
They say, god could not be everywhere so he made mothers. They also say that devil could not be everywhere so he made mothers-in-law. So, on the auspicious occasion of Mother's Day when the world is telling you about the greatness of mothers, we thought of digressing a bit. Here's paying tribute and remembering the best and the cruelest mothers-in-law of Bollywood. Move over Nirupa Roy and say hello to Lalita Pawar and co!

Lalita Pawar in Sau Din Saas Ke
Those who have watched her films will tell you what a mean machine Lalita Pawar can be. But come to think of it, the veteran actress made money simply by being mean. Now, how is that for a job! Anyway from among her many films, our favourite was Sau Din Saas Ke. With a bullwhip and the lash of her tongue, Bhavani Devi lives up to the truest meaning of a monster-in-law when she tries to kill her daughter-in-law Durga by putting a dead lizard in her glass of milk. After watching the movie suddenly the living lizard didn't seem so scary.

Hema Malini in Jamai Raja
So what happens when the dream girl of yore turns mother-in-law on screen? Sounds nightmarish, right? Well that was exactly what Jamai Raja the film was. And leading this nightmare was the cold and cruel Hema Malini. Playing Anil Kapoor's ma-in-law in this film she made sure to humiliate him in every possible way. But the eponymous jamai raja (son-in-law) hits right back with his tongue firmly in cheek. She may not have been as cruel as say Lalita Pawar or Himani. But just the idea of having a dream girl as your mother-in-law makes her role in this film memorable.

Supriya Karnik in Aryan
She's hot, she's sexy and she's bloody mean! We saw her advising her daughter to abort her child in Shaadi Kar Ke Phas Gaya Yaae. But somehow we prefer her role in Aryan. She plays Sohail Khan's mother-in-law and showers her immense hatred in every single frame. Then, when the couple's marriage sours, she makes the most of the opportunity, and looking straight into Sohail's eyes says those five magical words: "Go and rot in hell!" which to us was as good as saying, "Go and watch Aryan now!"

Bindu in Biwi Ho To Aisi
She wears the pants in the house. And she's the one who's got more b**ls than any other man in the house. That's Bindu for you in Biwi Ho To Aisi. For those who haven't watched this film, Bindu plays this super dominating character who wants the household to run as per her rules and regulations. So when her son marries Shalu (Rekha), she decides on the very first day that she has to get rid of her bahu by hook or by crook. Accusations of theft fly left, right and centre and life for Shalu becomes a living hell. You say clich? We say, touch! (Okay so that's a bad one. But it's true.)

Aroona Irani in Beta
What's worse than a mother-in-law? A step-mother-in-law, of course! And Aroona Irani played just that in the Anil Kapoor-Madhuri-starrer Beta. After locking up her husband in the cellar, she pretends to be the doting mother to Anil Kapoor. And when Anil's wife (played by Mads) is expecting a child, our lady decides to poison her just because that child would inherit all the property. Now, wouldn't it be simpler to just terrorise the husband in the cellar instead? But hey, that would defeat the whole purpose of the movie, wouldn't it?

Archana Puran Singh in Raja Hindustani
Rich girl (Karisma) marries poor boy (Aamir). Dad unhappy but hopes someday the son-in-law would take charge of his business empire. Stepmom unhappy and wants to get boy out of her daughter's way! Archana Puran Singh is that stepmom. What follows is a string of stereotypical dialogues and scenes that make you go "Yaaaaaaawn!" But Raja Hindustani worked wonders at the box-office. And somehow we think it has something to do with Archana's wardrobe. 10 on 10 to her just for that!
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