Nimrat Kaur honours late father Major Bhupender Singh on his birthday
Synopsis
Nimrat Kaur’s birthday tribute to her late father isn’t just a celebrity post — it’s a reminder of a real sacrifice. Major Bhupender Singh, posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra, was abducted and killed by Hizbul Mujahideen militants in Kashmir in 1994 when Nimrat was just 11. Decades later, his daughter’s words still carry the weight of that loss.
Key Takeaways
Nimrat Kaur paid an emotional birthday tribute to her late father Major Bhupender Singh on 25 October via Instagram.
Her post included cherished childhood photographs and the message: ‘Missing him a little extra today.’ Major Bhupender Singh was abducted by Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in Verinag, Kashmir on 17 January 1994 and killed after seven days in captivity at age 44 .
He was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra for his bravery.
Nimrat was 11 years old when she lost her father; she and her sister Rubina were raised by their mother Avinash Kaur in Delhi and Noida .
Navjot Singh Sidhu responded to the post, calling Nimrat a ‘torchbearer of a great legacy.’
Actress Nimrat Kaur paid a moving tribute to her late father, Major Bhupender Singh, on his birthday on 25 October, sharing cherished childhood photographs and an emotional note on Instagram. The Airlift star expressed how his presence and warmth continue to be felt by the family, even years after his passing.
The Tribute
In her heartfelt post, Nimrat wrote: “Happy birthday to Papa…never a day without his being and light around us. Thinking of him and missing him a little extra today. Hard to put the rest into words.” The photographs shared alongside the note feature a young Nimrat posing with her father, as well as a glimpse into his life serving in the Indian Army — adding a deeply personal dimension to the birthday remembrance.
Politician and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu responded to the post, writing: “Torchbearer of a great legacy Nimrat keep shining!”
Who Was Major Bhupender Singh
Major Bhupender Singh served in the Indian Army as an engineer and was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra for his bravery. On 17 January 1994, he was abducted by terrorists belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen in Verinag, Kashmir, while returning from an official assignment. After being held captive for seven days, he was killed at the age of 44, around 23 January 1994.
Nimrat was just 11 years old at the time of his death. His sacrifice and the Shaurya Chakra awarded posthumously place him among the honoured officers who gave their lives during one of the most turbulent periods of the Kashmir insurgency in the 1990s.
Family After the Loss
Following Major Singh’s death, his wife Avinash Kaur raised Nimrat and her younger sister Rubina on her own in Delhi and Noida. Nimrat has spoken previously about how her father’s memory has shaped her sense of identity and purpose, and today’s tribute underscores how deeply his absence continues to resonate on occasions of personal significance.
A Legacy That Endures
This comes amid a broader, growing public recognition of the sacrifices made by armed forces personnel and their families in conflict zones. Nimrat’s willingness to share her grief publicly has consistently resonated with audiences who lost family members to the insurgency years. The actress, known for roles in Airlift, Dasvi, and the web series The Test Case — where she memorably portrayed a woman army officer — has never shied away from connecting her personal history to her professional choices.
As tributes and memories pour in on social media, Major Bhupender Singh’s legacy lives on — not just in the Shaurya Chakra citation, but in the stories his daughter continues to tell.
Point of View
The loss of an army officer to a terror abduction in 1990s Kashmir. That personal history is arguably why her role in The Test Case carried unusual conviction. The Shaurya Chakra is one of India’s highest peacetime gallantry awards, yet Major Bhupender Singh’s name remains largely unknown outside his family’s public moments. These tributes serve a quiet archival function: keeping alive the human stories behind medal citations that official records reduce to a few lines.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Major Bhupender Singh, Nimrat Kaur’s father?
Major Bhupender Singh was an Indian Army engineer officer who was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra for his bravery. He was abducted by Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in Verinag, Kashmir, on 17 January 1994, and killed after seven days in captivity at the age of 44.
What did Nimrat Kaur post about her late father?
Nimrat Kaur shared childhood photographs with her father on Instagram and wrote: ‘Happy birthday to Papa…never a day without his being and light around us. Thinking of him and missing him a little extra today. Hard to put the rest into words.’
How did Nimrat Kaur’s father die?
Major Bhupender Singh was abducted by terrorists belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen in Verinag, Kashmir, on 17 January 1994, while returning from an official assignment. He was held captive for seven days and killed around 23 January 1994.
What award did Major Bhupender Singh receive?
Major Bhupender Singh was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra, one of India’s highest peacetime gallantry honours, in recognition of his bravery.
How old was Nimrat Kaur when she lost her father?
Nimrat Kaur was 11 years old when her father Major Bhupender Singh was killed in 1994. After his death, her mother Avinash Kaur raised Nimrat and her younger sister Rubina on her own in Delhi and Noida.
