Varun Dhawan, Diana Penty, Saqib Saleem & Other Stars Who Portrayed Indian Heroes on Screen!
There is an unmistakable sense of pride in watching Bollywood stars wear armed forces uniforms with dignity and respect. From Varun Dhawan in Border 2 to Akshay Kumar in Rustom and Diana Penty in Parmanu, these performers have consistently evoked patriotic fervor while honoring the country’s armed forces. As India marks Independence Day today, here is a look at actors who created memorable on-screen moments in uniform.
Varun Dhawan – Border 2
After creating his own niche in the space of rom-com, Varun Dhawan arrived with a bang in the patriotic war drama space with Border 2, a blockbuster that saw him as Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya, PVC – Indian Army officer from the 3rd Battalion of The Grenadier Regiment. Shedding layers of his boy-next-door image, the actor brought a sense of maturity to his character, making it a standout amongst his recent releases.
#DianaPenty- Parmanu
In Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran, Diana Penty played the role of Captain Ambalika Bandopadhyay, an intelligence officer working alongside the protagonist on the secret 1998 nuclear mission. With a mix of apt femininity and ferocity, Penty made the character a standout.
#ArjunRampal- Paltan
In the 2018 release, Arjun Rampal breathed life into the role of Lieutenant Colonel Raj Singh Yadav, who sets out to safeguard Nathu La Pass from the Chinese while having to bear the pain of staying away from his loved ones.
#SaqibSaleem – Kaptaan
Saqib Saleem recently won hearts in Kaptaan, playing SSP Samardeep, an intense and instinct-driven encounter specialist fighting gang wars in Jwalabad. The actor brought rugged intensity to the character, making it believable to the audience and also a beloved.
#VeerPahariya – Sky Force
Veer Pahariya made a staggering big-screen Bollywood debut with Sky Force, stepping into the shoes of the brave fighter pilot ‘Tabby’. In his first release itself, the actor displayed sheer determination to venture into patriotism and pull off a challenging role at a time when it would have been easy to take a predictable route.
#JanhviKapoor – Gunjan Saxena
In Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Janhvi Kapoor stepped into the shoes of an Air Force officer. The film navigates her journey from a small-town dreamer to becoming the first woman to fly in a combat zone. Stepping away from the usual glamorous shades, Janhvi Kapoor stretched her appeal as a dynamic performer.
Which of these patriotic spectacles are you binging this Independence Day?
By Keerti Kadam