Raksha Bandhan: Screen sibling bonds to warm your heart

Khadija and Iqbal
Movie: Iqbal
Iqbal (Shreyas Talpade) was a deaf and mute boy who dreamed of playing cricket for India. Despite their father’s discouragement, his sister Khadija (Shweta Basu Prasad) not only supported him in trying out at an academy run by a former India captain but also acted as his voice and ears.
The credit goes to Nagesh Kukunoor for bringing to life such beautiful characters as Iqbal and Khadija.Shreyas and I got along well, practising sign language between shots. I learned sign language from a CD enacting all the words we used. In a scene where Naseeruddin Shah's character was teaching Iqbal to bowl, I had to translate this into sign language. Naseer uncle would reorder words in his sentences, and I had to keep up, making the scene feel spontaneous and natural.
- Shweta Basu Prasad, actor
Isri Kaur and Milkha Singh
Movie: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Despite facing difficulties in her own life due to an abusive marriage, Isri (Divya Dutta) unfailingly encouraged her brother Milkha (Farhan Akhtar) to fulfil his dream of representing India at the Olympics. The audience was awestruck by Isri’s selflessness and strength. According to Divya, she requested director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra to shoot the sibling’s reunion scene in a single take and couldn’t stop crying even after the shot.
My preparation involved speaking to the real Milkha Singh, who shared the nuances of the beautiful bond he had with his sister. Isri was an incredible blend of vulnerability and strength. She did whatever she could to raise her brother, including selling her gold earrings, which became one of the most beautiful scenes in the film. Another heart-wrenching scene depicted her relief upon finding him in a camp after the partition of India
- Divya Dutta, actor
Aditi and Amit
Movie: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Best friends Aditi (Genelia Deshmukh) and Jai (Imran Khan) were dating other people when her brother Amit played an important role in helping her realise her true love. Despite their past intense physical fights, the siblings also showed they truly cared for each other.
As Aditi was such an aggressively expressive character, the writers chose to create a complex character to contrast with her. Amit became one of those characters that feels true because he captures a human emotion that doesn’t need words but resonates with everyone. The audience felt they knew him or wished they did. So, he is remembered just as much as the main characters, even though his role was to provide insight into their journey
- Abbas Tyrewala, writer and director
Divya and Chintu
Movie: Crew
Divya (Kriti Sanon) played an air hostess who had failed to secure a pilot job, a fact she kept hidden from her family. When her younger brother Chintu discovers the lie, despite their usual bickering, he is the one who believes she will one day fly a plane.
We wanted to create a very real and non-Bollywood siblings equation. It all comes from our own siblings’ relations. We fight and make fun of each other but it’s all rooted in our deep love. My favorite scene is the one on the rooftop, sharing a plate of roadside momos, Divya pours her heart out to her brother. It was inspired by a real-life instance where a sibling uncovered a lie and told us to sort it out ourselves rather than involving parents
- Mehul Suri, writer
Kabir and Ayesha
Movie: Dil Dhadakne Do
Kabir was the kind of brother who stood up for his sister against patriarchy and misogyny without hesitation. He told their parents that Ayesha should run the family business because she was more capable than he was. He also supported his sister when she was dealing with an abusive husband, and she could confide in him about things she couldn’t discuss with anyone else, including being on birth control pills.
I don't think the brother-sister relationship is well represented in Bollywood. They generally have cheesy representations and are never at ease. This is one of the most important relationships in the world, as no one else shares your parents. I am thankful to Reema Kagti for writing a brilliant script
- Zoya Akhtar spoke at an event