This Mother’s Day, gift your maa with love and drama — say it Bollywood style: “Mere paas maa hai… aur maa ke paas main hoon!”
No one does emotion quite like Bollywood — and when it comes to the maa-child bond, it pulls out all the stops. In India, maa is the strongest emotion, and honestly, half of our personality. Hence, from the melodrama of classic cinema to today’s feel-good flicks, Bollywood has worshipped mothers like the queens they are — with tears, action, and a generous dose of dialogues that go straight to the heart.
So this Mother’s Day, we’re going full Bollywood mode. We’re talking about those legendary lines that made us hug our moms a little tighter, laugh through our tears, or just yell “Mere paas maa hai!” for the hundredth time. These dialogues have power. They’ve stayed with us, quoted at dinner tables, family functions, and even exam halls.
Of course, we’ve already said it — but any list about iconic Bollywood maa dialogues has to begin with this one. The line comes from 'Deewaar', spoken by Ravi (Shashi Kapoor) during a heated confrontation with his brother Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan). Vijay boasts about his wealth and success, listing everything he owns, only for Ravi to calmly respond with: “Mere paas maa hai.” In that one moment, the film’s emotional core hits home. It’s a mic-drop. It’s about love, morality, and the power of a mother’s presence.
(Credit: Shemaroo)
And yes, the maa in question here was Nirupa Roy - Bollywood's favorite mother of all time, whose presence alone could make a scene legendary.
This haunting line from 'Devdas' (2002), spoken by Shah Rukh Khan in a moment of heartbreak and clarity, is a truth bomb. As Devdas drowns deeper into sorrow, this line hits like a sharp reality check. No matter how grand your love story, how deep your pain — hurt your mother, and peace will never follow. That’s the message. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film is soaked in emotion, and this dialogue shines through as a reminder of the quiet, often overlooked pain of a mother.
Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Devdas’
In 'Paa', this gem of a line comes from Auro — a child wise beyond his years, played remarkably by Amitabh Bachchan in a rare role of a 12-year-old with progeria. Despite his condition, Auro’s spirit is full of wit, charm, and emotional depth. And in this moment, he strips everything down to the one truth that matters — his mother is his world. Directed by R. Balki, 'Paa' is about how love can be simple, pure, and devastatingly beautiful. The line beautifully conveys that no matter how tough life gets, having your mother by your side is a blessing that makes everything bearable.
Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Paa’
The idea that God created mothers because, sometimes, we need a divine presence here on earth hits deeply. In 'Mom', Sridevi, as Devki, embarks on a relentless quest for justice for her daughter. During an important conversation, she says, "Bhagwan har jagah nahi hota hai", to which Nawazuddin Siddiqui's character, DK, responds, "Isiliye toh usne maa banayi hai." And that one line encapsulates the film's central theme - a mother’s love isn’t just nurturing but almost otherworldly — a force that guides, protects, and never falters. It’s a reminder that a mother’s love is the one thing that stays constant, like a quiet, powerful blessing to us.
(Credit: Zee Studios)
Happy Mother’s Day — to my mom, to yours, and to every incredible mother out there. Here’s to the women who’ve shaped our worlds with love, strength, and a thousand silent sacrifices.
