An actress, voice artist, model, beauty queen, philanthropist, activist, and entrepreneur, Gul Panag is also an icon for women’s fitness. She is also a traveller who has travelled to over 30 countries, an adventurer who loves off-road driving, biking, horse riding, bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, endurance trekking, and preparing for climbing Mount Everest.
Early Life
Gul Panag, born Gulkirat Kaur Panag on January 3, 1979, in Chandigarh. She comes from an army background, with her father, Lt. Gen. Harcharanjit Singh Panag, serving in the Indian Army. This military upbringing meant that Gul attended 14 different schools across India and abroad. She studied in schools like Kendriya Vidyalayas, The Lawrence School, Lovedale, and the International School of Lusaka, Zambia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Punjab University, Patiala. Her master’s in political science came from Panjab University, Chandigarh. She also obtained a law degree from the University of Mumbai.
Acting Career
Gul Panag’s journey into the world of glamour began when she won the Miss India title in 1999. She was also crowned Miss Beautiful Smile at the same pageant. She represented India at the Miss Universe 1999 pageant, which propelled her into the limelight and set the stage for her subsequent ventures in the entertainment industry.
Gul made her Bollywood debut with Ashwini Chaudhary’s critically acclaimed “Dhoop” in 2003. In the film, she starred with Om Puri, Revathi, and Sanjay Suri and played the role of the fiancée of a Kargil Shaheed. Her performance was well received, and she was praised for her natural acting.
Gul portrayed Zednat, a woman fighting hard to save her husband from going to the gallows, in Nagesh Kukunoor’s critically acclaimed film, “Dor (2006),” for which she received the Zee Cine Critics Award for Best Actress.
Over the years, Gul continued to impress audiences with her versatility and acting prowess. Some of her notable films include “Manorama Six Feet Under (2007), Hello (2008), Straight (2009), Rann (2010), Turning 30 (2011), Fatso! (2012), Ab Tak Chhappan 2 (2015), Ambarsariya (2016), Student of the Year 2 (2019), 420 IPC (2021), Zwigato (2023), and many more.
Personal Life
Gul Panag married Capt. Rishi Attari, a pilot, on March 13, 2011. The couple has a son named Nihal, born in 2018. Gul is known for her adventurous spirit and is an avid biker. She have undertaken a road trip across the country on a Royal Enfield motorcycle. She also holds a private pilot license.
Beyond her acting career, Gul Panag is a dedicated social activist. She runs the Colonel Shamsher Singh Foundation, an NGO that works towards gender equality, education, and disaster management. She actively pricipated in the India Against Corruption movement. and served on the advisory board of the Wockhardt Foundation.
Gul Panag’s multifaceted career and dynamic personality have made her a beloved figure in the Indian entertainment industry and social circuit. Her commitment to social causes, coupled with her acting talent, has earned her admiration and respect beyond her on-screen presence. She continues to be a role model for many aspiring individuals, embodying grace, intelligence, and determination.
Gul Panag on IMDB
