5 Bollywood celebrities who worked in Indian Army; served nation

Amid the growing tension between India and Pakistan, Indians are irked that many major Bollywood superstars have decided to keep mum and has not stood out in support of the country or Indian Army. But over the years there have been people who earlier worked in the army and later on joined Bollywood. And also there have been a few rare actors who joined army after becoming successful actors in Bollywood.

Nana Patekar

बहुत कम लोग जानते है बॉलीवुड एक्टर नाना पाटकर ने 3.5 साल इंडियन आर्मी में अपने सेवाएं दी,
भारतीय जवानों के साथ जम्मू कश्मीर जैसी संवेदनशीला जगहों पर तैनात थे।#IndianArmy #IndianNavy #IndiaPakistanTensions #IndianAirForce #Bollywood pic.twitter.com/IyzaqeGWMV

— Delip Mandal (@dilip_mandal_IN) May 6, 2025

The national award winning actor and director was already a big name when Kargil War happened in 1999. Since Nana Patekar had taken a proper military training before directing the movie Prahaar based on the lives of soldiers, he appealed the Indian Army to let him join the Army during the war.

Initially he was denied but later on seeing his deep intent and due to the intense practice sessions he had with the Maratha Light Infantry earlier during the movie-making, the then Defense Minister allowed him to serve the Indian Army as a captain during Kargil War.

Gufi Paintal

Those from the 90s can easily recall the Shakuni Mama from the serial Mahabharata that aired on Doordarshan. Before becoming an actor, Gufi Paintal was a part of the Indian Army and served the country during the India-China war. At that time he was an engineering student who was directly recruited in the artillery department of the Indian Army.

In 1960s Sarabjeet Gufi Paintal Did Mechanical Engineering From Regional Engineering College Jamshedpur

He Acted In Many TV Serials and Played Shakuni Mama In TV Series Mahabharat #EngineersDay pic.twitter.com/oFiEYLSc3G

— indianhistorypics (@IndiaHistorypic) September 15, 2021

Anand Bakshi

ANAND BAKSHI served both the Navy and the Army.

He joined Royal Indian Navy in 1944. After the Partition in 1947, his family left his birth place Rawalpindi for India; and he joined the Indian Army.

Remembering the legendary lyricist on 90th birth anniversary. pic.twitter.com/YbkuzEBMjK

— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 20, 2020

Famous lyricist Anand Bakshi served the Indian navy for more than a decade in between 1944 to 1956. Later on he joined Bollywood as a lyricist and formed a famous pairing with music directors like Laxmikant Pyarelal, and R.D.Burman.

Rehman

REHMAN : known for portraying the suave, dignified villain who hardly ever raised his voice & almost never got into a fight.

Remembering the veteran actor on his birth anniversary - here with Meena Kumari in ‘Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam’ & Waheeda Rehman in ‘Dil Diya Dard Liya’. pic.twitter.com/WrRuInLVb3

— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) June 23, 2019

The handsome villain of the late 50s and 60s first was a part of the Indian Army. Rehman was a part of the Royal Indian Air Force and later on joined Bollywood.

Achyut Potdar

(2009) Achyut Potdar in a still from '3 Idiots' pic.twitter.com/roCFTL97Hc

— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) May 12, 2020

Famous for his roles in 3 Idiots , Parineeta and more Achyut Potdar first worked as a professor in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Later on, he decided to join the Armed Forces and served the nation as Indian Army Officer. At the age of 44, he joined Bollywood and since then has been working as an actor.