Vidyut Jammwal

2.1. Birth and Childhood

Vidyut Dev Singh Jammwal was born on 10 December 1980, in Jammu, India. He is one of three children born to an Indian Army officer. Due to his father's transferable job, Jammwal lived in various parts of India during his childhood.

2.2. Education and Martial Arts Training

Jammwal began training in Kalaripayattu at an ashram in Palakkad, Kerala, at the age of three. This ashram was run by his mother. His training in Kalaripayattu formed the core of his martial arts expertise. He traveled extensively to over 25 countries, engaging with martial artists and learning various forms, many of which had their roots in Kalaripayattu. He also performed in live action shows during this period. Jammwal obtained a martial arts degree. Growing up, he was particularly inspired by the action star Jackie Chan. After participating in the Gladrags Manhunt and Megamodel Contest in 2000, he moved to Mumbai. Prior to his acting career, he had worked as a model in Delhi since 1996, but eventually transitioned to acting.

3.1. Debut and Early Career (2011-2012)

Jammwal made his Bollywood debut in 2011 with the action film Force, where he played a negative role opposite John Abraham. His performance earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. In the same year, he also appeared in negative roles in the Telugu-language films Shakti and Oosaravelli, both starring NTR.

In 2012, Jammwal entered Tamil cinema as the antagonist in Billa II, starring opposite Ajith Kumar, a role that garnered him critical acclaim. He further solidified his presence in Tamil cinema by playing the antagonist in A. R. Murugadoss's Thuppakki, which featured Vijay and became a major blockbuster. For his performance in Thuppakki, he received the SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role - Tamil.

3.2. Rise as an Action Star (2013-Present)

Jammwal took on his first lead role in the 2013 Hindi-language film Commando, where he performed all the real-world combat-based action sequences without the use of stuntmen. The film gained international attention, being showcased at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal in July 2013, and subsequently at the Fantastic Fest in Texas in September 2013. His performance in Commando earned him significant praise from international media and action directors, who compared him to legendary martial artists like Bruce Lee and Tony Jaa.

Following the success of Commando, Jammwal played a sharpshooter cop in Tigmanshu Dhulia's Bullett Raja. In 2014, he appeared in a supporting role in the Tamil film Anjaan, alongside Suriya. He returned to the Commando series in 2017 with Commando 2, which was a box office success. That same year, he also starred as Major Seher Singh in Baadshaho.

In 2019, Jammwal starred in American director Chuck Russell's first Bollywood film, Junglee, and also in Commando 3. The latter marked his return to the Commando franchise and became the most successful film in the series to date, earning 27.00 M INR within six days of its release. His next project was Tigmanshu Dhulia's Yaara (2020), an official remake of the French film Les Lyonnais. He had also signed on for two large-format films by director Ram Madhvani, aiming to create an atmosphere similar to the Hollywood film 300. In 2020, he appeared in the action thriller Khuda Haafiz, which was inspired by real-life events and became his biggest opener. A sequel, Khuda Haafiz Chapter II, was subsequently announced with the same lead cast. In 2021, he played the lead role in the film Sanak. Jammwal also hosted the show India's Ultimate Warrior on Discovery in 2022, serving as a Dojo Master. In 2024, he starred in and produced the sports action film Crakk, which unfortunately emerged as a major commercial failure.

3.3. Filmography

All films are in Hindi unless otherwise noted.

3.4. Television and Other Ventures

Jammwal has also extended his career beyond feature films, participating in television and music video projects.

4.1. Film Awards

4.2. Popular Media Recognition

Jammwal has frequently appeared on lists recognizing his physical attributes and desirability. The Times of India included him in its listing of India's Top 10 Most Desirable Men in both 2012 and 2013. Men's Health magazine recognized him as having one of the "Best Bodies" in 2011 and listed him among the "Top 5 Fittest Men" in 2012. In 2012, People Magazine India featured him as one of "The Sexiest Men Alive". In 2014, he was honored by PETA as "India's Hottest Vegetarian" alongside Kangana Ranaut.

5.1. Veganism and Fitness

Jammwal is a dedicated vegan, a lifestyle he credits with helping him maintain his fitness. In 2013, he was recognized as one of India's best vegetarian celebrities. He also participated in a PETA campaign in 2018, advocating for ethical treatment of animals. Beyond his diet, Jammwal is an avid rock climber, having notably engaged in the sport at Piedra Parada, Argentina. His unique training regimen combines elements of martial arts, cardio, weight training, interval training, Gravity Yoga, and suspension TRX. In 2013, he visited the Shaolin Temple in China, where he paid tribute to Daruma for introducing Indian martial arts to China and participated in a week-long martial arts training program there.

5.2. Relationships

On 1 September 2021, Vidyut Jammwal publicly announced his engagement to Indian fashion designer Nandita Mahtani. However, in 2023, Jammwal and Mahtani ended their engagement.

5.3. Self-Defense and Social Activities

Vidyut Jammwal is actively involved in promoting self-defense and martial arts. He regularly teaches self-defense techniques to female university students and working women. In 2014, he organized and conducted a martial arts event at a university festival in Mumbai, demonstrating his commitment to empowering individuals through martial arts training.