EXCLUSIVE: “Living With No Electricity, Dense Forests” – Tales From Nimrat Kaur’s Army Background!
When you think of Nimrat Kaur, you probably picture her stealing the scene in The Lunchbox or bringing depth and steel to her roles in Airlift and Homeland. In an exclusive chat with Instant Bollywood, the actor reminisced about her childhood. And what a fascinating journey it has been.
EXCLUSIVE: “Living With No Electricity, Dense Forests” – Tales From Nimrat Kaur’s Army Background!
Born to an Army officer, Nimrat’s early life was anything but ordinary. She grew up in protected cantonments, hopping from one small Indian town to another every few years.
“We used to live in cantonments, and every two or three years, we would get transferred. In small towns, small places… it was a protected environment where all the kids had similar things, all the homes had similar furniture,” she shared.
There was a sense of calm and community in that life, where birthdays were celebrated with the same familiar faces and neighbors became extended family.
(Also Read: Nimrat Kaur Reveals Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen Terrorists Abducted And Killed Her Dad)
EXCLUSIVE: “My Father Chose To Not Send Me To Army School, Sent Me To Public School” – Nimrat Kaur
But Nimrat’s father, Major Bhupender Singh, wanted more for his daughter than a life lived in a bubble. In a decision that shaped her worldview, he chose not to send her to an Army school.
“What my father did differently was he sent me to convents and public school,” she said. While that might not sound like a huge deal, in Army circles, it was. Most kids in that world go to Army-run schools where everything from teachers to classmates is linked to the same ecosystem.
But her dad wanted her to experience a broader slice of society. And he made sure she was never told what she could or couldn’t do just because she was a girl.
EXCLUSIVE: Nimrat Kaur Talks About Constant Travelling Due To Her Army Background
Growing up in places most people have never heard of, Nimrat’s early memories sound almost dreamlike. She lived in Yingkiong, a remote part of Arunachal Pradesh near the Chinese border. The area had no electricity, and her days were filled with forest trails and fruit-picking adventures.
“There was no electricity there. We’d sleep at 7 PM, surrounded by dense forests,” she recalled, painting a vivid picture of her childhood.
Being an Army kid also meant Nimrat got to see India in a way few people ever do. From Bathinda, Patiala to Pune, she’s lived it all. And each place added to her understanding of what truly makes India special. “I feel like India is actually many different small countries. Sometimes I feel like it could be a continent like Europe,” she reflected.
While many assume that growing up in an Army family means strict rules and daily drills, Nimrat says the reality was much softer. It was less about discipline and more about exposure, stability, and silent strength.
“Actually, sometimes when I hear such questions, it feels like we Army kids have some sort of academy where we’re all taught discipline,” she joked, brushing off the stereotype.
(Also Read: Nimrat Kaur Birthday Special: See Her Top Travel Diaries)
