Bollywood (and beyond) has always had a knack for creating side characters who quietly hijack the spotlight. Sometimes, they walk in for a scene or two and leave behind dialogues, expressions and quirks that outlive the actual plot. Long after the end credits roll, it’s these characters who become memes, references and cultural shorthand for everyday emotions.
While mainstream cinema continues to rely heavily on sequels and reboots led by familiar heroes, it might be time to flip the script. Because if anyone truly deserves their own spin-off films, it’s the scene-stealers, the ones who made us laugh, cringe, relate and quote them endlessly. Here’s a look at some iconic side characters who could easily carry an entire film on their shoulders.
Few characters capture the chaos of middle-class survival quite like Baburao from ‘Hera Pheri’. His broken spectacles, misplaced confidence and permanently frazzled nerves turned him into a national icon. Baburao’s humour isn’t just slapstick—it’s rooted in desperation, financial anxiety and everyday frustration. A spin-off centred on his life would be less about grand comedy and more about small, hilarious battles with bureaucracy, landlords and bad luck.
In ‘Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.’, Circuit redefined loyalty. Equal parts muscle and heart, he proved that kindness and street-smart ethics could coexist. A spin-off exploring his early life—or even his world outside Munna, could blend humour with emotional depth, showing how someone from the fringes builds an unshakeable moral compass.
Chota Pandit from ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ became a cult favourite thanks to his physical comedy and unintentional bravery. His irrational fears somehow always landed him in the most terrifying situations. A solo outing could easily lean into supernatural comedy, following a man desperate to avoid ghosts but cursed to encounter them at every turn.
The eternally confused henchmen from ‘Andaz Apna Apna’ are proof that incompetence can be endearing. Their sincerity in doing everything wrong made them unforgettable. A spin-off focused on their misguided attempts to go ‘independent’ could deliver pure slapstick chaos, powered entirely by good intentions and terrible execution.
In ‘Welcome’, Uday and Majnu blurred the line between menace and madness. One moment terrifying, the next obsessing over art and respect, their bizarre bromance remains iconic. A spin-off could explore their attempts to reinvent themselves—only to realise crime keeps finding them anyway.
Sweetu from ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ resonated because she felt real. Unfiltered, vulnerable and unapologetically herself, she broke away from conventional Bollywood beauty standards. A spin-off centred on her life, love and self-discovery would feel refreshingly modern and deeply relatable.
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Argyle from ‘Stranger Things’ proved that even supernatural chaos needs comic relief. His laid-back philosophy and accidental wisdom made him a fan favourite. A standalone adventure blending road-trip comedy with eerie encounters would fit perfectly within the show’s universe.
These characters weren’t just supporting acts, they were the soul of their stories. Giving them spin-offs wouldn’t be nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake; it would be a celebration of storytelling that understands the power of truly unforgettable characters.
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