Nimrat Kaur, a talented and versatile actress, has become a household name in Indian cinema and international television. Her journey to stardom, however, is as heart-wrenching as it is inspiring. Born on March 13, 1982, into a Sikh family in Pilani, Rajasthan, Nimrat’s life took a tragic turn when her father, Major Bhupinder Singh, was kidnapped and killed by terrorists when she was just 11 years old.
Nimrat’s life story is one of resilience, strength, and perseverance in the face of unimaginable loss. From moving cities every few years as a child due to her father’s postings in the Indian Army to becoming a well-known actress after starring in Akshay Kumar’s hit movie Airlift, Nimrat has come a long way.
A Childhood Marked by Tragedy
Nimrat’s father, Major Bhupinder Singh, was an engineer in the Indian Army. In January 1994, while posted in Verinag, Kashmir, he was kidnapped by the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and killed after seven days. Nimrat, who was just 11 years old at the time, lost her father under tragic circumstances that changed her life forever.
Recalling the incident, Nimrat shared in an interview, “My father was kidnapped from his place of work, and after seven days, they terminated him. He was just 44 when he died. We got the news and flew back with his body to Delhi. I saw him for the first time there.” This devastating event marked the end of her childhood innocence and the beginning of her journey to overcome adversity.
A New Life in Noida
Following her father’s death, Nimrat, along with her mother Avinash Kaur and younger sister Rubina Kaur, moved to Noida. Her mother used the family’s savings and Major Bhupinder Singh’s pension to build a new life for them. “We never went back to Patiala again except to pick up our luggage,” she recalled. Her father was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra for his bravery, a bittersweet moment as it coincided with her birthday, March 13.
From Tragedy to Stardom
Despite the immense challenges life threw at her, Nimrat excelled academically, attending Delhi Public School, Noida, and later Shri Ram College of Commerce at Delhi University. It was during her college years that Nimrat began nurturing her dream of becoming an actress.
Moving to Mumbai to pursue her passion, she initially worked as a model and dabbled in theatre to sharpen her acting skills. She gained early recognition with appearances in music videos like Kumar Sanu’s “Tera Mera Pyar” and Shreya Ghoshal’s “Yeh Kya Hua” in 2004. In 2005, Nimrat made her film debut in a minor role in Shoojit Sircar’s war drama Yahaan, but her big break was yet to come.
Breakthrough with The Lunchbox
Nimrat’s breakout role came in 2013 when she starred in the critically acclaimed film The Lunchbox alongside Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Directed by Ritesh Batra, The Lunchbox is widely regarded as one of the finest Indian films of the 21st century. Nimrat’s nuanced performance won her widespread appreciation, and she became a name to watch in the industry.
Fame with Airlift and Beyond
Although The Lunchbox brought her critical acclaim, it was her role in Akshay Kumar’s Airlift in 2016 that catapulted her to mainstream fame. In the film, based on the 1990 Gulf War evacuation of Indians from Kuwait, Nimrat portrayed Amrita Katyal, the wife of Akshay Kumar’s character. Her powerful performance won the hearts of audiences and firmly established her as a talented actress in Bollywood.
Since then, Nimrat has been selective about her projects, appearing in films like Dasvi (2022) with Abhishek Bachchan and the 2023 movie Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video. She has also made her mark internationally, starring in popular television shows such as Homeland, Wayward Pines, and Foundation, as well as the Indian web series The Test Case and School of Lies.
Healing from the Past
Despite her professional success, Nimrat has always carried the weight of her father’s tragic death. In 2013, 19 years after her father’s death, Nimrat returned to Kashmir for the first time for closure. She visited Verinag, where her father was stationed, and spent ten days there, reflecting on her past. “I came back and got a tattoo done on my wrist which reads ‘Zenab,’ meaning a father’s precious jewel that brings glory to his name,” Nimrat shared, explaining how the visit helped her heal.
A Story of Resilience and Strength
Nimrat Kaur’s journey from the daughter of an Army officer to a celebrated actress is a testament to her resilience, strength, and determination. Despite facing immense personal loss at a young age, she has risen to prominence in both Indian and international cinema.
Her story continues to inspire many, proving that no matter how difficult life may seem, perseverance and hard work can lead to success. From her early struggles to her fame opposite Akshay Kumar, Nimrat’s life is a powerful reminder that true strength lies in overcoming adversity.