Sweet vs. Wicked On-screen Mother-in-Laws!

Jaya Bachchan plays the role of Nandini in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, who is a doting mother and later turns out to be a wonderful mother-in-law as well. She is sensitive, caring, loving and everything a daughter-in-law would want. In addition, you cannot even call her a mother-in-law because she treats her daughter-in-law Anjali (Kajol) as her own daughter. You can see her kind hear when problems arise and her son Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) marries and brings Kajol home without the approval of his family. And even though she loves her son more than anything, she lets him leave with a heavy heart, telling Anjali to take good care of him. She is heartbroken to see her son leave, but knows that it is for the best - for her son and her daughter-in-law.

Hema Malini's portrayal of Pooja in Baghban was remarkable. Pooja is the perfect wife, and mother of four sons. She's also the ultimate mother-in-law, and loves all her four daughter-in-laws. And when things turn bad for the married couple Raj (Amitabh Bachchan) and Pooja, they decide to move in with their children and let them decide who they will stay with. But the children, who are thoroughly shocked by this news, try to think of something that to avoid the responsibility and decide to split them up by asking them to live separately with all the sons. But they're even more shocked when their parents agree. Pooja lands up at her eldest son's house, with his wife and daughter. Pooja is the sweet mother-in-law, who cooks, cleans, and does all her own work, and even tries to help her daughter-in-law every now and then, but gets insulted and taunted in return. She endures this treatment for six months, but never stops giving them love and attention.

Reema Lagoo plays an interesting role in Hum Saath Saath Hai as Mamta. In the beginning, she starts off as an incredibly sweet mother-in-law. She is on seventh heaven when her eldest son Vivek (Mohnish Behl) gets married. Even though he is her stepson, she loves him like her own. And, naturally she adores the eldest and first daughter-in-law. They instantly click, and form a beautiful relationship. However, she turns into a wicked mother-in-law later in the film, after being influenced by her evil best friends. She stops caring about her daughter-in-law Sadhna (Tabu), who is pregnant at the moment. She treats them coldly, and gives them an ultimatum, either they stay in the house or she does. This makes them leave eventually, but when she realizes her mistake she turns asks them for forgiveness and turns sweet once again. It is difficult to categorize her as she was both sweet and wicked; she's her own kind of mother in law.

 

Supriya Karnik plays the role of Mrs. Kapoor, a wicked mother-in-law. She's the master of her own universe - her husband and her daughter. However, when her daughter Ahana (Shilpa Shetty) falls in love with a rich mechanic, and wishes to marry him, she's outraged. He might live a wealthy lifestyle, but he's still a lousy mechanic. Against her wish, they still get married, and she meets her son-in-law Ayaan (Salman Khan). She was a cruel mother-in-law, always degrading him for his occupation and never giving him the respect he deserved. And when she didn't have any other way to humiliate him, she started creating problems between Ahana and Ayaan, by instigating that her in-laws are terrible people, and so is her husband. These negative thoughts affect Ahana's relationship with her in-laws. Moreover, when the news of her pregnancy reaches Mrs. Kapoor, she does the cruelest thing any person can do, telling Ahana to get an abortion. The abortion does not happen, but she suffers from a miscarriage, which creates a bitter relationship between both families. Nevertheless, good times knock the door of the married couple, and Ahana is pregnant again. But she discovers something, which almost breaks her, and puts a question mark on her marriage. Mrs. Kapoor takes advantage of this, and tells her daughter to divorce him, even though she's pregnant at that time. She's the mother-in-law you wish no one ever had, because she can go to any heights to get what she wants. She's the mother-in-law we love to hate.

 

Anjali (Shilpa Shetty) hails from a very wealthy family and her father has found a suitable groom for her. But she has given her heart to Dev (Sunil Shetty), who is very poor in comparison.  However, after being pressured by her family she eventually marries the wealthy Ram (Akshay Kumar). And she meets her mother-in-law, who is Ram's step-mother (Sushma Seth). She quickly reads her mother-in-law's intentions in a short period of time. She notices how bad she treats Ram, never cares for him, never loves him, and just rules over him and the business. All she wants is his property and the money. In addition, her two children follow her footsteps, giving no respect to their elder brother. Moreover, when Anjali arrives, she starts disliking her instantly. She makes life hell for both them, creating differences between them. She even takes all her jewellery, and goes to the low of  framing her in an extra-marital affair. In the end, Ram can't take it anymore, and asks her to leave the house with her children

Author: Aanchal V.
Editor: Gunia M.
Graphics: Fizii