Sham Kaushal revisits Dangal days, recalls playing 'Akhara Guru' in Aamir Khan film
Synopsis
Sham Kaushal — the veteran action choreographer behind Dangal, Animal, and Raazi — has revealed he also played a small on-screen role in the 2016 Aamir Khan blockbuster, sharing a black-and-white still of himself as an 'akhara guru'. It is a rare glimpse at the human side of one of Bollywood's most influential technicians, and a father whose family has quietly shaped modern Hindi cinema.
Key Takeaways
Sham Kaushal shared a throwback black-and-white photograph from the sets of Dangal (2016), revealing his cameo as an 'akhara guru' .
He served as the action director on Dangal , directed by Nitesh Tiwari .
Sham has over four decades of experience, with credits including Bajrangi Bhaijaan , Padmaavat , Animal , and Dunki .
His son Vicky Kaushal won the National Film Award for Best Actor for Uri: The Surgical Strike .
Vicky married actress Katrina Kaif in December 2021 ; younger son Sunny Kaushal is also an actor.
Veteran action director Sham Kaushal — father of actors Vicky Kaushal and Sunny Kaushal — has shared a nostalgic throwback from the sets of Aamir Khan's blockbuster sports drama Dangal, revealing his brief on-screen cameo as an 'akhara guru' in the 2016 film. The post, shared on his social media account, has sparked warm reactions from film enthusiasts and industry followers alike.
The Throwback Post
Sham shared a framed black-and-white photograph showing him seated among a group of wrestlers — a still from one of Dangal's wrestling akhara sequences. In the image, he sports a moustache and is dressed in a traditional kurta-pyjama, embodying the role of a seasoned wrestling coach.
Alongside the image, he wrote: 'Someone shared this photo with me from DANGAL. I m the Action Director for Dangal. Thanks @niteshtiwari22 for making me do a small role as akhara guru. Rab Rakha.'
Four Decades Behind the Camera
One of the most respected action directors in Hindi cinema, Sham Kaushal has spent over four decades choreographing high-octane sequences for some of Bollywood's biggest productions. His credits include Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Padmaavat, Gangs of Wasseypur, Sanju, PK, Tiger Zinda Hai, Raazi, Simmba, Dunki, and Animal.
His work on Dangal — directed by Nitesh Tiwari — is widely regarded as among the most technically demanding action choreography in Indian sports cinema, given the film's authentic portrayal of competitive wrestling.
The Kaushal Family in Bollywood
Beyond his own formidable career, Sham Kaushal is equally recognised as the patriarch of a prominent film family. His elder son, Vicky Kaushal, has risen to become one of the leading actors of his generation, with acclaimed performances in Masaan, Raazi, Uri: The Surgical Strike, Sardar Udham, Sam Bahadur, and Chhaava. His portrayal of Major Vihaan Shergill in Uri: The Surgical Strike earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor.
Vicky married actress Katrina Kaif in December 2021, making Sham her father-in-law as well. Younger son Sunny Kaushal has also built a steady presence in the industry through films and series including Gold, Shiddat, Hurdang, Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga, and Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba.
Why the Post Resonates
Dangal remains one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time, and behind-the-scenes glimpses from its production continue to draw significant audience interest years after its release. Sham's post is a reminder of the layers of craft — and the quiet contributions of technicians — that shape a film's final form. The fact that its action director also stepped in front of the camera, however briefly, adds a personal footnote to the film's legacy.
Point of View
But it also underscores a wider truth about Hindi cinema: the craft of action direction remains chronically under-celebrated relative to its impact. A man who shaped the physicality of some of Bollywood's most profitable films in the last two decades is best known publicly as Vicky Kaushal's father — which says something about how the industry values its technicians. The Dangal throwback is a small corrective to that narrative, and it deserves to be read as one.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What role did Sham Kaushal play in Dangal?
Sham Kaushal played a brief cameo as an 'akhara guru' in the 2016 film Dangal, directed by Nitesh Tiwari. He shared a black-and-white still from the wrestling akhara sequence on his social media account, along with a note thanking Tiwari for the opportunity.
What is Sham Kaushal known for in Bollywood?
Sham Kaushal is one of Hindi cinema's most respected action directors, with a career spanning over four decades. His notable credits include Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Padmaavat, Gangs of Wasseypur, Raazi, Animal, and Dunki.
Who are Sham Kaushal's sons?
Sham Kaushal's sons are actors Vicky Kaushal and Sunny Kaushal. Vicky won the National Film Award for Best Actor for Uri: The Surgical Strike and married actress Katrina Kaif in December 2021.
Who directed Dangal and when was it released?
Dangal was directed by Nitesh Tiwari and released in 2016. It stars Aamir Khan and is based on the true story of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters. The film is among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.
What films has Sunny Kaushal appeared in?
Sunny Kaushal has appeared in Gold, Shiddat, Hurdang, Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga, and Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, carving an independent path in Bollywood separate from his more prominent elder brother Vicky Kaushal.
