10 Bollywood Films featuring Terminally Ill Characters

When terminally ill characters take centre stage in Bollywood films, they imbue the movies with emotion. We present 10 such films.

10 Bollywood Films featuring Terminally Ill Characters - f

"Life should be large, not long!"

People who have terminal illnesses are those whose diseases are incurable.

Terminally ill characters are the soul of every film that deals with such sensitive topics.

Over the years, Indian cinema has produced several movies in which such characters shine.

They emanate positivity, bringing light into dark situations.

In these films, despite knowing that their deaths are imminent, the characters are positive and optimistic.

Paying tribute to this radiant glow, DESIblitz showcases 10 Bollywood films that feature terminally ill characters.

Anand (1971)

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Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Stars: Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Sumita Sanyal, Ramesh Deo, Seema Deo

In the early 1970s, Rajesh Khanna was the undisputed superstar of Indian cinema.

Fans continue to admire his romantic celluloid persona.

However, in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Anand, he sheds his romantic image and becomes a more grounded character.

Rajesh inhabits the world of the happy-go-lucky Anand Seghal, who is diagnosed with lymphosarcoma of the intestine.

The illness is a tumour that causes Anand to die within six months.

Despite knowing that he is on death’s door, Anand spends his remaining days spreading love and support.

He utters the famous phrase: “Babu Moshai, life should be large, not long!”

His ‘Babu Moshai’ is none other than Dr Bhasker Bannerjee (Amitabh Bachchan) who is inspired by Anand’s attitude.

After the heartbreaking scene in which Anand passes away, Bhasker declares: “Anand has not died. Such people do not die.”

The optimism of Anand is instrumental in making the film the much-respected classic it is.

Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)

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Director: Nikhil Advani
Stars: Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta

Shah Rukh Khan plays Aman Mathur in this hugely popular romantic drama.

Aman is a cheerful man who falls in love with Naina Catherine Kapur (Preity Zinta).

Naina loves him too but is devastated when Aman tells her he is already married to Dr Priya Malhotra (Sonali Bendre).

Due to this, Naina marries her best friend Rohit Patel (Saif Ali Khan).

Unbeknownst to Naina, Priya is actually Aman’s doctor, who is caring for him as he battles a terminal heart condition.

In his limited time, however, Aman shows Naina the proper way to live life, with a smile.

His tagline is: “Live life, be happy, and smile. Who knows if there will be a tomorrow or not?”

Trade analyst Komal Nahta describes Kal Ho Naa Ho as containing “one of the best roles of [SRK]’s career.”

That is evident in the greatly crafted character of Aman, who leaves an indelible mark on the people in his life.

At the end of the film, 20 years after Aman’s death, a middle-aged Naina says:

“He taught me how to love. I can never forget him.”

Paa (2009)

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Director: R Balki
Stars: Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Paresh Rawal, Arundhati Nag

Paa presents Amitabh Bachchan as you’ve never seen him before.

Through the breathtaking art of prosthetics, Amitabh becomes the 12-year-old schoolboy Auro Arte.

Auro has progeria – a rare disease that causes his body to age rapidly in contrast to his real age.

As a result, Auro is destined to live no more than 13 years.

Regardless of this, Auro is creative, witty, and fun-loving.

He lives a happy life with his mother Dr Vidya Bharadwaj (Vidya Balan) and maternal grandmother Bhumi ‘Bum’ Bharadwaj (Arundhati Nag).

In his final years, he meets his father MP Amol Arte (Abhishek Bachchan), making Paa one of the best Bollywood father-son dramas.

Reviewing the film for the BBC, Manish Gajjar writes:

“Director Balki explores human emotions depicting Auro in a different light rather than focusing on his medical condition.

“Instead, the movie celebrates the childhood years of a special-needs child serving as a catalyst in bringing two people together.”

For that, when it comes to great Bollywood films featuring terminally ill characters, Paa is an undeniable highlight.

We Are Family (2010)

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Director: Siddharth P Malhotra
Stars: Kajol, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Arjun Rampal

Adapted from Stepmom (1998), We Are Family is a testament to the power of familial bonds.

The film revolves around Maya (Kajol) – a book publisher, who discovers that she has cervical cancer.

