Acclaimed actor Jaideep Ahlawat has criticised Bollywood's persistent use of the terms 'hero' and 'villain', calling for their removal from the industry's vocabulary as they diminish the depth of well-crafted characters. In a recent interview, Ahlawat argued that this binary labelling is unique to Indian cinema, stating, "Only in India are we obsessed with the terms 'hero' and 'villain'; nowhere else in the world is that used. We should avoid these words, as you automatically demean the amazingly written character with them."

The actor's comments come amid a surge in Hindi films embracing anti-heroes and morally complex protagonists, seen in recent hits like Animal (2023) and the newly released Dhurandhar. Ahlawat, who portrayed a layered antagonist in the third season of the popular web series The Family Man, emphasised the need to view roles beyond traditional good-versus-evil tropes.

Discussing his decision to take on a supporting antagonistic role in The Family Man 3—despite headlining his own acclaimed series Paatal Lok on the same platform—Ahlawat dismissed any apprehensions. He described it as a valuable opportunity to collaborate with Manoj Bajpayee, one of India's finest actors, and the skilled crew behind the Raj & DK creation, rather than worrying about hierarchy or lead status.

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"There’s nothing to lose, so what will be the apprehension? To think, "Why am I doing a negative role when I have my own show?" is idiotic. It’s about new challenges," Ahlawat said, highlighting his focus on diverse acting experiences over conventional stardom metrics. The Family Man 3, released last month, features returning cast members Manoj Bajpayee, Sharib Hashmi, and Priyamani, with Ahlawat and Nimrat Kaur joining as key new additions. The season has received positive reviews and maintained strong trending status on streaming platforms.

Ahlawat's versatile 2025 also included an antagonistic turn in the film Jewel Thief opposite Saif Ali Khan, where his unexpected dance performance in the song 'Jaadoo' garnered widespread praise and surprised audiences with his flair.

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