10 Most Famous People From Himachal
Anupam Kher
Anupam Kher is a Bollywood actor who was born and raised in Shimla in a Kashmiri Pandit family. In 2013, he appeared in the Oscar-winning film, Silver Linings Playbook. Kher also appeared in Bend It Like Beckham, which received a Golden Globe nomination in 2002. Kher has also served as president of the Central Board of Film Certification and the National School of Drama. He received the Padma Shri in 2004 and five Filmfare Awards for Best Performance in a Comedy Role. His handprint was preserved for posterity at Mumbai’s Bandra Bandstand as part of the Walk of Stars.
Vikram Batra, Captain,
Captain Vikram Batra joined the Indian Army as a Lieutenant of the 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in Sopore, J&K in 1997 after growing up in a small village called Ghuggar in the Palampur region of Himachal. The Param Veer Chakra was awarded posthumously to Captain Vikram Batra, a brave army officer who died on duty during the Kargil war in 1999.
Priety Zinta
Preity Zinta is a Bollywood actress who was born in Shimla’s small town of Rohru. She has also worked in Telugu, Punjabi, and English films. At the 2008 Chicago International Film Festival, she received the Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress for the film Heaven on Earth. She is a co-owner of the Punjab Kings, an Indian Premier League (IPL) team.
Mohit Chauhan
Mohit Chauhan is a leading playback singer who rose to prominence as a pop singer before becoming a playback singer in Bollywood. He was born in the Nahan town of Sirmaur district in Himachal. His love songs are among his most well-known works. Chauhan has won several awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Playback Singer (Male) twice.
Major Somnath Sharma
The brave soldier of the Indian Army from the Kumaon regiment, was the proud recipient of our country’s first Param Veer Chakra. He was posthumously awarded the Param Veer Chakra for his bravery and dedication during the Kashmir operations in 1947.
Ruskin Bond
Ruskin Bond, a well-known children’s author and one of the twentieth century’s most influential writers, was born in the Himachal Pradesh district of Solan in the Kasauli region (then a part of Punjab). Bond received the Padma Bhushan in 2014, as well as the Padma Shri in 1999. Among his major works are Room on the Roof, A Face in the Dark, and The Blue Umbrella.
Kangna Ranaut
Kangana Ranaut was born in Bhambha, Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, and is best known for her roles in Gangster, Fashion, Queen, Revolver Rani, and Tanu Weds Manu, among others. She has four National Awards and five Filmfare Awards to her name. Kangana received the Padma Shri award from the Indian government in 2020.
Dalip Singh Rana
This 7 feet 3 inch tall wrestler hails from Dhiraina, Himachal Pradesh and is better known by his ring name, The Great Khali. Khali, best known for his time with WWE, is a semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, and powerlifter. He became the World Heavyweight Champion in 2007 and has appeared in four Hollywood and two Bollywood films. He is known for his unbreakable frame and unique fighting moves.
Shiva Keshavan
A five-time Olympian, he was India’s first luge representative at the Winter Olympics. In 1998, he set a world record as the youngest ever Olympian in luge (at 16 years old). In the Asian Luge Cup, he won two gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals.
Prem Chopra
Prem Chopra is an Indian actor best known for his work in Hindi films. He was born in Lahore, Pakistan. Chopra’s family relocated to Shimla following the partition. Chopra, known for playing antagonistic roles, appeared in 19 films as the villain opposite Rajesh Khanna.
