ABSTRACT
Somaaya (2004) argues that in the 1950s and 1960s the hero of Hindi films was up to some mischief but it was gentle and not at the cost of others. The 1970s hero reflected the turbulence of the volatile decade. The heroes were repressed and transmitted their restlessness to the audience. The mood was introspective. In the 1980s, young heroes followed the restlessness of their seniors. The following decade emphasized form rather than substance. The hero of the 1990s was fixated on himself, like a selfish adolescent, and a rocking youngster emerged. Somaaya observes that the hero's costume designer and personal trainer have jumped centre stage. The
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cosmetically perfect hero urgently needs a soul. The hero's image was cocooned and protected from any external factors.
