Dad's the word!

While Ajay Devgn and Aamir Khan are playing fathers to teenagers in their next releases Drishyam and Dangal, their seniors Anil Kapoor, Govinda and Jackie Shroff are turning dads to Gen X actors!

Govinda
He was in the news sometime ago for turning down the role of Alia Bhatt's dad in Shandaar. It was alleged that the actor was not ready to be a father on screen. However, Govinda, whose daughter Narmmada is gearing up for her film debut, had pooh-poohed the reports saying why would he refuse to play Alia's dad when he is playing Ranbir Kapoor's father in Jagga Jasoos? Why would I refuse to play Alia's father when I am playing Ranbir's (Kapoor) father (in Jagga Jasoos)? "I am an actor and as long as the role is interesting I will do it. I remember around the time when Raavan was being made, my wife told me that I should be working with younger heroes like Abhishek Bachchan. It was I who went to Mani Ratnam and said I want to work in the film. My role was so small, I must have hardly been there for eight-nine minutes in the film, but it was interesting," Govinda had said in an earlier interview. It will be the first time that the Hero No 1 actor will be donning grey in a film.

Jackie Shroff
He has already played father on screen to Kareena Kapoor in Yaadein over a decade ago. But at that time, he said that he was only doing it for director Subhash Ghai who had launched him in Hero. "I won't do the role for other filmmakers. I am doing this role because I want to grow as an actor," he is quoted to have said. The actor obviously has grown since then, both in experience and age! He has played dad to the Gen Next actors like Arjun Kapoor but in his upcoming film Brothers he is playing father to none other than Akshay Kumar! The duo in the past has shared screen space as heroes. When asked Jackie had laughed it off and said, "A role is a role. What's the big deal about playing a dad? Anupam Kher had played a father in Saaransh when he was so young. I did it years ago in Saudagar when I played Manisha Koirala's father. Then I played her lead actor in so many films after that. So, does it really matter? Everything has changed now. Those days have gone when one actor could play only a hero's role and given the chance I will beat the shit out of anybody. What's the problem about playing Akshay's father? He's like my younger brother, in any case."

Anil Kapoor
He held out playing a father on screen for the longest. Even to his own daughter Sonam. "We really want to work together in a film but I don't want to play her dad... I mean, won't that be really boring?" he had said in an interview. With his fit and trim physique it wasn't difficult for Anil as he looked good enough to play a hero. However, with Dil Dhadakne Do, the actor has finally decided to age on screen and play dad to Priyanka Chopra and Ranveer Singh. Even in his old avatar, Anil looks suave and dashing. His salt-n-pepper hair only adds to his appeal. We are sure daughter Sonam will agree that he makes for a supercool dad!