Bollywood’s tryst with patriotism has produced timeless heroes whose on-screen valor mirrors real-life sacrifices. Generations have been moved by portrayals from Manoj Kumar’s revolutionary fervor to Vicky Kaushal’s contemporary grit, turning reel heroism into national inspiration.
The trailblazer was Manoj Kumar, christened ‘Bharat Kumar’ for his flag-draped epics. Starting with ‘Shaheed,’ he embodied Bhagat Singh’s unyielding fight against British rule. As director-star of ‘Upkar,’ he championed farmers’ plight intertwined with national duty. ‘Purab Aur Paschim’ preached cultural pride amid globalization, ‘Roti Kapda Aur Makan’ tackled inequality with patriotic undertones, and ‘Kranti’ roared with uprising spirit.
Sunny Deol brought raw power to the genre. ‘Border’ (1997) featured his iconic Major Sandhu defending India’s border in the 1971 war, with the line ‘Bas anti ki rassi khinch li maine’ echoing eternally. ‘Gadar’ transformed him into Tara Singh, a lover turned warrior in turbulent times, spawning ‘Gadar 2.’ ‘Border 2’ recently reignited this fire.
Akshay Kumar’s versatility shines in soldier avatars. ‘Holiday’ depicted a vigilant army officer; ‘Airlift’ dramatized the 1990 Kuwait crisis; ‘Kesari’ glorified Sikh warriors; ‘Rustom’ explored honor and justice in the navy.
Ajay Devgn’s intensity fueled Bhagat Singh in ‘The Legend…’ and Major Acharya in the Kargil saga ‘LOC.’
Aamir Khan excelled in subtle patriotism: cricket in ‘Lagaan’ as resistance; vigilante justice in ‘Rang De Basanti’; anti-terror resolve in ‘Sarfarosh.’
Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Swades’ tugged heartstrings with rural development, while ‘Chak De! India’ united diversity through sports triumph.
Recent stars like Sidharth Malhotra in ‘Shershaah’ as Kargil’s PVC winner Vikram Batra, and Vicky Kaushal’s hat-trick in ‘Uri,’ ‘Sardar Udham,’ and ‘Sam Bahadur’ have set new benchmarks.
Through these films, Bollywood doesn’t just entertain—it forges a collective national identity, celebrating those who serve and sacrifice.