All the knight moves

In the era of toxic on-screen heroes, here's championing the few good men

- Karishma Kuenzang

At least they're trying. On screen, roles for men are going through a patchy kind of transformation. By the 2000s, some heroes stopped pestering women until they exasperatedly gave in. The decade found men coming of age in Goa (Dil Chahta Hai, 2001) and hesitantly accepting responsibility (Wake Up Sid, 2009). That same decade had Love Aaj Kal (2009), with two inspiring male characters. Rishi Kapoor was the doting Veer Singh. Rahul Khanna won sympathy after Deepika Padukone abandoned him the day after their wedding.

So, the 2010s rolled in with some hope. Abhay Deol's Arjun Burman in Aisha (2010) was the stuff of dreams: A man who dropped drunk women safely home instead of taking advantage of them. Kunaal Roy Kapur's Taran in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) cared for his partner's needs.