1962: The War In The Hills Web series Actress And Actor

1962: The War In The Hills is an Indian web series, directed by Mahesh Manjrekar and produced by Arre Studios. It is based on the China-India War. The series starring Abhay Deol, Mahie Gill, Rohan Gandotra, Sumeet Vyas. The series was premiered on 26 February 2021 on Disney+ Hotstar.

Cast

The complete cast of web series 1962: The War In The Hills :

Abhay Deol

As : Major Suraj Singh

Sumeet Vyas

As : Ram Kumar

Akash Thosar

As : Sepoy Kishan Yadav

Mahie Gill

As : Shagun Singh (Suraj’s wife)

Meiyang Chang

As : Major Lin

Rohan Gandotra

As : Karan

Anup Soni

As : Major Khattar

Hemal Ingle

As : Radha

Vineet Sharma

As : Hardam Singh

Prem Dharmadhikari

As : Raju Yadav

Jay Parab

As : Nakul

Rochelle Rao

As : Rinpa

Satya Manjrekar

As : Gopal

Hemant Kumar

As : Singram

Secondary Cast

• Sanjay Dadhich as Mohan
• Sammaera Jaiswal as Neelam (12 Years old)
• Varun Upadhyay as Manoj
• Geetika Vidya Ohlyan as Indira Gandhi
• Mahesh Pillai as Colonel Lalwani
• Shivramprasad Pandit as Master Ji
• Shiv Subramaniyam as Mr. Krishna
• Micky Makhija as General Kher
• Karim Hajee as General Singha
• Medha Manjrekar as Radha’s mother
• Pallavi Kulkarni as Jaya
• Pooja Sawant as Padma
• Arif Zakaria as Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
• Siddhant Mooley as Ahmed
• Pawandeep Rajan as Nido Tana Aka Radar
• Liao Meng Chi as Ug Lee
• Kishor Nandalskar as Daak Chacha
• Diganta Hazarika Jay as Pema
• Tejeshwar Singh as Jasjit
• Pratibha Bhagat as Gopal’s mother
• Ankush Mandekar as Basdev
• Anjali Joglekar as Kishan’s mother
• Ashwini Kulkarni as Major Khattar’s wife
• Yash and Sakshi as Khattar’s kids
• Fatema Arif as Chanda
• Ajay Singh as Brigadier
• Manthan as Teenager Kishan
• Shivram as Karan
• Aishleen as Radha
• Rajesh Balwani as Sarpanch
• Amit as Jatt 1
• Ahraz as Jatt 2
• Ajitab Singh as Inquiry Officer 1
• Pavan Dubay as Inquiry Officer 2
• Rava Bhave as Dr. Desai
• Ashok Lokhande as Mr.Shinde
• Peter Wong as Premiere Chou En Lai
• Bijo as as Chinese Soldier 1
• Tashi as Chinese Soldier 2
• Tuthan as Chinese Soldier 3
• Jay as Chinese Soldier 4
• Gauri Varma as Shagun 80 Years
• Paras as Guard (Baramulla Phone Booth)
• Indra as Guard (Kargil Phone Booth)
• Gauri Verma as Shagun (80 Years old)
• Meenal Kapoor as Neelam (60 Years old)
• Reshham Sahani as Neelam’s daughter
• Adish Vaidya as Neelam’s son
• Swati as Nurse
• Deepak as Soldier 1
• Chandan as Soldier 2
• Prageet Pandit as Doctor
• Santosh as Pandit
• Sanjay as Clerk
• Pratibha Bhagat as Nakul’s Mother
• B S Rajput as Nakul’s Father
• Shubhangi Latkar as Padma’s Mother
• Firdaus Khan as Officers Wife
• Pavan Sharma as Commanding Officer Baramulla
• Geeta Thakkar as Shadab’s mother
• Mansi Singh as Shanti
• Suman, Monica as Nakul’s 2 daughters
• Raju Paul as Attendant
• Pradeep as Manpreet
• Manoj Singh as Commentator
• Manish Das as Drill Master
• Sunil as Soldier at Supply Room
• Shubham Kirodian as Shadab
• Pravin Bhosale as Veer Jaideep Singh as Manjeet
• Vivek Vikal as Vishal
• Liao Kou Chi as Bao

Release Date & Availability

1962: The War In The Hills is available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar from 26 February 2021. This season has total 10 episodes. Other details related to the show are given below

Available On	Disney+ Hotstar
Total Episode	10 Episodes
Running Time	36-55 Minutes (Total 425 Minutes)
Released Date	26 February 2021
Language	Hindi
Subtitle	English
Country	India

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The Real Heroes: Exploring the Cast of ‘1962: The War In The Hills’

The Disney+ Hotstar Specials series, 1962: The War In The Hills, brought a forgotten chapter of Indian military history to the forefront. Directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, the 10-episode war drama is a fictionalized account inspired by the valor of the 125 Indian soldiers of the C Company who defended a strategic pass in Ladakh against a formidable 3,000-strong Chinese army during the Sino-Indian War of 1962.

