Kajol – Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)
As the bubbly, loud yet loving Anjali, Kajol’s role as a young mom to Krish (played by Jibraan Khan) brought warmth and wit. Her banter with Shah Rukh Khan and cheeky exchanges with her in-laws added humour to this melodramatic Karan Johar classic
Farida Jalal – Shararat (2003)
As the whimsical Nani in this magical fairytale, Farida Jalal cast a lasting spell on the audiences. Starring Shruti Seth and Poonam Narula, the show thrived on Jalal’s delightful mix of sass and sentiment, making her the kind of grandma every teenager dreams of
Hema Malini – Veer Zaara (2004)
Though not a conventional comedy, Hema Malini’s spirited cameo as Veer’s mother (Shah Rukh Khan) brought much-needed lightness. Her humorous banter and lively energy balanced the emotional weight of this Shah Rukh Khan-starrer
Ratna Pathak Shah – Sarabhai vs Sarabhai (2004)
As Maya Sarabhai, the elite and hilarious mom in this cult TV classic, Ratna Pathak gave comedy a classy upgrade. Alongside Satish Shah, Rupali Ganguly, and Sumeet Raghavan, she infused her character with sass that still lives rent-free in our hearts
Kirron Kher – Dostana (2008) & Om Shanti Om (2007)
Kirron Kher’s loud, loving Punjabi mom act is iconic. In Dostana, her reaction to her son’s “coming out” is hilariously over-the-top, while in Om Shanti Om, she adds melodramatic flair as Om’s filmi maa
Disha Vakani – Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (2008–present)
Playing Dayaben, the garba-queen, melodramatic mother in this long-running TV show, Disha Vakani became a household name. Her chemistry with Jethalal (Dilip Joshi) and her exaggerated Gujarati quirks continue to leave audiences in splits
Zarina Wahab – Dil Dhadakne Do (2015)
In this Zoya Akhtar directorial featuring Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, and Anil Kapoor, Zarina Wahab plays a well-meaning, slightly clueless mom. Her obsession with proving she is seriously ill tickled audiences’ funny bones, making her character both laughable and lovable
Seema Pahwa – Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017)
In this small-town rom-com starring Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Rajkummar Rao, Seema Pahwa shone as the fun, dominating mom. Her obsession with gossip, samosas, and her daughter’s marriage plans made her a true desi mom
Neena Gupta – Badhaai Ho (2018)
This Ayushmann Khurrana starrer gave us Neena Gupta as a middle-aged woman navigating an unexpected pregnancy. Her straight-faced delivery of awkward situations turned into pure comedic gold
Churni Ganguly – Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023)
As Rani’s progressive, feminist mom, Churni Ganguly brought quiet humour to this Karan Johar film, which also starred Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh. Her scenes, especially when poking fun at toxic traditions, blend wit with wisdom and made us all ROFL.
Dimple Kapadia – Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023)
In Luv Ranjan’s rom-com starring Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia plays a feisty Punjabi mom who’s both nosy and hilarious. Her comic timing and unfiltered attitude add fun to this modern love story
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