In the early days of Indian cinema, the Baap aur Beti trope was often depicted in melodramatic and patriarchal narratives. Fathers were portrayed as authoritative figures, and daughters were shown to be obedient and submissive. Movies like Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994) showcased the traditional Indian family structure, where the father's word was law, and the daughter's role was to obey and care for her family.