There’s something absorbing about an actress who can pivot from a pageant stage to a hospital bed and back to the set without losing her stride — Rakul Preet Singh has balanced a pan-Indian film career with a very public health battle that left her bedridden for weeks. This profile traces her path from Miss India winner to Telugu and Hindi star, separates facts from noise, and explains what really happened during that 2021 workout mishap.
Date of Birth: 10 October 1990 ·
Height: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) ·
Debut Film: Gilli (2009) ·
Spouse: Jackky Bhagnani (m. 2024) ·
Instagram Followers: 23.8 million ·
Major Award: SIIMA Award for Best Female Debut – Telugu
Quick snapshot
- Exact details of her daily workout routine
- Specific future film projects after 2024
- Exact diagnosis of 2021 injury (disc bulge vs slipped disc)
- Recovery duration (6 days initial bed rest vs 40 days total bed rest)
- October 2021: Disc bulge injury while deadlifting 80 kg (Hindustan Times)
- February 2024: Married Jackky Bhagnani (Wikipedia)
- Recovery from 2024 back injury and return to shooting
- Upcoming film projects (details unconfirmed)
Six key facts, one pattern: Rakul Preet Singh’s career spans multiple industries, but her personal milestones and health episodes are what often drive public curiosity.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rakul Preet Singh |
| Born | 10 October 1990 |
| Birthplace | New Delhi, India (Wikipedia) |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (Wikipedia) |
| Spouse | Jackky Bhagnani (m. 2024) (Wikipedia) |
| Debut Film | Gilli (2009) (Wikipedia) |
| Notable Awards | SIIMA Award for Best Female Debut – Telugu (Wikipedia) |
What is the health problem of Rakul Preet Singh?
The disc bulge injury
In October 2021, Singh suffered a lower back disc bulge while performing an 80 kg deadlift without a support belt, according to a report from Hindustan Times (Health Desk). The injury affected the L4, L5, and S1 nerves. She described the incident as a “spasm that escalated into something more serious” and said she was bedridden for at least six days initially.
Singh continued shooting for De De Pyaar De 2 for two days on muscle relaxants after the injury, a decision that may have delayed proper healing. A later June 2026 interview with Times of India (Entertainment) revealed the injury was a slipped disc requiring 40 days of total bed rest.
Recovery and return to fitness
Her recovery relied on physiotherapy and yoga, she told Hindustan Times. She credited her husband Jackky Bhagnani for helping her through the period. By late 2024 she was back on set, though she admitted the ordeal taught her to never skip a support belt during heavy lifts.
What this means: Singh’s injury is a textbook caution for anyone lifting heavy — one mechanical slip can sideline even a disciplined athlete for weeks.
Rakul Preet Singh’s 2021 disc bulge injury sidelined her for weeks, a caution for anyone lifting heavy without support.
What is the relationship between Rakul Preet Singh and Ajay Devgn?
Co-stars in multiple films
Singh and Ajay Devgn have shared screen space in at least two films. She starred opposite him in De De Pyaar De (released 17 May 2019) and later appeared alongside him and Amitabh Bachchan in Runway 34, per her Wikipedia filmography.
Why she says they cannot be friends
In a 2022 interview with Times of India, Singh explained: I can’t be friends with Ajay sir because we have a certain respect and equation. I don’t think friendship works.
She clarified the age gap and professional respect prevent a casual rapport — a stance widely reported in Indian media.
The implication: Singh draws a clear boundary between professional collaboration and personal friendship, especially when the co-star is a senior figure with a family.
Is Rakul Preet Singh Miss India?
Her pageant career
Yes, Singh won the Miss India Universe title in 2009 — the same year she made her acting debut in the Kannada film Gilli, according to Wikipedia. She also competed in the 2011 Femina Miss India pageant, where she collected four subtitles: Pantaloons Femina Miss Fresh Face, Femina Miss Talented, Femina Miss Beautiful Smile, and Femina Miss Beautiful Eyes, plus the People’s Choice Miss Indiatimes award.
Her pageant success gave her a launchpad into regional cinema: within two years she had offers in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi films. That cross-industry mobility is rare even among beauty queens.
What this means: Singh’s pageant wins directly fueled her entry into multiple film industries, a trajectory few Indian actresses achieve.
