In the ever-evolving world of Bollywood, where stereotypes are slowly being challenged, some actresses have defied conventions by portraying diverse roles with the same actors across their careers. While it's common for male actors to romance actresses much younger than them, several actresses have played both lovers and mothers to the same actors, prompting reflection on the industry's portrayal of women.
One such actress is Tabu, known for her graceful performances in both Bollywood and South Indian cinema. With a career spanning over three decades, Tabu has portrayed the roles of a mother, wife, and lover opposite Nandamuri Balakrishna. In the 2002 Telugu action drama Chennakesava Reddy, she played Balakrishna's wife and mother, as he portrayed dual roles. Later, in 2008, she returned as his romantic partner in Pandurangadu. Tabu's versatility has allowed her to consistently challenge stereotypes, earning her multiple National Awards and a respected place in Indian cinema.
Other actresses have also taken on similar challenges. Sharmila Tagore played Amitabh Bachchan's mother in Desh Premee (1982) and later his wife in Viruddh (2005). Rakhee Gulzar played Amitabh Bachchan's lover in several films, including Kabhie Kabhie (1976), before portraying his mother in Shakti (1982). Waheeda Rehman played Amitabh Bachchan's wife in Kabhie Kabhie and later his mother in Trishul. Sridevi romanced Rajnikanth in ChaalBaaz (1989) after playing his stepmother in Moondru Mudichu (1976), when she was just 13 years old.
These instances highlight a striking feature of the Indian film industry: the tendency for actors to seemingly defy age, while actresses often face a limited age window, beyond which they are primarily offered roles as sisters or mothers. Thankfully, this ageist and sexist trend is gradually declining.
Some actresses have also romanced both a father and son duo on screen. Dimple Kapadia starred with Dharmendra in films like Batwara and Shehzada, and also romanced Sunny Deol in films like Manzil Manzil, Arjun, Aag Ka Gola and Narsimha. Amrita Singh debuted opposite Sunny Deol in Betaab and later played Dharmendra's wife in Sachai Ki Taqat. Jaya Prada romanced Dharmendra in several movies and later appeared alongside his son Sunny Deol in movies like Zabardast and Veertaa. Madhuri Dixit was paired opposite Vinod Khanna in Dayavan and Maha-Sangram and later romanced his son Akshaye Khanna in Mohabbat.
These examples showcase the complex and sometimes unconventional casting choices in Bollywood, where actresses have often had to navigate age-related stereotypes and take on diverse roles with the same actors. Despite these challenges, many have delivered memorable performances and contributed significantly to Indian cinema.
