New Delhi: The journey to Bollywood stardom is rarely straightforward, and for actress Mahie Gill it was anything but conventional. Before becoming famous for her bold and intense acting on screen, Mahie once dreamed of a life in uniform and was one of the few women selected for the Indian Army in the early years, when women officers were a rarity.
Born on 19 December 1975 in Chandigarh in a Punjabi Jat Sikh family, Mahi Gill grew up in a disciplined environment. His grandfather served in the Indian Army, while his mother was a senior college lecturer and NCC major. Inspired by her family background, Mahi always aspired to join the armed forces.
In an interview, Mahi revealed that she was selected for training at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai at a time when only a handful of women were being inducted. The candidates were selected from all over India, and their cadre included Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Although he excelled in many areas, he admitted to struggling with signaling and technical aspects.
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Recalling the selection process, Mahi shared that when she was asked whether she wanted to “start peace or fight” she boldly chose the latter. “If you want peace, go to a beauty pageant. If you want to fight, come join us,” she was told, these words sealing her choice.
Despite his passion for the army, fate had other plans.
After leaving the army, Mahi moved to Mumbai, where she faced rejection for years. To sustain herself, she danced in disco bars, big events and even children’s birthday parties, in the hope that someone from the film industry would notice her. He once joked that he believed he could be seen in a disco or at a petrol station, but this never happened.
His success came in the most unexpected way. While performing continuously for five to six hours at a child’s birthday party, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap took notice of his energy and screen presence. Impressed, he cast her as Paro in Dev D. This role became a turning point in her career, earning her instant recognition and the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
Over the years, Mahie Gill has carved a niche for herself with powerful performances in films like Gulaal, Paan Singh Tomar, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster, Bullet Raja and Family of Thakurganj. She was particularly known for her fearless, action-oriented roles and strong female characters.
Interestingly, Mahhi’s on-screen toughness mirrors her real-life nature. She once revealed that as a teenager, she physically confronted a boy who repeatedly harassed her during French classes. After being ignored several times, she finally stood up for herself – a moment she credits with shaping her decision to pursue the Army.
Although he also worked in Telugu cinema, he did not achieve major success. Nevertheless, his acting in Hindi films has left a lasting impression.
In 2023, Mahie Gill confirmed that she had married her long-time partner Ravi Kesar. She currently lives in Goa with her partner and their daughter Varnika, and is leading a quiet life away from the limelight.