Father of the Week: Alok Nath

In this final segment of tributes to Bollywood fathers, BollyCurry presents to you the man who is fondly addressed as the Babuji of the Nation. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that his fatherly affection is currently ruling the television industry as well. Well known for his impeccable sanskaars and aashirwaad, this man is truly the best father in Bollywood - Alok Nath. 

Nath has portrayed the role of a father for as long as one can remember. He started his career in the early 80s and is credited to have acted in more than a hundred movies and about fifteen television serials, most of which portray him as the father of the protagonist. His first step into fatherhood was right from his very first television debut in Rishte-Naate in 1980. In films, he enacted the role of a father for the first time in Hamara Khandaan and Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), but it wasn't until 1989 that he was appreciated for playing a caring father to the sweet and innocent Suman in Rajshri Productions' Maine Pyar Kiya.

Following Maine Pyaar Kiya, it was as if Nath was typecasted as a fatherly figure, and he took on that role in many of his subsequent movies. One of the earliest movies that boasted of his character as a father is Agneepath (1990), where he plays an inspirational father to Vijay. The official father at the Rajshri Productions now, Nath played a family oriented and loving father in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun in 1994, which led on to earn him widespread critical appreciation for the same.

Some of his recent and most appreciated roles have been that of the hardworking and down-to-earth father in Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999), Taal (1999), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Na Tum Jaano Na Hum (2002) and Vivah (2006).

Nath's television career has been full of fatherly characters as well. From Babuji in Rishte-Naate, Rishtey and Kabhie Kabhie, to Sapna Babul Ka...Bidaai, to Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se, he has been a natural when it came to guiding the lead characters with his lifelong experience and wisdom. He is soon to be featured as Babuji once again in two upcoming shows; SAB TV's Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai and Life OK's/Rajshree Productions' Mere Rang Mein Ranganewali.

Nath has played father to many actors older than him, yet, surprisingly he hasn't won any significant awards in his long career in the industry. Recently, he trended on Twitter for the long list of values attached to his character and was the butt of all "respectful" jokes. However, that did not demoralise him, instead he took it all in good humor and even had a great laugh about it. He went on to parody his sanskaari image of a Babuji in The Viral Fever's spoof video on Arvind Kejriwal and his rise to power.

Writer: Pooja B.

Editors: Ritchelle C. and Gunia M.

Graphics: Gurprit K.