While the series vividly portrays the gritty realities of the battlefield and the lack of resources faced by the Indian Army, a significant portion of its narrative strength comes from the compelling personal stories of the soldiers and their families back in the village of Rewari. The stellar ensemble cast, featuring a reunion of critically acclaimed actors, breathes life into these characters, anchoring the epic war backdrop with emotional depth.

Here is a detailed look at the actors and actresses who formed the core of the powerful and poignant cast of 1962: The War In The Hills.

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The Commanders and The Leading Men

The military drama is steered by a powerhouse of performers known for choosing unconventional and impactful roles, bringing credibility and gravitas to the story of ‘C Company’.

1. Abhay Deol as Major Suraj Singh

Character Role: Major Suraj Singh is the central figure of the series, an experienced and meticulous officer in command of the ‘C Company.’ His character is inspired by the real-life Major Shaitan Singh, who led the legendary last stand at Rezang La. Major Suraj Singh is portrayed as a calm, composed, and tenacious leader, highly revered by his men. The series delves into his personal life, showing his relationship with his wife, adding a layer of human emotion to the stoic soldier.

Actor’s Career Highlights: Abhay Deol is widely recognized as a proponent of parallel cinema and for his versatile role choices in Bollywood.

• Breakthrough: His career-defining performance came in Anurag Kashyap’s black comedy Dev.D (2009), a modern and edgy take on the classic Bengali novella Devdas.
• Major Films: He achieved his biggest commercial success as part of the ensemble cast in Zoya Akhtar’s critically and commercially acclaimed film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011).
• Notable Works: He is also celebrated for his roles in independent films like Manorama Six Feet Under (2007) and Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008), showcasing his preference for complex and unconventional characters.

2. Sumeet Vyas as Jemadar Ram Kumar

Character Role: Jemadar Ram Kumar is a hot-headed but fundamentally brave soldier and a widower with a young son. His emotional journey of coping with guilt and impulsiveness forms a significant subplot back in Rewari, connecting the village life with the impending war. He shares a special bond with the village woman Padma.

Actor’s Career Highlights: Sumeet Vyas is one of the most prominent faces of the Indian digital content revolution, affectionately dubbed the ‘Permanent Roommate’ after his seminal role.

• Digital Stardom: His breakthrough role was as Mikesh Chaudhary in TVF’s highly popular web series Permanent Roommates (2014). He is also the co-writer and lead actor of the hugely successful road-trip web series TVF Tripling.
• Film Roles: He has a noteworthy presence in mainstream cinema, including supporting roles in films like English Vinglish and a pivotal role in the commercially successful Veere Di Wedding.

3. Akash Thosar as Sepoy Kishan Yadav

Character Role: Sepoy Kishan Yadav is one of the young soldiers in the C Company. His character represents the youthful and emotional side of the military life, as the series explores his nascent romantic relationship just before he is called to the frontline.

Actor’s Career Highlights: Akash Thosar, a former wrestler, rose to instant fame with his debut itself, becoming a household name across India.

• Debut and Fame: He made a massive debut with the critically acclaimed and blockbuster Marathi film Sairat (2016), for which he won a Filmfare Award Marathi for Best Male Debut.
• Crossover Projects: Following Sairat, he appeared in Anurag Kashyap’s segment of the Netflix original anthology film Lust Stories (2018) and reunited with his Sairat director Nagraj Manjule for the Hindi film Jhund.

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The Women: The Pillars of Strength

The series makes a conscious effort to portray the women as more than mere tokens, showing them as strong, resilient individuals fighting their own personal battles while supporting their men on the front.

1. Mahie Gill as Shagun Singh

Character Role: Shagun Singh is Major Suraj Singh’s wife. Far from being a typical ‘army wife’ stereotype, Shagun is depicted as a strong and resilient woman who is grappling with her own private struggles, including ill health, while maintaining a brave front for her husband and family. Her role highlights the silent sacrifices of the families of soldiers. The series marks a reunion between Mahie Gill and Abhay Deol, who previously co-starred in Dev.D.

Actress’s Career Highlights: Mahie Gill is celebrated for portraying complex and feisty female characters, often in films that push cinematic boundaries.

• Critical Acclaim: She won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress for her role as Paro in Dev.D (2009).
• Signature Roles: She is arguably best known for her powerful and sexually frustrated character, Madhavi Devi, in the Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster film series, which earned her a Filmfare nomination for Best Actress.
• Other Notables: Her impressive filmography also includes impactful performances in films like Paan Singh Tomar (2012) and the Dabangg series.