She therefore enlists Shreya Arora (Kareena Kapoor Khan) – the girlfriend of her ex-husband Aman (Arjun Rampal) – to look after her three children.

At first, the kids detest Shreya as they believe that she is trying to replace their mother and separate them from their father.

Gradually though, they warm up to Shreya and find a motherly figure in her.

Unfortunately, Maya learns that her cancer has become terminal and on her deathbed, she tells Shreya:

“I have the past of my children, but you have their future.”

The gut-wrenching track ‘Hamesha and Forever‘ underscores the guidance of a deceased loved one, proving that death is the end of a life and not a relationship.

Years after Maya’s passing, Shreya looks at a photograph of her and says: “After all, I did become the ‘mum-type’.

“We worked it out, Maya.”

Lootera (2013)

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Director: Vikramaditya Motwane
Stars: Sonakshi Sinha, Ranveer Singh, Barun Chanda, Vikrant Massey

Tuberculosis is a devastating illness that is handled with sensitivity and care in Lootera.

Pakhi Roy Chaudhary (Sonakshi Sinha) and Varun Srivastava (Ranveer Singh) fall for each other passionately.

The hearts of viewers break when they see Pakhi writing to Varun that she is dying.

She explains that her last day will coincide with the last leaf falling from the tree outside her window.

The story becomes all the more compelling when Pakhi finds that Varun has affixed the leaf to the tree to give her hope.

Raja Sen from Rediff praises Sonakshi’s performance, stating:

“Sonakshi Sinha plays Pakhi beautifully, creating a character who is immaculately wide-eyed and possesses casual, yet unmistakable, grace.

“She does well-etched dialogue justice like few actresses can.

“There’s a discernible vulnerability to Pakhi throughout the film.

“Sinha brings out this fragility perfectly without ever overplaying it.”

Sonakshi undoubtedly embodies one of the most memorable terminally ill characters seen in Indian cinema.

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016)

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Director: Karan Johar
Stars: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma

In the difficult stories of unrequited love, Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is a refreshing take on complex emotion.

Ayan Sanger’s (Ranbir Kapoor) life becomes a mixture of confusion, sadness, and frustration when Alizeh Khan (Anushka Sharma) won’t reciprocate his romantic love for her.

He attempts to move on with Saba Taliyar Khan (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) but finds he cannot forget Alizeh.

A period of non-communication leads to Ayan rushing off to find Alizeh.

When the pair are reunited, Ayan is heartbroken to discover that Alizeh has terminal cancer.

In a gratifying turn of events, Ayan shaves his head bald so the woman he loves doesn’t feel alone as her end nears.

At the end of the film, with Alizeh gone, Ayan who is giving an interview, dedicates the soulful song ‘Channa Mereya‘ to her.

Film critic Rajeev Masand labels Ae Dil Hai Mushkil as Karan’s “best film since Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna in 2006.”

He adds: “I suspect you’ll be a slobbering mess at the end of the film, a puddle of tears when the lights come back on.

“Johar knows how to do that.

“It’s a skill that’s stayed with him even if his grammar has changed.”

The final minutes of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil act as a reminder that cancer does not care for circumstance or emotion.

The Sky is Pink (2019)

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Director: Shonali Bose
Stars: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf

In a mosaic of motherhood, young love, and loss, The Sky is Pink tells a true story that is both inspiring and upsetting.

Zaira Wasim brings Aisha Chaudhary to life. She was diagnosed with incurable pulmonary fibrosis.

This turn of events crushes her but infuses the family with a determination to make the most of the time they have left with their beloved Aisha.

The character finds support in parents Aditi Chaudhary (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) and Niren Chaudhary (Farhan Akhtar).

Aisha’s older brother Ishaan Chaudhary (Rohit Saraf) also provides his dying sister with words of comfort and encouragement.

In a scene, Aisha tearfully phones Ishaan and sobs: “I don’t want to die. How can I leave you all?”

To this, Ishaan gently responds: “Remember that you won’t be alone for long.

“Mum, Dad, and I will join you very soon. We will be together again.

“A new family isn’t created every time.

“The same family gets reincarnated.

“You’re my sister in this life. Maybe in the next, you’ll be my dad. Mum will be your wife.”

