Bollywood’s 5 hottest former male models: from Dhoom’s John Abraham and ‘India’s national heartthrob’ Milind Soman to Randeep Hooda from Netflix movie Extraction
- Randeep Hooda went from modelling and amateur theatre to Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding and recently starred alongside Chris Hemsworth in Netflix’s Extraction
- Now 55, Milind Soman caught India’s attention by posing nude in the 90s, and went on to have a successful film and TV career
While those decades also saw a handful of good-looking fellas on TV ads and music videos, the slew of male models moving into acting proper only began in the 2000s (and continues to today). With their razor-sharp jawlines and Greek god physiques, here are five Indian supermodels that went from walking the runways to acting behind the cameras.
Arjun Rampal
Given his career longevity, Rampal sets an excellent example as a model-turned-actor in Bollywood. With over 50 titles under his belt, Rampal conquered the early 2000s with films like Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat (2001), Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002), Don (2006) and Om Shanti Om (2007). The Indian-Dutch actor was discovered in a nightclub by designer Rohit Bahl and started modelling at the age of 17. While his fame on the runway always seemed guaranteed, his film career did take a few stumbles. He nevertheless got back on track by carving a more niche career out of experimental roles in titles like Rock On!! (2008), Daddy (2017) and the latest Zee5 Premium web film, Nail Polish (2021).
John Abraham
His chiselled figure and boyish dimples saw Abraham crowned Gladrags magazine’s Manhunt and Megamodel Contest winner in 1999, but within a few years he’d moved into acting. The 182cm-tall (six feet) model made his debut in erotic thriller Jism (2003), followed by the blockbuster hit Dhoom in 2004. He later did a stint in comedies (Garam Masala, Dostana), but eventually made successful turns as a serious actor in Shootout at Wadala (2013), Parmanu (2018) and Batla House (2019). Not stopping there, the Iranian-Indian actor also earned success as a film producer with Vicky Donor (2012).
Randeep Hooda
