26-07-2025
Rannvijay Singha Shares Chilling Memories of Kargil War On Vijay Diwas: ‘Days Filled With Anxiety'
On Kargil Vijay Diwas, Rannvijay Singha remembers his father's role in the 1999 war and shares how he chose to serve the armed forces in his own way.
On 26th July, the country is celebrating Kargil Vijay Diwas and recalling the sacrifices of hundreds of soldiers who stood against all threats to India. Actor and host Rannvijay Singha also comes from a family of soldiers, and 26 years ago, his father, Lt Gen (retd) Iqbal Singh Singha, was posted as a Colonel in the Poonch-Batalik sector during the 1999 Kargil War. As we celebrate this special day, Rannvijay recalled that time.
In a conversation with HT, Rannvijay shared, 'For my family, the fauj (army) was the only way of life. In the 1980s, Punjab was the field area, and by the early 1990s, we were posted to Jammu and Kashmir, where we witnessed action while living in various locations."
While recalling the memory of the first war of his generation, Rannvijay got emotional and shared, 'Kargil Vijay Diwas brings back memories my generation witnessed firsthand. My father and uncles were directly involved. That's when I truly understood what it means to be part of something greater than yourself — the meaning of patriotism and our collective consciousness as Indians."
He recalled how he rushed home when the war broke out, and due to security reasons, he had no way to contact his father directly. 'Those were days filled with anxiety,' the actor said while recalling that the family relied on periodic updates. While his job was to motivate the children through sports and activities, senior women 'mentored young officers' wives."
With a family who has been serving in the army for generations, it was assumed that Rannvijay would join them too. 'I even cleared the SSB (Services Selection Board)," he recalled, but destiny had other plans.
Rannvijay was quite hesitant to ask his father about his career choices, but when they spoke, his father told him, 'You have officer-like qualities but can also serve by spreading awareness about the armed forces."
'Now, when I participate in the Mhow Infantry Run or bike runs on Kargil Diwas, or motivate youth to join the services, I understand what he meant by 'serving the army from outside'," Rannvijay concluded.
Rannvijay Singha began his career in 2003 as the winner of MTV Roadies Season 1. His charm and leadership led him to host multiple seasons of the show. He later ventured into acting, appearing in films and web series. He was most recently seen in Mismatched.
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