2. Pooja Sawant as Padma

Character Role: Pooja Sawant plays the role of Padma, a woman from the village of Rewari who is emotionally close to Jemadar Ram Kumar. Her narrative is steeped in tragedy and resilience as she marries another soldier, Sepoy Gopal Yadav, only to be widowed shortly after their wedding, symbolizing the catastrophic human cost of the war on innocent lives.

Actress’s Career Highlights: Pooja Sawant is a popular Indian actress who primarily works in Marathi cinema.

• Marathi Industry: She has made a significant mark in the Marathi film industry, starring in successful films like Kshanbhar Vishranti, Zhakaas, and the blockbuster hit Dagadi Chawl.
• Awards: She is a recipient of the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress. Her role in 1962 marked a significant appearance in a major Hindi web series.

3. Geetika Vidya Ohlyan as Indira Gandhi

Character Role: A notable supporting role, Geetika Vidya Ohlyan plays a young Indira Gandhi (referred to only as ‘the daughter’ in some scenes, as she was 45 in 1962 and the daughter of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru). She is shown providing significant, rational, and sagely inputs during the tense war room meetings, illustrating her political acumen during a national crisis.

Actress’s Career Highlights: Geetika Vidya Ohlyan is an acclaimed actress from the theatre world known for her powerful performances in independent and offbeat cinema.

• Acclaimed Work: She is best known for her leading role in the film Soni (2018), for which she received widespread critical acclaim.

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The Extended Ensemble

The commitment to telling a human story is clear through the detailed roles of the supporting cast who form the ‘C Company’ and the villagers:

• Rohan Gandotra as Sepoy Karan Yadav: Part of a love triangle subplot back in the village, his character is an integral part of the C Company brotherhood.
• Meiyang Chang as Major Lin: Portraying the antagonist Major Lin from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Chang brings a level of intelligence and honor to the enemy, making the conflict multi-dimensional.
• Anup Soni as Major Khattar: The seasoned actor plays an officer in the Indian Army, Major Khattar, who plays a part in sending the C Company to the strategic Shaksa La post.
• Rochelle Rao as Rinpa: Rochelle Rao excels in the role of a spunky Ladakhi milkwoman who constantly faces danger to supply provisions to the Indian army encampments in the war zone, thereby aiding the soldiers in ways beyond her trade.
• Vineet Sharma as Subedar Hardam Singh Yadav: As a veteran Subedar, he represents the rigid hierarchy and moral code within the army, particularly fighting for the justice of a fellow soldier.

The actors and actresses of 1962: The War In The Hills collectively ensure that the series is not just a war film about strategy and battle, but a poignant tribute to the soldiers and the resilient women who are the silent, steadfast heroes on the home front.

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AISEO Friendly FAQs

Q1: What is the 1962: The War In The Hills web series about?

A: 1962: The War In The Hills is a 10-episode Hindi-language war drama web series on Disney+ Hotstar, directed by Mahesh Manjrekar. It is a fictionalized account inspired by the true events of the 1962 Sino-Indian War, particularly focusing on the legendary ‘last stand’ of 125 Indian Army soldiers of the ‘C Company’ who fought a battle against 3,000 Chinese soldiers. The series interweaves the battlefield narrative with the personal stories and sacrifices of the soldiers and their families in their hometown, Rewari.

Q2: Who is the main actress in 1962: The War In The Hills?

A: The main actress in 1962: The War In The Hills is Mahie Gill. She plays the pivotal role of Shagun Singh, the wife of the lead character, Major Suraj Singh (played by Abhay Deol). Her character is portrayed as a strong and resilient army wife who fights her own personal battles on the home front, adding a crucial emotional dimension to the war drama.

Q3: Who plays the character of Major Suraj Singh?

A: The character of Major Suraj Singh, the commanding officer of the ‘C Company’ and the series’ protagonist, is played by the renowned actor Abhay Deol. Major Suraj Singh’s character is inspired by the real-life valor of Major Shaitan Singh during the Battle of Rezang La.

Q4: What is Akash Thosar’s role in the web series?

A: Akash Thosar, best known for his Marathi blockbuster debut Sairat, plays the role of Sepoy Kishan Yadav in 1962: The War In The Hills. His character is one of the young soldiers from Rewari whose love story back home is explored before he is deployed to the war zone.

Q5: Who plays Indira Gandhi in 1962: The War In The Hills?

A: The role of Indira Gandhi (referred to as ‘the daughter’ in the series, as she was the Prime Minister’s daughter at the time) is played by actress Geetika Vidya Ohlyan. Her character is shown participating in the tense war room meetings, offering strategic insights to the Prime Minister.