This brings a giggle of joy to Aisha’s face.

The Sky is Pink is an essential watch for fans who wish to see an ode to family and resilience.

Dil Bechara (2020)

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Director: Mukesh Chhabra
Stars: Sushant Singh Rajput, Sanjana Sanghi, Sahil Vaid

Sushant Singh Rajput’s swansong is powerful viewing in that both its lead characters have cancer.

Dil Bechara narrates the story of Immanuel ‘Manny’ Rajkumar Jr (played by Sushant) and Kizie Basu (Sanjana Sanghi).

The couple bond over their love for the Bollywood legend Rajnikant and Hindi music.

Kizie is a thyroid cancer patient, while Manny is a survivor of bone cancer.

Their world is torn asunder when after Kizie’s recovery, Manny’s illness returns and is terminal.

At the end of the film, when Kizie receives a message from Manny to live life to the fullest, the power of this romantic tale rings true.

It is heartbreaking that Sushant was unable to see the adulation Dil Bechara amassed.

A month before the film’s release, the actor took his own life on June 14, 2020.

In his honour, Dil Bechara premiered for free on Disney+ Hotstar.

The film is therefore not only a salute to terminally ill characters but also to a great actor and a versatile performer.

Laal Singh Chaddha (2022)

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Director: Advait Chandan
Stars: Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Mona Singh, Manav Vij, Chaitanya Akkineni

An official remake of the Hollywood classic Forrest Gump (1994), Laal Singh Chaddha stars Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan in lead roles.

Aamir plays the titular character who has always loved Rupa D’Souza (played by Kareena) unconditionally.

She enters his life at various junctures in this episodic film.

During their last meeting, Rupa introduces Laal to his son Aman and confides in him that she is dying from an unknown illness.

In her final days, she finally marries Laal and they live a finite but happy life together.

When Rupa’s final day nears, she asks Laal about his exploits in Kargil and during his run around India.

She tells him: “I wish I was there with you.”

Laal smiles and replies: “You were.”

In the penultimate scene of the film, an emotional Laal is seen speaking to Rupa’s burial site.

Laal Singh Chaddha did not do well when it was initially released.

However, the film has gained a renewed lease of life following its premiere on Netflix.

Laal remains faithful to Rupa and never looks at anyone else. She is the only ray of love for him.

Laal Singh Chaddha is a unique love story that is not ruined by a terminal illness. It is rather enriched by it.

Salaam Venky (2022)

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Director: Revathy
Stars: Kajol, Vishal Jethwa, Aamir Khan

In another story inspired by true events, Salaam Venky tackles the illness of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Vishal Jethwa stars as Kolavennu Venkatesh ‘Venky’ Prasad Krishnan – a 24-year-old young man with a terminal condition.

His devoted mother is Kolavennu Sujata Krishnan, played superbly by Kajol.

Venky and Sujata live a life of love and joviality. The fact that he is inching closer to death does not faze Venky.

Salaam Venky also chronicles Venky’s goal of obtaining euthanasia so his body and blood can be donated to sick people.

In a highly moving saga of faith, perseverance, and human spirit, Salaam Venky encompasses Venky’s zest for life and humour.

He earns his place in the hearts of everyone, from his family to lawyers, and even the judge who makes the decision on his appeal.

Reviewing the film for The Times of India, Dhaval Roy says:

“The heart-touching fare, replete with positivity as much as pain, is a must-watch.”

With an anchor in Aamir Khan as an illusory figure of Sujata’s imagination, Salaam Venky is a film fans won’t want to miss.

When one thinks of films with terminally ill characters, one might expect depressing stories that will only end one way.

While these characters do meet their end, their journeys can be inspiring and optimistic.

Therefore, sterling narratives are created that leave the audience with much more than an unfortunate death.

The messages and attitudes instilled by these characters remain with viewers years after the films’ release.

So, even though you may need some tissues, you should find a cosy spot, and prepare to be awestruck by these terminally ill characters.

Manav is our content editor and writer who has a special focus on entertainment and arts. His passion is helping others, with interests in driving, cooking, and the gym. His motto is: “Never hang on to your sorrows. Always be positive."

Images courtesy of IMDB and Medium.

Videos courtesy of YouTube.





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