Popular Bollywood Analyst cum Business Transformation Expert Hirav Shah says, “One of the most honorable things a human being can do is to be able to serve the country in any way imaginable. The dignity and pleasure of wearing the army uniforms are unrivaled by any other service, and this once-in-a-lifetime privilege is only afforded to a handful of individuals.”
Hirav Shah also says, “Recently, we have seen Sidharth Malhotra’s Shershaah and Vicky Kaushal-starrer Uri: The Surgical Strike, which showcased Army officers in heroic roles. Quite frequently, Bollywood has been making films that revolve around the lives of Indian military soldiers. As a result, many actors undergo intense training for the soldier role and mold themselves.”
Hirav adds, “Surprisingly, a few actors in the Indian film industry took up acting as professionals soon after retirement from the military service. Several stars have volunteered to serve the country before ascending to the throne of the glamorous Bollywood world? Our Indian film stars like playing such characters because patriotism has long been a favorite theme among our film industry’s writers, filmmakers, and audiences. Aiyaari, Holiday, Border, The Ghazi Attack, Lakshya, Uri: The Surgical Strike, Shaurya, Shershaah, and many other films are devoted to our Indian Army. While we adore seeing our favorite celebs in uniformed roles and are big fans of such characters and films, it’s fascinating to learn about their past occupations.”
Table of Contents
Four actors who once served in the Indian military.
1. Bikramjeet Kanwarpal
Bikramjeet Kanwarpal is a late actor who served as a major in the Indian Army from 1989 to 2002. After retirement, he entered the entertainment industry and appeared in various films, television episodes, and web series. Some of his on-screen roles include Senior Army Officer Samar Anand in Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Rajji Mama in 2 States.
2. Achyut Potdar
As per the available data, in 1967, Achyut Potdar retired from the Indian Army as a captain and then did a corporate job. Achyut began his career in the film industry at 44 and is most famous for his ‘Arey, Kehna Kya Chahte Ho?’ meme/dialogue from the Aamir Khan-starrer 3 Idiots. The talented actor also featured in various other films, including Parineeta and Lage Raho Munna Bhai. Achyut also did several plays and advertisements.
3. Mohommed Ali Shah
Before entering the film industry, Mohommed Ali Shah served on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, then as an ADC in the North East, and ultimately as a Major with the Assam Rifles. Apart from featuring in films like Haider, Agent Vinod, and Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Ali is a TEDx speaker and a television commentator related to veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah.
4. Rudrashish Majumder
Rudrashish Majumder was recently seen in Shahid Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur-starrer Jersey. Reportedly, Rudrashish is an alumnus of the Indian Military Academy (Dehradun) and National Defence Academy. After serving in the military for seven years, Rudrashish retired and entered the film industry.
Hirav Shah concludes by saying, “There are also others like Anand Bakshi, Rajkumar, Rehman, and Gufi Paintal who served in the military and made the nation proud.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Actors from the Military:
Is Akshay Kumar from an army background?
No, but Akshay Kumar’s father, Hari Om Bhatia, is a retired Indian Army soldier from the Amritsar regiment.
Did Mohanlal serve in the Indian Army?
Mohanlal, the superstar of Malayalam Cinema, was also a Lieutenant Colonel in the first Indian Territorial Army.
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