Building Character in a Story
Fighting the blank page
I’ve noticed that when I take the time to develop a full biography for a character, it significantly enhances my ability to write the story. By delving into the backstory, especially for the protagonist and antagonist, the plot tends to evolve organically, and may also lead to unexpected twists
With this in mind, I’ve created a detailed checklist that can be helpful when crafting your characters. To make it more relatable, I’ve included examples from Bollywood (Hindi) cinema to further illustrate each point.
In the next part of this article, I will also explain how I used this checklist to shape one of my protagonist more fully.
Examples from Hindi Cinema:
1. Name
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*)
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*)
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*)
2. Sex
- Simran (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Female
- Rani Mehra (*Queen*) — Female
3. Age
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Early 20s
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Middle-aged
4. Race
- Kabir Khan (*Chakde! India*) — Indian Muslim
- Rani Mehra (*Queen*) — Indian Hindu
5. Physical Appearance
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — handsome, often seen in stylish western clothing
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Tall, imposing, and always wearing a distinctive cape and mask
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Vibrant, with a lively demeanor and traditional Punjabi attire
6. How does this character feel about their physical appearance?
- Simran (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Generally content
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Proud of his menacing appearance, using it to intimidate
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Confident and exuberant, embraces her vibrant style
7. Describe your character’s upbringing (relationships, hobbies, location).
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Raised in a loving family, enjoys traveling and has a close bond with his father
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — maybe — an orphan, raised in hardship
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Raised in a Punjabi family, enjoys talking and dreaming, close to her family
8. What is your character’s best memory and worst memory?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Best: Meeting and falling in love with Simran; Worst: Initial conflicts with Simran’s family
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Best: Successful criminal enterprises; Worst: Being betrayed and ultimately defeated
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Best: The journey she took to Mumbai; Worst: Her breakup with her ex-fiancé
9. How much education has your character had?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — College-educated, pursuing a degree abroad
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — No formal education, but highly intelligent and resourceful
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — College student, pursuing a degree in arts
10. What kind of relationship does your character have with their family?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Very close, especially with his father
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — No known family connections
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Very close, with a loving and supportive family
11. Does your character have any romance interests?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Simran
- Veer Pratap (*Veer-Zaara*) — Zaara Hayaat Khan
12. Does your character have any children? How do they feel about children?
- Veer Pratap (*Veer-Zaara*) — No children, but is seen as caring and compassionate
- Aman Mehra (*Kal Ho Na Ho*) — No children, but deeply cares for Naina’s family
- Mr. India (*Mr. India*) — Adopts orphans and sees them as his own children
13. What is your character’s relationship with the other major characters?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Romantic relationship with Simran, initially conflicted with her family
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Antagonistic towards the protagonist, Mr. India
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Positive relationships with her friends and love interest, Aditya
14. How do they make friends? Are they good at maintaining friendships?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Friendly and charming, maintains friendships well
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Does not make friends, prefers to work alone
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Very friendly and maintains strong relationships with those she meets
15. Does your character have any moral convictions?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Strong belief in family values and honor
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — No moral convictions, driven by greed and power
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Believes in following one’s heart and pursuing happiness
16. Does your character have any religious beliefs?
- Simran (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Hindu, practices traditional values
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Generally respects religious traditions
17. Does your character have any political views?
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Anarchic and seeks to overthrow the government
- Kabir Khan (*Chakde! India*) — Nationalistic, wants to prove the strength of Indian hockey
18. What does your character do for work?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Business student, future entrepreneur
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Criminal mastermind
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Student, aspiring to be a successful professional
19. How is their relationship with their boss and coworkers?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Not applicable, as he is a student
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — No boss, but controls a group of henchmen
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Generally positive, though she’s a student and not in the workforce yet
20. Does your character like their job?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Not applicable, as he is a student
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Enjoys his villainous schemes
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Enthusiastic about her future aspirations
21. How competent are they at their job?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Potentially very competent, but still studying
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Highly competent in criminal activities
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Competent in her studies and interpersonal skills
22. What does your character do for fun?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Finds pleasure in his criminal activities
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Enjoys talking, traveling, and socializing
23. What makes your character excited?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — The prospect of new adventures and love
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Power and control over his enemies
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — The idea of new experiences and love
24. What does your character fear the most?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Losing Simran and failing to win her family’s approval
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Losing his power and control
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — The idea of her dreams not coming true
25. What does your character dislike doing?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Conflict and deceit
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Being thwarted or challenged
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Facing rejection
26. What is your character’s philosophy on life?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Believes in following one’s heart and maintaining family honor
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Believes in power and control
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Believes in living life to the fullest and pursuing happiness
