10 Bollywood dads who'd be perfect at Republic Day celebrations!

Here’s how icons of Indian cinema would take over your society’s flag hoisting with peak desi dad energy.

Republic Day mornings in a desi household are peak chaos wrapped in patriotism! Tricolor fluttering in our windows, TV blaring live commentary from the grand parade in New Delhi and the aroma of chai brewing in the kitchen, just provide the perfect start to the morning! Dads transform into super-patriots on the day - they wake up extra early, dress in crisp whites and lead the local society's flag-hoisting ceremony. They turn up the volume for the national anthem, deliver passionate speeches about the constitution and freedom fighters, and God forbid if anyone tries to sneak in extra sleep on this national holiday, they make sure to give them an earful about deshbhakti and national pride!

These scenes are so relatable they feel straight out of a script, making it impossible for us to not draw parallels with the iconic fathers on-screen. Bollywood films and OTT shows have given us plenty of men who embody this exact chaotic desi dad energy. The kind of men whose sense of duty, managerial skills and national pride make them the natural choice to take charge of the neighborhood flag unfluring ceremony!

So grab your tricolors and stand at attention- here are the cinematic fathers who would definitely be the first ones at the society gates to get the ceremony started!

Also Read: 9 on-screen desi families we would totally invite to our Thanksgiving 2025 dinner!

Mahavir Singh Phogat - Dangal

Phogat sahab (Aamir Khan) would not just be attending the celebration, he’ll be the first one to get up and make sure the arrangements are on point because we know how much the tricolor and national anthem mean to him! Totally trusting him to organize an impromptu wrestling match for the kids in the society and reward them with canisters of pure ghee from his pockets. Warning you to be extra careful of how you consume snacks around him because indulgence could invite a dreadful look from the champion wrestler. 

Champak Bansal - Angrezi Medium

Mr. Bansal (Irrfan Khan) would bring the most chaotic energy into any celebration. We think he’ll sponsor Gandhi topis or cool turbans for everyone on the ground but will also argue with vendors about the price of marigold garlands. Much to the dread of his family, he’ll also try to give a speech which might start about the constitution and our country’s founding fathers but will definitely end with a story about his family business and also some unhinged comments about the society secretary and his associates. Nonetheless, he’ll still be the heart of the celebration and turn the event into a memorable affair!  

Srikant Tiwari - The Family Man 

​Fully expecting Mr. Tiwari (Manoj Bajpayee) to bring an insane amount of energy to the event, but we know he’ll be constantly distracted by work calls and might have to leave the celebration midway given the nature of his professional commitments. Nonetheless, he’ll coordinate the program with the precision of his espionage missions and offer some technical assistance to executive certain sports and cultural events during the festivities. And the best part? With Srikant around, you won’t ever have to worry about the security arrangements!

Bhashkor Banerjee - Piku

Bhashkorda (Amitabh Bachchan) would be a grumpy yet endearing presence in these celebrations. He would be the one who disciplines everyone in the society and set strict guidelines on WhatsApp groups for the Republic Day event. Totally trusting him to confront everyone who shows up late for the flag unfluring and questioning their respect for traditions. Given his intellect and knowledge of national issues, he’ll be the best person to deliver the speech!

Vijay Salgaonkar - Drishyam

​Mr. Salgaonar(Ajay Devgn) will approach the preparations with the methodic precision that would make even Srikant Tiwari stop and take notice! He will memorize the entire schedule, know everyone's KRA and make sure the arrangements with regards to food counters, sound systems and decor are done immaculately.

Amarjeet Kapoor - Kapoor & Sons

In sharp contrast to Bhashkorda, Mr. Kapoor (Rishi Kapoor), despite being in his 90s, would bring in the kind of enthusiasm that would even bring youngsters to shame! He’ll definitely try to join the kids’ performance to Jai Ho or Des Rangeela, much to the embarrassment of junior Kapoors and delight of the audience. He would be the go-to man for queries regarding the flag unfluring and national anthem protocols given his military background! 

Narrotam Mishra - Bareilly Ki Barfi!  

Probably the coolest of the all dads, Mishraji (Pankaj Tripathi), after discharging his duties, would definitely be the one sharing a secret cigarette behind the water tank with the younger guys while waiting for the Chief Guest and talking about his salad days! With a plate full of sweets and snacks, he’ll be the one cheering the loudest when the kids perform and, who knows, he might even join them in singing those deshbhakti songs!

Brijbhushan Dubey - Panchayat 

Another delightful presence, Dubeyji (Raghubir Yadav) should definitely be the one unfluring the flag given his years of experience as the Pradhan of Phulera. Dressed in a neatly ironed safari-suit and freshly dyed hair, he’ll be the one presiding over the event and giving words of encouragement to all the participants of various competitions. 

Jeetender Kaushik - Badhai Ho

The quietest yet most endearing presence of the event, Kaushikji (Gajraj Rao) will be working the hardest throughout the week leading up to the big day without making a big deal out of it. Totally trusting him to skillfully resolve any kalesh during the ceremony with his knack for handling tensed situations with his soft yet firm tone of voice!

Ashok Nanda - Student of the Year

Mr. Nanda (Ram Kapoor) will treat the society flag hoisting like a networking event. Dressed in his sophisticated best, he’ll try to convince the society secretary that they need a ‘brand sponsor’ for next year’s parade and encourage all the kids participating in various events to be highly competitive. Given his cut-throat attitude, we think he’ll ask the organizing committee to do away with the provision of consolation prize as it makes the spirit of competition less intense!

Which other character do you feel deserved a place in this list? Tell us in the comments below!

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