Gul Panag Calls Miss India Title a Career Obstacle

Mumbai, 2 January. When it comes to ‘beauty with brain’, the name of multi-talented personality Gul Panag often comes up. Whether it is the Miss India crown or being a certified pilot, Gul is not just an actress and model but also a fitness expert, biker, and social activist.

Gul Panag won the Miss India title in 1999. Her perspective has always been clear and distinctive. Though she has done fewer films in Bollywood, she has consistently chosen meaningful and strong roles.

In an interview, Gul revealed that the Miss India title became a hurdle in her career.

She believes filmmakers hesitate to cast beauty queens in serious and deep roles, often offering them only glamorous parts.

Gul cited Priyanka Chopra as an example, saying only Priyanka has broken this tag to become an excellent actress.

Gul said, “The Miss India title proved to be an obstacle for me. If an actress wants to do only glamorous roles or films with little contribution where she mostly dances, this title is a great achievement. But if someone wants to be a serious actress and play meaningful roles, filmmakers hesitate to cast Miss India winners in such parts.”

Gul feels that nowadays good, meaningful films are being made that require strong actors. Praising Priyanka Chopra, she said only Priyanka has managed to break the beauty queen tag and prove herself as a remarkable actress.

Gul Panag’s film journey began with the 2003 release ‘Dhoop’. In her debut film, she played the role of the widow of Captain Anuj Nayar, who was martyred in the Kargil war. The film’s story focused on family struggles, and Gul’s performance was highly appreciated.

Later, in 2006, she appeared in Nagesh Kukunoor’s ‘Dor’, playing a Rajasthani widow. Her chemistry with Ayesha Takia and emotional acting won her critical acclaim. This film remains one of the most successful and memorable in her career.

In 2007, ‘Manorama Six Feet Under’, a thriller, showcased her acting skills once again. She has also been part of films like ‘Hello’, ‘Straight’, ‘Run’, ‘Turning 30’, and ‘Ab Tak Chhappan 2’. Her supporting role in the web series ‘Paatal Lok’ was well received. Gul always chooses content-driven films and stays away from commercial cinema.

On the personal front, she married her boyfriend and pilot Rishi Attari in 2011 following Punjabi customs. In 2018, she gave birth to a son named Nihal. Gul often shares pictures of bike rides, trips, and fitness activities with her family on social media. She is a licensed pilot, marathon runner, and biker herself.

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Daily Kiran