Indian Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi made a surprise appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati this week for a special Independence Day episode. She was accompanied by Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Navy Commander Prerna Deosthalee on the quiz show.
“I belong to a family where everyone was in the Army. My great-grandmother’s ancestors were with Rani Lakshmi Bai…I have not heard lullabies. I have heard tales of bravery, and I have listened to talks that tell the meaning of courage,” she could be heard telling Bachchan.
First Indian woman officer to…
Qureshi was born into a military family in Gujarat and joined the Indian Army in 1999. She was the first woman officer to lead an Indian Army contingent at a multinational military exercise — the only female Contingent Commander among all participating nations at an ASEAN training event. She was also the first woman to lead an Indian contingent in a United Nations peacekeeping mission. The Indian Army Colonel had previously played a key role in Operation Parakram after the Indian Parliament attack in December 2001.
Colonel Qureshi and Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh had become household names amidst Operation Sindoor — leading the official military press briefing following the clash.
Row over KBC appearance
The appearance of Indian Army officials on the show has also sparked outrage — with many on social media calling it a ‘PR stunt’. Opposition leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also took a swipe at Sony following the promo release. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said the heroic women (who were the face of Operation Sindoor) were being used as entertainment and urged people to ‘join the dots’.
“Our heroic women in Uniform who went on to become the face of Operation Sindoor have been invited by a private entertainment channel on their show. This private entertainment channel’s parent company Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has also bagged the broadcasting rights of the Asia Cup till 2031. Yes the very channel that seeks to earn revenue through India vs Pakistan cricket matches. Now join the dots,” she wrote on X.
(With inputs from agencies)