Bollywood’s stars who come from army families

Growing up in an army family is far from ordinary. It comes with discipline, frequent moves, and deep respect for the nation. Some of Bollywood’s most popular actresses were raised in such households—daughters of brave Indian soldiers and officers. These Fauji kids carry their unique upbringing into everything they do, and their stories are filled with pride, resilience, and heartwarming memories. Let’s take a look at eight Bollywood actresses who proudly come from Indian Army families.

Rakul Preet Singh is the daughter of Army officer Rajender Singh. Like many army kids, she moved often and faced the challenges of constantly starting over in new places. Speaking to Curly Tales, she recalled the time her father was posted on the Manipur border. Her family stayed in Aizawl, Mizoram, for over three years. She shared that, coming from an Army background, she understood what it’s like to live in the constant fear of losing a parent at the border, changing cities, making new friends, adjusting to yet another unknown place, and more. She added that the experience was especially tough on her mother, who was often anxious about her father’s safety.

Preity Zinta's father was an Army officer, Durganand Zinta, who sadly passed away in a car accident when she was just 13. Her brother, Deepankar Zinta, also serves in the Indian Army. She once shared how her father always pushed her to be strong and independent. As per BollywoodShaadis, Preity said, “He would often tell her that an Indian woman is first dependent on her father when she's young, then her husband after her marriage, and later on her son. However, Preity's father, Durganand never wanted her to be dependent on anyone. He wanted her to be the master of her own destiny.”

While Disha Patani didn’t grow up in an army home herself, her elder sister, Khushboo Patani, served as a Major in the Indian Army. When Khushboo recently rescued an abandoned baby in Bareilly and reunited the child with their parents, her story went viral online. Disha was full of praise for her sister’s quick action and dedication to duty. Even though Disha didn’t wear the uniform herself, the values of service and bravery clearly run strong in her family.

Lara Dutta’s father, Wing Commander L.K. Dutta, served in the Indian Air Force and was also Indira Gandhi’s personal pilot. Speaking to Pinkvilla, Lara shared a special memory, “He had flown her many times and knew her personally. I grew up as a kid hearing stories about her. So, in a way, I felt an indirect personal connection with her,” she was quoted as saying. These stories from her father not only made history feel personal but also inspired her performances on screen, including when she portrayed Indira Gandhi in the film ‘Bell Bottom’.

Sushmita Sen’s father, Wing Commander Shubeer Sen, served in the Indian Air Force. She studied in Air Force schools and credits her upbringing for giving her the strength to follow her dreams, including winning the Miss Universe title. In an interview with Outlook, Sushmita said, Her father is highly spiritual. She called him ‘her spiritual’ side. She added that he taught her ‘let it go’ in life. On the other hand, her mother is the aggressive one, who taught her never to be scared of failure. This balance of calm and courage helped shape the strong woman she is today.

Priyanka Chopra grew up in a military household, both her parents were doctors in the Indian Army. Her father, Dr. Ashok Chopra, was her hero. Back in 2020, she shared a sweet childhood picture wearing his oversized army outfit. In her caption, she wrote, “#TBT to little Priyanka. This is a photo from the album in my upcoming book. I used to love following my dad around the house dressed in his Army uniform. I wanted to grow up and be exactly like him. He was my idol.” Her admiration for her father and his service continues to inspire her every day.