7 times Kirron Kher was the ultimate Punjabi mom — birthday special

1. Hum Tum (2004)

After playing mother to both Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in 2002 with Devdas and Shah Rukh Khan in 2004 in Main Hoon Na, Kirron Kher essayed the role of Parminder ‘Bobby’ Prakash, mother to Rani Mukerji’s Rhea in Hum Tum (2004). When she returns to India from abroad, she says that there’s nothing like India where even small children go to the bathroom on the side of the road to a person she’s just met. “Maaza aa gaya!”, she exclaims. There really are no filters with her!

2. Rang De Basanti (2006)

The first thing you’ll hear after not calling your mother is this classic line, “You don’t even care if I’m dead or alive!” Kher uses it to good effect in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Rang De Basanti where she berates her son DJ (played by Aamir Khan) because he hasn’t stopped by to see her.

3. Om Shanti Om (2007)

In Farah Khan’s reincarnation saga, Om Shanti Om (2007), Kirron Kher is Bela Makhija, a overdramatic, filmi mom who fits right in with the throwback tone of the film. She scolds her son, Om Prakash (Shah Rukh Khan) for wanting to change his name even telling her late husband’s photograph that she’s glad he’s not around to see this day. She’s a champion drama queen, and no, she's not overacting!

4. Dostana (2008)

As Abhishek Bachchan’s mother, Mrs Seema Acharya, Kirron Kher channels Jaya Bachchan from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) when she welcomes John Abraham’s Kunal in the house as her ‘bahu’ in Dostana (2008). Her son’s current situation may have given her the creeps, but no one should say that she didn’t try to lend a helping hand.

5. Kambakkht Ishq (2009)

Whatever you do, don't call her 'Aunty'!! In Sabbir Khan’s Kambakkht Ishq (2009), she is ‘maasi’ (aunt) to Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Sim and that’s almost like a mother. Especially when she gets offended and says, “Mere naam ke aage Aunty laga dehti ho na, koi gaali dene se kum hai!”

6. Total Siyapaa (2014)

In the rom-com Total Siyapaa, she grills her prospective son-in-law Aman (Ali Zafar) who her daughter Asha (Yami Gautam) has brought home for the first time. The proper and timid Aman never stood a chance against her.

7. Khoobsurat (2014)

Lastly in Disney’s Khoobsurat (2014), she is Manju, more like a friend than mother to daughter Milli, played by Sonam Kapoor. The two can often be found chatting on Skype where she dishes out love advice.