27. Describe your character’s personality (introvert, extrovert, shy, outgoing).
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Outgoing and charming
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Intimidating and menacing
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Outgoing and lively
28. What emotions does your character feel the most?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Love and determination
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Anger and ambition
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Joy and enthusiasm
29. What are your character’s strengths and weaknesses?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Strengths: Charm and determination; Weaknesses: Naivety and occasional stubbornness
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Strengths: Intelligence and power; Weaknesses: Overconfidence and cruelty
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Strengths: Optimism and social skills; Weaknesses: Impulsiveness
30. What is your character proud of? What is your character ashamed of?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Proud of his love for Simran; Ashamed of any dishonesty in his pursuit
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Proud of his control over his empire; Ashamed of his ultimate defeat
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Proud of her independent spirit; Ashamed of her past mistakes in relationships
31. Is your character healthy, or do they have any ailments?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Healthy
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Physically healthy but mentally disturbed
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Healthy
32. How smart is your character?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Intelligent and resourceful
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Highly intelligent, particularly in criminal schemes
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Smart and perceptive
33. Describe your character’s story-line in one sentence.
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — A young man travels to Europe to win the love of his childhood sweetheart against family opposition.
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — A vigilante fights against a villainous crime lord to save India.
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — A spirited young woman’s journey of self-discovery and love after a failed engagement.
34. What is your character’s motivation (what is their overall desire)?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — To win Simran’s love and approval from her family
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — To gain power and control over the nation
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — To find personal happiness and fulfillment
35. What is your character’s goal (what do they want)?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — To marry Simran with her family’s blessing
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — To dominate and control the country
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — To recover from her heartbreak and find true love
36. What strength will help your character achieve their goal?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — His determination and charm
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — His cunning and strategic planning
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Her resilience and positive outlook
37. What weakness will hold your character back from achieving their goal?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Cultural differences and initial misunderstandings
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — His overconfidence and cruelty
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Her impulsiveness and past mistakes
38. What is your character’s conflict (what prevents them from achieving their goal)?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Simran’s family’s disapproval
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — The intervention of the hero, Mr. India
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Her previous failed relationship and emotional turmoil
39. What will your character learn? How will they change?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Learns about cultural values and the importance of family approval
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Learns the limits of his power and the consequences of his actions
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Learns about self-worth , moving on from past relationships. Becomes worldly wise.
40. How articulate is your character?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Articulate and expressive
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Articulate in his villainous monologues
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Highly articulate and expressive in her communication
41. Does your character have an accent, speech impediment, or alternative dialect?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — No accent, speaks standard Hindi
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — No specific accent, but speaks with a menacing tone
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Punjabi accent, reflecting her background
42. Does your character use slang or professional lingo?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Uses casual and romantic language
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Uses commanding and intimidating language
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Uses conversational and lively language
43. What is a typical day like for your character?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Studying, traveling, and spending time with loved ones
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Plotting and executing his plans, interacting with his henchmen
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Attending college, socializing, and dreaming of her future
44. What habits (good or bad) does your character have?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Good habit: Deep respect for family; Bad habit: Occasionally impulsive
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Good habit: Strategic thinking; Bad habit: Cruelty and ruthlessness
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Good habit: Positivity; Bad habit: Being overly talkative and impulsive
45. How does your character view the world around them?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Sees it as a place of opportunities and love, but with cultural challenges
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Views it as a playground for his domination and control
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Views it as a place full of potential and excitement
46. Where does your character live?
- Raj Malhotra (*Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*) — Lives in a traditional Indian household in London
- Mogambo (*Mr. India*) — Lives in a luxurious, secret hideout
- Geet Dhillon (*Jab We Met*) — Lives in a Punjabi household in India
pdf links: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10BwHDgDYDXAozo7ci7_aUcmpzhACxw1e?usp=sharing
