Renowned actress Farida Jalal, celebrated for her roles in both commercial and arthouse cinema, has voiced her disappointment over being typecast in Bollywood. In a recent interview with the Times of India, Jalal lamented that she is predominantly offered roles as mothers and grandmothers, unlike her male counterparts who enjoy a broader range of characters.
Frustration with Typecasting
Jalal, who has portrayed the mother of Bollywood icons like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Govinda, Akshay Kumar, and Sunny Deol, expressed a strong desire to take on more challenging roles. “I’m waiting for a challenging role where I can showcase my versatility. I feel ki chalo, ek aur maa ka role laaye, aur ek dadi ka role laaye mere liye. Same wahi sab kuch (I felt let it be, more mother and grandmother roles are being offered as usual. It is all the same),” she stated.
“I’m disappointed that makers don’t think I can do more than that. I want to do something exciting. My male counterparts got to do so much. From the late Amrish Puri to Anupam Kher, they played villains as well as comedians so well. They were not limited to playing only fathers or dadas on screen, but unfortunately, I have been given just one slot.”
Farida Jalal’s Acting Journey
Jalal’s extensive filmography includes iconic roles alongside Shah Rukh Khan in movies such as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Duplicate (1998), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001). She has also starred in classic films like Mahal (1969), Aradhana (1969), Amar Prem (1971), Bobby (1973), Loafer (1973), Dharmatma (1975), Shatranj Ke Khiladi (1977), and Mammo (1994).
In recent years, Jalal has continued to deliver memorable performances. She appeared in Batti Gul Meter Chalu (2018) alongside Shahid Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, and in Jawaani Jaaneman (2020) with Saif Ali Khan and Alaya F. Most recently, she played the grandmother of Taha Shah Badushah in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s web series Heeramandi (2024).
Despite her illustrious career, Farida Jalal remains hopeful for roles that will allow her to showcase her versatility and break free from the mother-grandmother stereotype.
