, but because they remind us that fatherhood is mostly about showing up, being there, and being a safe space.

Shah Rukh Khan – The King and his Kingdom

For us, Shah Rukh Khan is Bollywood’s undisputed king. For Aryan, Suhana and AbRam, he is a father who doesn’t mind going back to jail to ensure his children’s safety. Remember the infamous list of rules he had for any boy wanting to date his ‘princess’ Suhana? Or, “bete ko hath lagane se pehle, baap se baat kar?” Dramatic? Yes. But then again, no one does protective father energy quite like the King himself.

And yet, beneath all that is a man who has spent years making sure his children understand that his kingdom isn’t automatically theirs. Aryan, Suhana and AbRam may have grown up in one of the most famous households in the country, but Shah Rukh has repeatedly stressed that his stardom belongs to him, not to them. He has encouraged his children to create their own identities, pursue their own passions and earn their own place in the world.

For all the glamour surrounding the Khan household, some of Shah Rukh’s most memorable moments as a father have been quite ordinary. Attending school events, talking about bedtime conversations with AbRam, or admitting that his children keep him connected to the real world despite living a King-sized life.

Saif Ali Khan – The Father Who Kept Evolving

If you’ve seen those old Saif Ali Khan interview clips going viral online, you’ll know he had Gen-Z energy long before Gen-Z existed. Charming and unapologetically carefree, Saif was busy building a career and navigating life while much of Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan’s childhood unfolded around him. The actor is now father to four children: Sara and Ibrahim from his first marriage to Amrita Singh, and Taimur and Jeh with Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Saif has been unusually honest about his mistakes. He has admitted that during Sara and Ibrahim’s younger years, he was often consumed by work, personal struggles and figuring out his own life. Looking back, he has spoken about not being as present as he would have liked. He has also described telling his children about his divorce from Amrita Singh as one of the most difficult experiences of his life.

Today, Saif appears to be in a very different place. Whether speaking about Taimur’s curiosity, Jeh’s personality or the bond he shares with all four of his children, there is a maturity and patience that wasn’t always there before. His story isn’t about getting fatherhood right from day one. It’s about growing into it.

We know him as Mr Perfectionist. He would probably admit that he hasn’t been a perfect father. But what sets Aamir Khan apart is his willingness to acknowledge his mistakes and work on them. The actor has often spoken about the fact that while he was building one of the most successful careers in Indian cinema, he wasn’t always fully present for his children. Daughter Ira Khan’s struggles with mental health later made him realise just how much he had missed while being consumed by work.

But he chose to actively work to repair those relationships. Both Aamir and Ira have spoken publicly about attending therapy together and confronting difficult conversations as a family.

His relationship with his son Junaid Khan offers another glimpse into his parenting style. Aamir has supported Junaid’s journey into films, but he has also resisted giving him shortcuts. Then there’s Azad, the youngest of his children, with whom Aamir shares an especially close bond. Fatherhood, in Aamir’s case, has been about being willing to learn from mistakes.

Suniel Shetty: The Anchor

Over the years, Athiya Shetty and Ahan Shetty have often spoken about the stability and support their father has provided. Whether celebrating their successes or helping them navigate setbacks, Suniel has remained one of their biggest anchors. His support for Ahan has never wavered, even during periods when opportunities were slow to arrive. Likewise, his affection for Athiya is visible in almost every interview where he speaks about her.

His bond extends beyond his own children. Suniel has embraced KL Rahul, his son-in-law, as family and often speaks warmly about him. More recently, he has stepped into the role of grandfather with the same enthusiasm and pride. He, at times, stirs controversy with his public comments. His remarks around Athiya’s pregnancy and delivery sparked debate. But that’s also part of fatherhood. Getting things wrong sometimes while still showing up for the people you love. He is what we would call an old-school Bollywood dad.

Irrfan Khan – Whose Lessons Live On

Babil Khan once told Filmfare during an interview that his father’s legacy is him being the best version of himself. Years after Irrfan Khan’s passing, his influence continues to shape the life of his son. That may be the most remarkable thing about the legendary actor’s parenting.

He never burdened his son with the expectation of becoming another Irrfan Khan. Instead, he encouraged individuality, curiosity and authenticity. Today, whenever Babil speaks about his father, the conversation rarely revolves around awards or iconic performances. It revolves around kindness, honesty and hard work.

Amitabh Bachchan: The Reserved Father Who Became The Family’s Biggest Cheerleader

Amitabh Bachchan belongs to a generation of fathers who rarely said “I love you” out loud. But they showed up. The actor has often admitted that his career came at a cost. Between film shoots, travel and professional commitments, he missed significant portions of Abhishek and Shweta’s childhood and has credited Jaya Bachchan for taking on much of the responsibility of raising them. But the later years of his fatherhood have been defined by support.

Abhishek has repeatedly spoken about the encouragement he received from his father during difficult phases of his career. Despite years of nepotism debates, he has pointed out that Amitabh never picked up the phone to get him work or handed him an easy path.

Today, Big B is his children and grandchildren’s biggest cheerleader. Whether through social media posts, blog entries or public appearances, he is often the first person celebrating their achievements.

Karan Johar- The Single Father Who Rewrote Rules

When Karan Johar became a father to twins Yash and Roohi through surrogacy in 2017, he stepped into a role that would completely transform his life. The children, named after his parents Yash Johar and Hiroo Johar, became the centre of a family structure that didn’t fit traditional expectations. Karan has spoken openly about the anxieties that came with single parenthood. His children were born prematurely, creating immediate fears and uncertainty. He has also discussed the challenges of raising children under constant public scrutiny.

One moment, in particular, stayed with him. After reading a social media comment questioning how he could deny his children the presence of a mother, Karan found himself deeply affected. He later recalled asking Yash and Roohi whether they were happy. Their answer was simple. They were happy because he was their father.

For someone who spent decades making films about families, parenthood gave him the opportunity to build one of his own.

Ranbir Kapoor – The Dad Who Found a New Priority

There was a time when Ranbir Kapoor’s interviews revolved around films, football and relationships. Then Raha happened. Since his daughter’s birth, both he and Alia Bhatt have spoken extensively about how parenthood has changed their lives. Alia once described seeing “stars” in Ranbir’s eyes whenever he looks at Raha. Watching him become a father, she said, revealed a warmth and fullness that she hadn’t seen before.

Ranbir himself has admitted that becoming a parent shifted his priorities completely. Reflecting on his relationship with his late father, Rishi Kapoor, he has spoken about wanting a different dynamic with Raha, one built on openness, friendship and emotional availability. He has also joked about rushing home after work whenever possible, eager to spend time with his daughter.

What makes Ranbir’s story resonate is that it feels like a conscious attempt to break cycles. To take the good from the previous generation and leave behind the parts that hurt. The industry’s heartthrob now seems happiest talking about parenting.

The New Dads Club

If Bollywood’s older generation spent decades defining fatherhood, a new crop of stars is only just beginning that journey. Ranveer Singh recently entered fatherhood with daughter Dua and is expecting his second child with Deepika Padukone. Varun Dhawan, meanwhile, has occasionally offered glimpses into life with daughter Lara, and so has Vicky Kaushal with his son Vihaan, whom he welcomed last year with Katrina Kaif. Sidharth Malhotra has also entered a brand-new phase alongside Kiara Advani as the couple begins their parenting journey.

But if these examples have taught us anything over the years, it’s that even the biggest stars come home to the same role. Being a dad.