Why We Fall In Love With Imperfect Characters

There are so many movies where we see characters who are perfect. The ones that get the usual limelight are the ones who know exactly what to say, who always choose the right thing, who glide through life with clarity and grace – those characters are interesting, yes, but they rarely stay with us. 

The ones who stay are the ones who panic, who love too hard, who make wrong decisions, who hurt and get hurt. Why? Because they resemble us.

Real life is not really a movie. We carry fears, longing, rage, tenderness, confusion, often all at the same time. And when a character on screen holds these contradictions boldly, without hiding, we don’t just watch them – we see ourselves in them.

Bollywood has given us many such characters, but some have stood out because of how unapologetically human they are. They are flawed, complicated, unpredictable and that’s precisely why we love them.

The Psychology Behind Why We Love Flawed Characters

People connect with imperfect movie characters because their flaws make them feel real, relatable, and human. These characters carry quirks, insecurities, and emotional wounds just like we do, which makes it easier for audiences to see themselves in them. 

Watching them struggle, fail, learn, and sometimes transform creates a strong emotional bond – we root for them, feel their pain, and celebrate their growth. Their flaws also add depth to the story by creating inner conflict, external challenges, and unpredictable moments that keep us invested. Whether it’s someone dealing with past trauma, self-doubt, moral slips, or simply messy emotions, their authenticity makes them memorable. 

And over time, even characters who seem unlikable at first can win us over, because their vulnerability reminds us of our own. In loving flawed characters, we’re really embracing the imperfect, evolving nature of being human.

Characters We Fell for: Not in Spite of Their Imperfections, But Because of Them

Here are 5 characters who remind us that being imperfect is human – and worth rooting for:

1. Safeena from Gully Boy (2019)

What sets Safeena apart is how unapologetically fierce she is. She’s not submissive, she’s possessive, impulsive, sometimes explosive – and she doesn’t try to hide any of it. Her jealousy can be messy and loud, but beneath that is a young woman fighting for her space, identity, and love in a world full of rules run by men. Safeena is raw, emotional, and unfiltered, and that’s exactly why she feels so real and unforgettable.

2. Geet from Jab We Met (2007)

With Geet, you get sunshine and a lot of chaos. She’s bubbly, talkative, and always ready to run toward whatever her heart tells her, even if it leads her into trouble. She makes reckless choices and avoids consequences, but when life hits her back, we see her crumble and slowly rebuild herself. Geet is lovable not because she is reckless but because she’s imperfect and evolving, just like the rest of us.

3. Aman from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

In Aman, we see a man who loves deeply but believes sacrifice is the ultimate proof of love. He steps back for Anjali’s happiness, yet quietly guides situations in his own way. He’s kind, humorous, and emotionally aware, but also slightly controlling, convinced he knows what’s best. This mix of love and flaw makes him more human than the typical perfect hero.

4. Veronica from Cocktail (2012)

Veronica lives fast – parties, drinks, loves boldly – but it’s all wrapped around a deep loneliness. Her carefree persona is a shield against abandonment and the fear of never being “enough.” Veronica is strong, yes, but also heartbreakingly tender, trying to find a version of herself that feels worthy of love.

5. Kashibai from Bajirao Mastani (2015)

Kashibai moves through her story with quiet grace and deep hurt. She loves with her whole heart, and when that love is betrayed with infidelity, she breaks gently, not dramatically. Her loyalty, jealousy, forgiveness, and confusion all feel painfully real. Kashibai’s strength isn’t loud – it’s emotional, heavy, and brave in its own way.

What Their Imperfections Say About Us

The imperfect characters we see in movies today reflect how we’re becoming more comfortable with complexity and vulnerability in our own lives. When they struggle with doubt, anger, anxiety, or old wounds, we see our own hidden feelings in them. Their journeys give us a safe space to understand emotions we don’t always say out loud. 

Psychologically, we’re drawn to them because they feel real – they show that mistakes, contradictions, and messy emotions are a natural part of being human, not something to hide or be ashamed of. And as conversations around mental health and authenticity grow, we connect even more with characters who are still learning, still healing, still growing, just like us.

Conclusion 

In Bollywood, it’s the imperfect characters who stay with us. Safeena, Geet, Aman, Veronica, and Kashibai feel real because they make mistakes, feel deeply, hurt, and heal in their own uneven ways. We don’t connect with them because they’re perfect – we connect with how they live with their flaws and keep moving. They remind us that love and growth are messy, and that it’s okay to be a little lost and still learning because that’s how life is.

Written by

Ritika Sanehi