What does Jaideep Ahlawat think about Bollywood's hero-villain trope?

Jaideep Ahlawat believes Bollywood's strict hero/villain casting is outdated and demeaning to complex characters.

Are anti-heroes becoming popular in Bollywood like in Animal?

Yes, there's a growing trend in Bollywood, seen in films like 'Animal' and 'Dhurandhar', for anti-heroes and morally grey characters.

Why does Jaideep Ahlawat prefer nuanced characters over simple heroes or villains?

He believes nuanced characters allow for greater depth and empathy, preventing the demeaning of well-written roles.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Jaideep Ahlawat Slams Bollywood's Archaic Tropes

Jaideep Ahlawat Slams Bollywood's Archaic Tropes

17 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Actor Jaideep Ahlawat criticizes Bollywood's strict hero/villain casting.
He believes this practice demeans complex characters and limits creativity.
Ahlawat advocates for embracing morally grey characters and nuanced roles.

Jaideep Ahlawat Slams Bollywood's Archaic Tropes

Actor Jaideep Ahlawat is challenging the Hindi film industry's persistent obsession with strictly defining characters as either heroes or villains. He asserts that this binary classification demeans richly written roles and limits the potential for nuanced storytelling.

Ahlawat's critique arrives as a significant shift occurs in audience reception, with morally grey characters and anti-heroes gaining widespread popularity. This trend allows for a more complex portrayal of human motivations, flaws, and virtues, effectively blurring the traditional lines between protagonists and antagonists in both Indian and international cinema.

Reflecting this evolution, Ahlawat himself has taken on multifaceted roles, such as the antagonist 'Rukma' in 'The Family Man 3,' a character that invites both criticism and empathy. He dismisses apprehension about playing 'negative' roles, viewing them as opportunities for new and different acting challenges.