The Hindi film industry has drawn people from every corner of the country, and the region of Vidarbha in Maharashtra has also played its part in shaping some of them. Several actors, directors, editors and filmmakers who contributed to the industry completed their studies in Nagpur and surrounding areas before stepping into cinema.

Their journeys underline how educational institutions in this part of Maharashtra have been linked with individuals who later built careers in Hindi cinema. The list includes established directors, award-winning editors, actors who brought new depth to the screen and others who handled important behind-the-scenes roles.

Each of them has a clear connection to Vidarbha through their schooling or graduation. This record shows that the cultural history of this region has not only been about literature and politics but also about education that enabled entry into the world of films.

1. Rajkumar Hirani

Rajkumar Hirani, one of the most successful directors of Hindi cinema, was born in Nagpur. He completed his schooling at St. Francis De’Sales High School in the city. He later studied commerce, completing his graduation in Nagpur before moving towards film editing and eventually filmmaking. Hirani’s early years in Vidarbha were marked by an interest in dramatics and theatre, which found encouragement in his school and college environment. His family background was business-oriented, yet his inclination toward cinema was nurtured during his years of study. Hirani eventually joined the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune to study editing, which provided him with professional skills.

His strong academic grounding in Nagpur remains a notable part of his early life story before his name became synonymous with films such as Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, PK and Sanju. He is among the few filmmakers whose education in Nagpur directly connects Vidarbha to mainstream Hindi cinema.

2. Abhijit Kokate

Abhijit Kokate is another name linked to Nagpur who made his mark in Hindi films. He was born and brought up in Nagpur and began his educational journey there. His academic path included law studies, with an LLB in Nagpur, followed by further studies abroad. Kokate later entered cinema, working first as an editor. His skills were recognised quickly, and he became known for his editing of the film Queen in 2014, which earned him both Filmfare and IIFA awards. He also worked on documentaries and other projects, contributing significantly to the editing profession in Hindi cinema.

Kokate’s Nagpur background highlights how Vidarbha has produced talent not only in acting and direction but also in technical roles that shape the final quality of a film. His education in the city connects him firmly to this region before his later recognition at the national level.

3. Jag Mundhra

Jagmohan Mundhra, often referred to as Jag Mundhra, was born in Nagpur in 1948. His early life in the city shaped his educational path, though his higher studies took him outside Vidarbha. After leaving Nagpur, he studied electrical engineering at IIT Bombay and then pursued further education in the United States, completing an MBA and a PhD at Michigan State University. Despite this, his birth and early schooling in Nagpur connect him to Vidarbha’s academic landscape. Mundhra directed a range of Hindi and international films and built a career that crossed continents. In Hindi cinema, he worked on socially sensitive subjects as well as mainstream narratives.

His foundation in Nagpur remains a reminder of how the city has been linked to diverse film professionals. Though much of his higher education was abroad, his origins in Nagpur ensure his inclusion in this record of Bollywood figures tied to Vidarbha.

4. Sonu Sood

Sonu Sood, known widely as an actor and producer in Hindi films, completed his engineering degree in Nagpur. He studied Electronics Engineering at Yeshwantrao Chavan College of Engineering, one of the city’s prominent institutions. His years in Nagpur shaped his discipline and prepared him before he shifted to pursue acting. After completing his studies, he moved to Mumbai, where he began modelling and later entered films. Sood went on to play prominent roles in Hindi cinema, often cast in strong character or antagonist parts, including in films like Dabangg and Simmba.

His graduation in Nagpur gives Vidarbha a clear link to his story, showing how the region contributed to shaping his professional journey. Beyond films, he became widely recognised for his humanitarian work, but his academic link to Nagpur remains central to his biography.

5. Vineet Kumar Singh

Actor Vineet Kumar Singh also shares a deep connection with Nagpur through his education. He completed both his Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) and his MD in Ayurveda from Government Ayurvedic College and Hospital in Nagpur. His career began in medicine but shifted when he developed an interest in acting. Singh initially worked in small roles before earning recognition through Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur. His performance in Mukkabaaz in 2018 was particularly acclaimed and brought him into focus in mainstream Hindi cinema. Singh’s educational years in Nagpur were long and formative, providing him with a strong academic base before he entered films.

His link with Vidarbha is not incidental but substantial, as his professional studies were rooted in this region. His presence in Hindi cinema further strengthens the record of Nagpur’s contribution to producing educated figures who later excelled in films.

6. Gayatri Joshi

Gayatri Joshi, remembered for her lead role in Ashutosh Gowariker’s Swades, also studied in Nagpur. She completed her schooling at Mount Carmel High School in the city before moving to Mumbai for higher studies. After relocating, she graduated in Commerce from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics. Her years in Nagpur remain significant, as they were the period when she grew up before pursuing modelling and pageantry. Joshi represented India at Miss International 2000 after winning the Miss India International title. She then entered Hindi cinema, where Swades became her sole film before she stepped away from acting.

Her Nagpur schooling is a clear marker of Vidarbha’s role in shaping her early education. While she did not continue in acting, her link to Nagpur is firmly established through her schooling.

7. Raj Gupta

Raj Gupta is a filmmaker associated with Nagpur who contributed to Hindi cinema as a director and assistant director. He completed a diploma in filmmaking from G.H. Raisoni College in Nagpur, connecting him directly to Vidarbha’s academic institutions. Gupta then worked in various capacities in the industry, assisting in films such as Dil Kabaddi, Tanu Weds Manu, D-Day and Nautanki Sala. His work also extended to direction in independent projects. The foundation of his film education in Nagpur shows how the city has been a starting point for not only actors and editors but also assistant directors who went on to handle responsibilities in Mumbai’s film industry.

Gupta’s academic grounding in Nagpur places him within this list of Bollywood professionals linked to Vidarbha. His studies in the city underline how diverse roles in cinema are connected to the region’s institutions

The presence of these seven individuals demonstrates that Vidarbha has had a steady, though sometimes understated, link with the Hindi film industry. The region’s schools and colleges have nurtured students who later entered cinema as directors, actors, editors and filmmakers. Their stories highlight the role of education in Nagpur as a stepping stone into professional careers beyond the city.

The range of work covered by these individuals is wide, from directing landmark films to editing award-winning productions and acting in critically acclaimed projects. Their contributions remind readers that the academic and cultural environment of Nagpur has been part of the broader history of Indian cinema. By tracing their connections back to their years of study, the picture becomes clearer of how Vidarbha’s educational institutions have been linked to the making of careers in Hindi films.