For decades, Bollywood has championed the classic hero—the selfless savior ready to sacrifice all for love, family, or society. Yet, there's an undeniable allure to the morally grey character, whose raw passion and complex motives often feel more authentic and dramatically potent. These figures, with their devilish grins and unforgettable dialogues, evoke a strange fascination that sometimes overshadows outright hatred. In a bold narrative shift, several Hindi films have flipped the script, placing the villain squarely in the protagonist's role. Here are 7 such groundbreaking movies where the anti-hero didn't just appear—they conquered the screen entirely.
Iconic Anti-Heroes Who Redefined Bollywood Narratives
The journey of the villain protagonist in Indian cinema is marked by characters who are as compelling as they are flawed. These aren't mere caricatures of evil but complex individuals shaped by circumstance, obsession, or ambition. Their stories challenge the black-and-white morality of traditional cinema, inviting the audience to understand, if not root for, the 'bad guy.' This trend has given us some of the most memorable performances and cult classics in film history.
1. Don: The Chase Begins Again (2006)
It's impossible to forget the iconic stretcher scene where Shah Rukh Khan's Don reveals his true identity to Roma, shattering the illusion that he was the simpleton Vijay. While Khan is globally celebrated as the king of romance, his foray into morally ambiguous territory deserves a genre of its own. With a wicked smirk, cunning dialogue, and a signature leather jacket, Khan masterfully portrayed the cunning criminal in the 2006 remake. The film, featuring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Boman Irani, Om Puri, and Arjun Rampal, with a special cameo by Kareena Kapoor Khan, set a new benchmark for the stylish anti-hero.
2. Gangs of Wasseypur (2012)
Anurag Kashyap's gritty epic chronicles the brutal power struggles between rival gangs in the coal-rich city of Dhanbad. The film operates on the principle that villains are not born but made. Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Faizal Khan embodies this transformation perfectly. Beginning as a reluctant, drug-addicted heir, circumstances forge him into a ruthless leader. His famous dialogue, "Baap ka, Dada ka, Bhai ka, sabka badla lega re tera Faizal," echoes the film's core theme of cyclical violence. With a sprawling cast including Manoj Bajpayee, Huma Qureshi, and Richa Chadha, this cult classic remains a raw, emotional portrait of ambition and revenge.
3. Vaastav: The Reality (1999)
This film traces the chilling descent of Raghu, a simple man running a pav bhaji stall, into the violent depths of the Mumbai underworld. Sanjay Dutt delivered a career-defining performance as the anti-hero, torn between his mother's disdain and the brutal demands of his new life. Directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, 'Vaastav: The Reality' became an instant cult classic for its unflinching look at crime and consequence. The powerful supporting cast included Sanjay Narvekar, Reema Lagoo, and Paresh Rawal.
4. Khal Nayak (1993)
As the title ('Ultimate Villain') suggests, this Subhash Ghai directorial revolves around the notorious criminal Ballu, played by Sanjay Dutt. The film's core lies in its exploration of duality—Ballu escapes prison and falls for an undercover police officer (Madhuri Dixit), revealing glimpses of humanity beneath his villainous exterior. Alongside Jackie Shroff and Rakhee Gulzar, the cast brought to life a story where the lines between good and evil are perpetually blurred, complemented by a soundtrack that remains legendary.
The Modern Era of Complex Protagonists
The acceptance of the villain protagonist has only grown in contemporary Bollywood, with superstars eagerly embracing these layered roles. These characters often operate under their own moral code, making their journey dangerously relatable. Their motivations—whether business, power, or twisted love—drive narratives that are as thrilling as they are thought-provoking.
5. Raees (2017)
Shah Rukh Khan returned to grey-shade territory with the motto: "Koi dhanda chhota nahi hota, aur dhande se bada koi dharm nahi hota." In Rahul Dholakia's film, he played Raees Alam, a bootlegger from Gujarat whose ambitions plunge him into a dangerous world of politics and crime. The film is a study of betrayal and greed, showing how a shrewd businessman navigates threats from rivals and the law. With strong performances from Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Mahira Khan, 'Raees' presented a protagonist whose drive was both his rise and his fall.
6. Darr (1993)
Long before the term 'delulu' (delusional) became an internet sensation, Yash Chopra's 'Darr' presented a masterclass in obsessive love. While Sunny Deol and Juhi Chawla played the ideal couple, it was Shah Rukh Khan's Rahul Mehra who stole the film—and the audience's horrified fascination. His portrayal of a man whose obsession knows no bounds, stalking his love interest across countries, redefined the romantic thriller and cemented the 'lovable psycho' archetype in Bollywood.
7. The Dhoom Franchise (2004 onwards)
This blockbuster franchise turned audience loyalty on its head. Viewers consistently found themselves cheering for the glamorous, high-tech thieves—John Abraham (2004), Hrithik Roshan (2006), and Aamir Khan (2013)—over the pursuing cops, Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra. Each villain, often with a sympathetic or traumatic backstory, took the narrative steering wheel. With their stylish heists and charismatic screen presence, the 'Dhoom' series celebrated the cool, morally grey antagonist like no other franchise, making the chase more thrilling than the capture.
These seven films prove that when villains take center stage, they bring a depth of character and narrative tension that often surpasses traditional hero tales. By exploring the shades of grey in human nature, they offer a more nuanced and compelling form of storytelling, leaving an indelible mark on Bollywood's cinematic landscape.
