Nana Patekar to Gufi Paintal: Indian actors who were real-life soldiers

Before becoming one of Bollywood’s most passionate, versatile actors, Nana Patekar was an Indian Army service member. In the Territorial Army, he was commissioned as an honorary captain and even took part in the Kargil War. His real-life experiences, gained after rigorous training with the Maratha Light Infantry, provided authenticity and depth to his roles, particularly his acclaimed film 'Prahaar'.

Bikramjeet Kanwarpal, a screen personality who’s seen frequently in movies and TV dramas, had already been raised in the Indian Army — and thus knew what it took to be disciplined and become a decent leader. Commissioned in 1989, he retired as a Major, then pursued acting full-time. His demeanor lent itself to uniformed roles in cinema and TV. The 52-year-old actor took his last breath on May 1, 2021. He passed away due to COVID-19 complications.

Best known from the original Mahabharat TV show as its protagonist Shakuni Mama, Gufi Paintal also served in the Indian Army. He was a member of the artillery and posted near the China border. His army service provided him with a disciplined edge, which came through well in his intense character roles. Besides movies like '3 Idiots', 'Ardh Satya', and 'Yeh Dillagi', he was also seen in popular television shows, including 'Wagle Ki Duniya', 'Majha Hoshil Na', 'Mrs. Tendulkar', 'Bharat Ki Khoj', among others.

He followed in his father and uncle’s military footsteps, and Mohammed Ali Shah was a Major in the Indian Army, including a posting in the Assam Rifles. After his service, he moved on to acting, lending authenticity to roles in pictures like 'Haider' and 'Agent Vinod'. He is also a motivational speaker, a teacher at Subhash Ghai's acting school, and an alumnus of IIM-Calcutta.

Achyut Potdar played Bollywood’s wise, dignified roles, but he also served in the Indian Army. After serving in the military, he continued into a successful career in acting by debuting at the age of 44, with military roots lending him a sense of nobility in the portrayals he provided. The actor took his last breath on August 18, 2025.