Hamza In Darlings, Vikram In Thappad And Other Toxic Husbands Of Bollywood Films

With the exception of some popular masala films, we all grew up watching Bollywood films, some of which serve as mirrors of social reality. The majority of these films are based on narratives or personalities that are commonly found across the nation. But what comes to your mind when a toxic character that we can find in every household appears as a character in a movie? Do we hate him because of his evil actions, appreciate the director's ability to develop a relatable character, or believe he'll encourage people to act in that toxic way?

While you ponder your response, consider this: Some of the most famous Bollywood characters have really displayed quite toxic behaviour. The list goes on and on, starting with Radhe Mohan in Tere Naam, Kundan in Raanjhana, Chulbul Pandey in Dabangg, Maddy in Rehna Hai Tere Dil Me, and Badrinath Bansal in Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya. The problem is that these toxic characters are portrayed as heroic and their toxic behaviour is glorified. Since movies influence how we view the world and what we expect from daily life, they may have an impact on society.

However, there are certain movies that portray toxic characters as anti-heroes, and their portrayals make viewers hate them and take note to avoid doing what they do. Let’s take a look at some of the toxic husbands in Bollywood films.

Toxic Husbands in Bollywood Films

Hamza in Darlings

In this black comedy movie, Hamza Shaikh is an alcoholic husband who beats his wife, Badrunissa "Badru" Ansari. Hamza is a spouse who apologises when he is not drunk or angry, but he doesn't shy away from bullying his wife when he doesn't like something small about their life. Even for a small stone in the rice, he doesn't hesitate to beat his innocent wife. In fact, Hamza becomes worse in each shot, and the audience grows to hate him. For the role that Vijay Varma played in the movie, this is a compliment.

Representative Image. A still from Darlings.

Indranil in Bulbbul

In the supernatural thriller, the house's patriarch and eldest of all the Thakurs, Indranil Thakurs, is the husband, who is aggressive, controlling, and ruthless. He is afraid of losing control. He is portrayed as the one who commands respect from all sides and is never opposed or questioned. He puts everyone else second, makes hasty choices, and gets angry easily. He epitomises the terrible patriarchal character; when for a dubious romance, he heinously injures his wife's feet. The role in the film was played by Rahul Bose.

Suggested Reading: Marriages Are Not Sacred, They Are Complex Relationships That Can Fail

Vikram in Thappad

In this drama, Vikram Sabharwal is a character who feels free to treat his wife however he prefers. Although he is entirely dependent on his wife, he believes that by earning the money he does, he is providing a tremendous service. He believes that he is the centre of the universe and that all adverse consequences of his actions should be avoided. He is so self-centered that he thinks it is acceptable to even slap his wife in a fit of rage when he is not treated properly at work. Therefore, even after he does that, we hear him remark, "Logg kya sochenge, agar tum ghar chhod ke chali jaogi," rather than "sorry." However, the Pavail Gulati-played character apologises at the conclusion and promises to work hard to earn her respect.

Hari in Hamari Adhuri Kahani

In this romantic drama, Hari is a husband, who is receiving psychiatric care due to his mental instability and ongoing obsession with his ex-wife, who left him more than 20 years ago. Following their marriage, he made his wife get his name inked on her arm. He is a stubborn husband that the authorities have labelled a terrorist. After five years, he shows up, claims innocence, and asks for his marriage to be restored. Rajkummar Rao took up this role.