Ravi Chopra’s 2003 family drama Baghban was once regarded as the ultimate emotional touchstone for Indian audiences. Led by Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini, the film became synonymous with parental sacrifice and the heartbreak of neglect. For years, it stood tall as a moral tale about ageing parents abandoned by their children, with Bachchan’s fiery monologue cementing its place in cinematic memory.
But two decades later, nostalgia is giving way to scrutiny. Younger viewers are watching the same story through a different lens – and the conclusions are surprisingly bold.
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The Internet Questions the ‘Ideal Parent’ Narrative
What was once seen as a tale of selfish children is now being reinterpreted as a story layered with generational bias. Social media discussions have started unpacking whether the sons were truly heartless – or simply practical adults navigating modern realities.
Fueling this debate is actor Samir Soni, who recently shared a viral Instagram reel that flips the film’s long-held narrative.
A Gen-Z Take That Shook the Timeline
In the clip, a Gen-Z content creator critiques the film as “boomer propaganda.” Soni, who played Sanjay Malhotra – the second son of Raj and Pooja Malhotra – finds himself unexpectedly defended. The influencer dissects key scenes and argues that Sanjay’s behavior wasn’t cruel, but rational.
“He’s also an intellectual because he asks his father why he doesn’t have any FDs, gratuity or savings. But then a very emotional song plays in the background and the son is turned into a villain. Bro, your son is right. Why do you not have savings? It’s not like you worked at a bad place. You worked at a very reputed bank,” she argued.
Rather than disrespectful, Sanjay appears financially responsible – asking questions many adults would logically raise.
The Typewriter Scene Revisited
Another moment under the microscope is the late-night typewriter sequence. Sanjay’s working wife struggles to sleep due to the noise and requests a simple adjustment. Sanjay politely suggests his father use the machine in his own room or consider a laptop. Yet the film frames this practicality as insensitivity.
For today’s viewers, it feels less like disrespect and more like boundaries – something modern households regularly negotiate.
Karva Chauth: Emotion vs Expectation
The Karva Chauth scene receives similar reinterpretation. After fasting all day, Sanjay’s wife proposes stepping out for dinner, assuming her father-in-law will eat at his regular café. Instead, Raj skips the meal and returns home hungry, portrayed as emotionally wounded.
The influencer suggests the issue wasn’t neglect, but miscommunication – a small domestic gap exaggerated into melodrama.
Samir Soni’s ‘Redemption’ Moment
Finding humour in the debate, Samir Soni reposted the reel with the caption: “Finally some redemption after 20 years. Just love the new generation.” (sic)
For an actor long remembered as one of Baghban’s so-called ‘ungrateful’ sons, the shift feels like delayed justice.
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The Salman Khan Contrast
Interestingly, the film also featured Salman Khan in a special appearance as the adopted son – the one who showers the elderly couple with unconditional love. Back then, he symbolised ideal devotion. Today, viewers question whether the comparison was overly sentimental and unrealistic.