From ‘Highway’ to ‘Chhichhore’: 5 times mainstream films embraced unconventional characters

The film ‘Highway’ was a film that changed the way in which films with a huge budget treated emotional depth. Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda starred in the film, and both actors showed that rather than use exciting dialogues, emotion could be portrayed through silence, inner conflict and gradual healing. Imtiaz Ali’s direction allowed the character’s weaknesses to show through naturally, which made the journey seem very intimate even though they travelled through such vast areas. The film has been looked back upon as being the punctuation mark for introducing true emotionality into Hindi cinema.

'Tamasha' took a different route, focusing on the characters feelings, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. The movie looks at identity, being yourself, and what society expects, using a complex story that jumps around – pretty rare for a film with big stars back then. Because it made you think and had great music, people liked it more each time they watched it, showing that deep thinking can work in a movie that also looks good.

‘Chhichhore’ blended nostalgia, humour and emotional weight to address the stigma surrounding failure. Set against the backdrop of college life, the film struck a chord with audiences across age groups. Its strength lay in communicating a powerful message about resilience and self-worth without sacrificing entertainment, making it both accessible and impactful.

Inspired by the life of mathematician and educator Anand Kumar, ‘Super 30’ focused on determination, discipline and social inequality. Rather than leaning on melodrama, the film highlighted the grind behind success and the systemic obstacles faced by students from underprivileged backgrounds. Its grounded storytelling reinforced the idea that inspiration in cinema can emerge from sincerity and realism.

'Chandu Champion' tells the amazing story of Murlikant Petkar, bringing attention to his mental toughness and never give up attitude. The movie does a good job of mixing feelings and grand moments by showing the tough path to success. Also, it shows how regular movies are starting to tell stories based on real life that show grit and heart.