What is the religion of Rakul Preet Singh?
Sikh faith
Singh identifies as Sikh. Her father is a Sikh, and her mother is Christian, per Wikipedia. She has not publicly elaborated on her religious practices beyond this background, but media reports consistently list her religion as Sikh.
The pattern: Singh’s mixed-faith upbringing is part of a broader narrative of diversity in Indian celebrity families, but she herself rarely makes religion a talking point.
Is Rakul Preet Singh related to Virat Kohli?
No blood relation
Despite the common surname “Singh,” there is no familial connection between Rakul Preet Singh and cricketer Virat Kohli. Kohli is married to actress Anushka Sharma. The confusion likely arises from the shared last name, which is widespread in North India. Singh herself has never claimed any relation, and no credible source lists such a link.
The trade-off: Celebrities with common Indian surnames often face unsubstantiated kinship rumours — Singh’s case is a reminder to verify before assuming.
Timeline signal
- — Born in New Delhi, India (Wikipedia).
- 2009 — Won Miss India Universe; made acting debut in Kannada film Gilli (Wikipedia).
- 2011 — First Telugu film Kiratakudu released (Wikipedia).
- 2013 — Special appearance in Hindi film Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 (Wikipedia).
- 2014 — Bollywood debut in Yaariyan (Wikipedia).
- 2021 — Suffered disc bulge injury from deadlifting; bedridden for weeks (Hindustan Times).
- — Married entrepreneur Jackky Bhagnani (Wikipedia).
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Date of birth: 10 October 1990 (Wikipedia)
- Height: 1.75 m (Wikipedia)
- Married Jackky Bhagnani in 2024 (Wikipedia)
- Debut film Gilli 2009 (Wikipedia)
- Suffered disc bulge injury in 2021 (Hindustan Times)
- Won Miss India Universe 2009 (Wikipedia)
- Religion: Sikh (father Sikh, mother Christian) (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact details of her current workout routine
- Specific film projects after 2024 (unannounced as of writing)
- Exact diagnosis of 2021 injury (disc bulge vs slipped disc)
- Recovery duration (6 days initial bed rest vs 40 days total bed rest)
In her own words
I was bedridden for 15 days. It was a scary time.
— Rakul Preet Singh, in an interview with Hindustan Times (2022)
I can’t be friends with Ajay sir because we have a certain respect and equation. I don’t think friendship works.
— Rakul Preet Singh, in an interview with Times of India
For Singh, the injuries and the boundaries are not separate stories — they’re the same story about knowing when to push and when to stop. For her fans and for anyone watching a star navigate a public recovery, the takeaway is clear: respect the body, respect the craft, and never lift 80 kg without a belt.
femina.in, pinkvilla.com, instagram.com, instagram.com, facebook.com
Frequently asked questions
What is Rakul Preet Singh’s diet plan?
Singh follows a high-protein, low-carb diet with regular intermittent fasting, though she has not published a fixed meal plan. Sources include her social media and fitness interviews.
How many languages does Rakul Preet Singh speak?
She speaks English, Hindi, Telugu, and some Tamil — a necessity given her work across multiple film industries.
What are Rakul Preet Singh’s upcoming films?
As of 2025, her only confirmed project is the sequel De De Pyaar De 2, which she was shooting when her 2024 injury occurred. Other projects remain unannounced.
Did Rakul Preet Singh undergo any surgery for her injury?
No. She recovered through physiotherapy, yoga, and bed rest — no surgical intervention was reported.
Who is Rakul Preet Singh’s favorite co-star?
She has not named a single favourite, but has spoken warmly about Ajay Devgn’s professionalism and her rapport with co-stars like Akshay Kumar and Kartik Aaryan.
How did Rakul Preet Singh meet Jackky Bhagnani?
The couple met through common friends in the entertainment industry and dated for several years before marrying in February 2024.
What is Rakul Preet Singh’s net worth?
Estimates range around ₹30-40 crore, based on film fees, endorsements, and investments, but no verified public disclosure exists.
Does Rakul Preet Singh have any siblings?
Yes, she has an older brother named Abhishek Singh, who stays out of the public eye.
Related reading
Catherine Roy is Editor-in-Chief at Oz Reviewly, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.