🎬 “Kitne aadmi the?” — Gabbar once asked.
Not enough, apparently. Because in today’s Bollywood, villains are almost extinct.
Once upon a time, they were larger than life, unforgettable, and terrifying.
Now? They cry more than the heroine, carry more trauma than the hero, and vanish from memory before the climax hits.
Let’s be honest:
Bollywood villains used to make the hero shine.
Now, heroes just shine their hair, fight inner demons, and the antagonist? He’s just misunderstood.
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🧟♂️ Then: Villains Were the Soul of the Film
From Amjad Khan’s Gabbar Singh to Amrish Puri’s Mogambo, from Sanjay Dutt’s Kancha Cheena to Ashutosh Rana’s terrifying role in Sangharsh—villains owned the screen.
Their dialogue delivery, costumes, motives—even their laughs—were unforgettable.
Let’s revisit some lines that are still in our heads:
“Mogambo khush hua.” – Mogambo, Mr. India
“Kitne aadmi the?” – Gabbar Singh, Sholay
“Agar maa ka doodh piya hai toh samne aa!” – Ajit (Lion)
“Tum log mujhe dhoondh rahe ho… aur main tumhara yahan intezaar kar raha hoon.” – Kancha Cheena, Agneepath (2012)
“Aankhen nikaal ke gotiyan khelta hoon gotiyan.” – Ashutosh Rana, Dushman
These weren’t just lines—they were goosebumps.
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😶🌫️ Now: The Villain Is Just a Sad Man with Flashbacks
Today’s “villain” looks something like this:
☹️ Daddy issues
☁️ Slow-motion intro
🧠 Diagnosed with some “cinematic” disorder
😔 Forced grey-shade redemption arc
💬 Long voice-over about his pain
Where’s the menace? Where’s the fire?
Recent examples:
Animal – Antagonist or just another flawed bro?
Kabir Singh – The hero himself is the toxic element
Jawan – Even the villain is a victim of the system
War – Stylish, but barely a villain in sight
These characters are complex, yes—but do they make you fear, hate, or remember them?
No.
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🎭 What’s Missing? The Villain’s DNA
Let’s break it down:
Classic Villain New-Age “Grey”
Pure cinematic evil Sad backstories
Wanted power, money, chaos Just misunderstood
Spine-chilling presence Instagrammable face
Ruled with dialogue Monologues about trauma
Iconic voice Whispered emotions
In short:
“Vijay Dinanath Chauhan ke saamne Kancha Cheena khada hota tha.”
Now? Nobody is standing in the hero’s way.
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💥 Villains Made Stories Worth Fighting For
Without a villain:
The hero has nothing to overcome.
The audience has no emotional release.
The climax feels flat.
Back in the day, even superstars needed supervillains:
SRK vs Ashutosh Rana (Baazigar)
Amitabh vs Amrish Puri (Shahenshah)
Hrithik vs Sanjay Dutt (Agneepath)
Sunny Deol vs Danny Denzongpa (Ghatak)
Every hero needed a dark mirror. Now? The mirror is just smudged glass.
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🛑 Why Did Villains Vanish?
1. The “Anti-Hero” Craze
Since Breaking Bad and Joker, every character wants to be grey.
Bollywood followed the trend—now no one is evil, just “complex”.
2. Too Safe, Too Soft Writing
Filmmakers fear backlash.
So villains must have a tragic reason for every crime.
3. Lack of Bold Performers
You need actors with mad screen presence. Not everyone can pull off what Amrish Puri or Ashutosh Rana did.
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🎬 South India & OTT Are Doing It Better
South films still believe in villains:
Pushpa: The Rise – Villains were dangerous AND stylish
KGF – Garuda and Adheera = unforgettable
Vikram – Kamal Haasan vs Vijay Sethupathi = iconic
Even OTT series like Mirzapur, Sacred Games, Paatal Lok, and The Family Man gave us complex but legit terrifying antagonists.
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🧨 Can Bollywood Bring Villains Back?
Yes—but it needs courage.
Villains don’t have to be old-school cartoon evil.
But they must challenge the hero, ignite fear, and leave an impact.
We want new lines to fear and love:
Not just “mera past bahut dark tha”
But something as bold as “Zinda hoon main!” (Ashutosh Rana, Sangharsh)
