These characters won our hearts over ages. They inspired us. They helped us push the envelope. They taught us lessons no textbook shared. They are our heroes...
Ajay Rathore (Aamir Khan - Sarfarosh) : A young IPS who opted IPS over IAS because he wants to weed out criminals proactively. With a small team he takes on naxal-terrorist nexus spanning across borders. His challenges include people in masks and political interventions. In difficult times he keeps his ethics and moral values above everything including his personal welfare.
Bhagat Singh (Manoj Kumar - Shaheed) : Sardar Bhagat Singh is perhaps one of the most respected revolutionary of Indian Independence. Born in family of revolutionaries, Bhagat Singh had patriotism flowing in his veins. When he grew, he took up the challenge and emerged as one of the biggest threat to British Empire in India. He was instrumental in giving direction to the armed revolution.
Mahesh (Mehmood - Kunwara Baap) : It doesn't take herculean tasks to be a hero. Sometimes even simple acts of generosity count more. Mahesh finds a destitute and despite of his meager resources, decides to adopt him. He assumes the role of father. When the child suffers from polio, he does whatever he can do. However, the child-father bonds suffers a setback when the real parents reconcile. At this point, Mahesh does the right thing despite of the fact that he cannot imagine his life without the child.
Murli Prasad Sharma (Sanjay Dutt - Munna Bhai MBBS) : Munna is a local goon. A simpleton who has adopted to the lifestyle of Mumbai underbelly. However, his family in village believes that he is a doctor. When his secret comes out, he feels embarrassed and decides to get a medical degree. He forges records and exams and get admission in a reputed college. Though he doesn't become a doctor he teaches doctors a couple of things about their profession and humanity in general.
Pradhan (Anupam Kher - Saaransh) : What an old man can do? Pradhan's son died in an mugging incident in US and he is running from door to door to get his son's ashes. He also fights a local politician who took advantage of a girl by promising her marriage. His success or failure becomes secondary as the objective is so strong.
Raj (Raj Kapoor - Shree 420) : There are three stages in life of a hero - beginning, fall and rise. Raj is a simpleton who is adorable is his own ways. He falls in trap of greed and becomes a fraud. He cheats numerous people and becomes rich. Later he realizes that in this process he killed his goodness and decides to do the right thing.
Raj (Shahrukh Khan - Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge) : Raj loves Simran but Simran's father has fixed her marriage to his childhood friend's son. Though Raj can run away, he decides to win hearts and take away his girl with honor. Raj proves a point by being a good lover-boy, a good son and a good person.
Raju (Raj Kumar - Waqt) : Raju is an embodiment of manliness. He is not a gentleman. He is more or less a crook or thief with some ethics. He has some rules by which he plays his game. As the story progresses, he comes out as a very strong character with a heart of gold. Circumstances might have rubbed against him badly, he still is person one can vouch for.
Ramprasad Sharma (Amol Palekar - Golmaal) : A street smart young man who tricks his boss into believing that he has a twin brother. Problem comes up when boss wants to see his brother and give him a job. He decides to play double role. To keep the story going, he creates a fake mother and his mother creates a fake sister of hers. Th spice it up all, boss' daughter falls for the non-existent brother.
Shambu (Balraj Sahni - Do Beegha Zameen) : Shambhu is poor but has his self-respect. His father Gangu took a debt and worked hard to pay it off. But ever after hard work, due to cunning ways of Zamindar, Shambhu has to pay 235 rupees for his land. He decides to go to Calcutta. He works hard but remains honest under all circumstances. But fate want it other way round. Shambhu loses his land.
Vijay Verma (Amitabh Bachchan - Deewar) : Vijay's father was humiliated and he was branded as a child. The angst against the world puts him on wrong track. The rebel in him is to be feared. The brilliance in him is to be admired. His sensibilities are directed only towards his family and love. He is a person who has seen so much hatred from world that he can only return in the same currency.
Balraj Sahni – Garam Hava: Traumatized by his own daughter’s death, one of the finest actors of Hindi Cinema played an intense role of a Muslim trader who is not ready to go to Pakistan. For him, India remains land of dreams and aspirations. Place he calls country. That must be a poignant moment when he played the scene where his on-screen daughter dies as well. Balraj Sahni’s Salim Mirza is one of Indian Cinema’s iconic character who embodies the torment of millions who suffered the birth of nation by means of partition and were forced to keep a strong face. In an alternate world, they too would have cried profusely in the darkest and remotest corner of house.
