back in the 80’s a lot of movies used to have a Muslim character in them. It would either be the long lost brother of the hero who got separated as a child and was raised Muslim, and is now a super duper honest police inspector, or it would be a Khan sahab truck driver who saves everyone in the end, or a long time friend of the family who hides the main character from the bad guys when they are after him.
And a lot of 80’s movies also included qawali in them. Usually the good guys would dress up as a qawal and put on a show at the bad guys secret lair, and when the time was right, they would remove their mustache and beard and reveal their true identity.
Re: A small difference between Bollywood movies in the 80's vs now.
And now....they still play the honest policeman(Ali in Dhoom, okay, not so honest), and they still have qawalis, though, less qawali, more disco-bazi. Umrao Jaan had all Muslim characters. Shaurya had the film revolving aroung the honest Muslim police guy. Mumbai Meri Jaan had Muslim characters. there are a few more. but yeah, before there was a Khan chacha in every film, now not.