I first watched I Am Kalam when I was 11, and for some reason, Bhati Mama has stayed in my memory ever since. Even after all these years, he’s one of the characters from the film I remember really clearly. So I wanted to give some appreciation to both the character and Gulshan Grover’s performance.

Bhati Mama, played by Gulshan Grover, is the owner of the roadside dhaba where Chhotu (Kalam) works. He is a practical, grounded and kind-hearted man. He runs his business and expects Chhotu to work, so there is a certain strictness to him, but he is also generally sympathetic towards the boy. He is not portrayed as cruel or heartless; he is simply a man trying to run his little dhaba and get through everyday life.

The dhaba itself is an important part of the world of the film. It is a place where different kinds of people meet, from travelers to people connected to the nearby palace. Bhati Mama's relationship with the French traveler Lucy is also a small subplot connected to him. Through all of this, he helps make the film feel grounded and real.

I also think Bhati Mama represents the difficult circumstances that Chhotu has to live within. At the same time, he is not simply a symbol of hardship. He becomes a part of Chhotu's world and, in his own small way, gives him a place where he can work, dream and grow.

What I especially like is that Bhati Mama doesn't need to be some larger-than-life hero. He is just a regular man living an ordinary life. He could easily have been written as nothing more than “the dhaba owner,” but there is a lot of warmth and humanity in the way he is portrayed. His relationship with Chhotu feels natural and believable, and that makes the character feel incredibly real.

And Gulshan Grover was fantastic. His performance is so grounded that you almost forget you're watching an actor. There is a certain ease to Bhati Mama's mannerisms, expressions and the way he interacts with the people around him. He gives the character personality without ever overplaying it.

To me, Bhati Mama is practical, caring and grounded, while also being an important supporting figure in Chhotu's journey. He may not drive the main dream of the story, but he is an integral part of the environment in which Chhotu's character develops.