A lot of leading men and women in Bollywood come from defence backgrounds.

Is it because of the discipline at home or the frequent postings that help them see a lot of places and people or the culture of fitness around them? Whatever the reason, the Hindi film industry has always seen a multitude of actors and actresses who have been related to the Indian Army, Air Force or Navy. Aniruddha Biswas tells you about a few fauji kids who have made it big in B-Town.

THE BEAUTIES

Anushka Sharma

One of today’s most successful actresses and married to Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, her father is Colonel Ajay Kumar Sharma. Anushka studied at the Army School in Bangalore.

Priyanka Chopra

The former Miss World and arguably India’s best export to Hollywood till date — Piggy Chops’ parents, Ashok and Madhu Chopra, were doctors in the Indian Army. She studied at the Army Public School, Bareilly.

Sushmita Sen

Elegance personified, Miss Universe 1994 is from a defence background. Her father is Wing Commander (retd) Shubeer Sen.

Neha Dhupia

Sporting a baby bump at the moment, this stunner’s father, Commander Pradip Singh Dhupia, served in the Indian Navy. She studied in Naval Public School and then at the Army Public School at Dhaula Kuan in New Delhi.

Celina Jaitley

The former Miss India and actress’s father was V.K. Jaitley, a colonel in the Indian Army. The blue-eyed beauty lost her 
father in July 2017.

Chitrangda Singh

Daughter of Colonel Niranjan Singh Chahal, the dusky beauty with critically acclaimed performances in several films has been winning our hearts for quite some time now.

Simi Garewal

The evergreen diva and yesteryear’s actress is the daughter of Brigadier J.S. Garewal. 

Others: 

Amrita Singh: Daughter of army officer Shivinder Singh Virik.

Gauri Khan: Daughter of Colonel Ramesh Chandra Chibber.

Mita Vashisht: Her father is Colonel (retd) Rajeshwar Dutt Vashisht.

THE BRATS

Akshay Kumar

Son of military officer Hari Om Bhatia, Akshay does a lot of charitable work for martyred soldiers’ families. 

Arjun Rampal 

One of the best-looking men in the industry and also starring in the latest war film Paltan, the hunk’s maternal grandfather, Brigadier Gurdayal Singh, served in the army.

Others:

Mohnish Bahl: His father was Lieutenant Commander Rajnish Bahl in the Indian Navy.

Rannvijay Singh Singha: The VJ, actor and show host’s father is Lieutenant General (retd) Iqbal Singh Singha.