It has been 19 years since Chak De! India brought together a group of young actors who went on to become instantly recognisable as the Indian women’s hockey team. Released on August 10, 2007, the Shah Rukh Khan starrer remains one of Bollywood’s most-loved sports films, with its ensemble cast still remembered by fans for characters such as Vidya, Preeti, Bindiya, Komal and Balbir. While some of these actors went on to build careers in films and television, others moved away from acting altogether. 19 years later, here’s a look at where some of the film’s most recognisable faces are now.

Vidya Malavade
Vidya Malavade played Vidya Sharma, the captain of the Indian women’s hockey team. The actress continued working in films and television after Chak De! India, and appeared in projects including Striker, 1920: Evil Returns, Once Upon Ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara!, Ruslaan and others. She also plays Zeenat Karim in Netflix’s Mismatched franchise. She was recently seen in Huma Qureshi starrer Baby Do Die Do.

Sagarika Ghatge
Sagarika Ghatge played Preeti Sabharwal, and it was one of the most memorable characters from the film. The actress married cricketer Zaheer Khan in 2017 and has since appeared less frequently on screen. A few days ago, however, Sagarika made headlines for an exciting reason: she and her former Chak De! India co-star Vivan Bhatena have reunited for a new film that is scheduled for release in 2027. The project marks her return to films after a break post embracing motherhood.

Shilpa Shukla
Shilpa Shukla played the fiercely competitive Bindiya Naik in the film. After Chak De! India, she continued to take on several challenging roles in films and web series. Her performance in B.A. Pass brought her considerable critical attention, and she later appeared in films including Rajdhani Express, Bombairiya, Hit: The First Case, Farrey, and Jolly LLB 3 among others. In 2026, Shilpa was seen in the film Vadh 2, starring Neena Gupta and Sanjay Mishra.

Chitrashi Rawat
Chitrashi Rawat became a fan favourite as Komal Chautala, the outspoken hockey player from Haryana. After Chak De! India, she appeared in films including Fashion, Luck, Yeh Dooriyan and Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya. She has also worked in television. In 2023, she tied the knot with her long-time boyfriend Dhruvaditya Bhagnani.

Tanya Abrol
Tanya Abrol played Balbir Kaur, the strong and spirited player from Punjab. Chak De! India was her breakthrough film, and she subsequently appeared in television shows including Palampur Express, Kuch Toh Log Kahenge and CID. She later appeared in films including Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, and was also part of Big Girls Don’t Cry.

Shubhi Mehta
Shubhi Mehta played Gunjan Lakhani. Unlike several of her co-stars, she largely stayed away from acting after her early screen appearances. She has since moved away from acting and now works as a mindfulness coach and experiential educator. She has also stayed in touch with her Chak De! India co-stars over the years. More recently, she reunited with Chitrashi Rawat and Tanya Abrol for a fun reel that went viral on social media.

Seema Azmi
Seema Azmi played Rani Dispotta in the film. Her career has always extended beyond mainstream cinema — she is a trained National School of Drama actor and has been deeply involved in theatre as an actor, director and writer. Azmi has worked extensively on stage and has been associated with numerous theatre productions. Even in recent years, theatre continues to be a significant part of her work. Seema has also been a part of films such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Aarakshan, among others.

Arya Menon
Arya Menon played Gul Iqbal, one of the players in the team. But acting did not remain her primary career. She eventually moved behind the camera and has built a career as an advertising producer. She is a founding partner of Odd & Even Pictures.

Anaitha Nair
Anaitha Nair played Aliya Bose in Chak De! India. She went on to appear in films including Dum Maaro Dum, Force and Fanney Khan, apart from her work in theatre and music. Unlike some of her co-stars, however, Anaitha eventually moved away from mainstream acting. She is now married and settled in Hong Kong, and works as a hairstylist. She is also a mother to a daughter — and interestingly, her little girl is named Aaliya.