16 Notable alumni of Punjabi University Patiala
Updated: June 06, 2026 EliteDegrees
Punjabi University Patiala is ranked #2,062 in the world and #47 in India by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 16 notable alumni from Punjabi University Patiala sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with Punjabi University Patiala won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Gurdial Singh Phul
1911-1989 (aged 78)
writer
Gurdial Singh Phul is an Indian Punjabi dramatist.
2. Surmeet Maavi
1974-. (aged 52)
actor
Surmeet Maavi is an Indian screenwriter and actor who has scripted many films including Punjab 1984 and Gun & Goal.
3. H.L. Verma
1953-. (aged 73)
vice-chancellor
academic administrator
writer
H. L. Verma is an Indian educational administrator. He is presently serving as Vice-Chancellor of Baba Mastnath University since April 2024.
4. Jernail Singh Anand
1955-. (aged 71)
poet
spiritualist
philosopher
Dr. Jernail Singh Anand is an Indian poet, columnist, and environmental activist. He has written 140 books of English poetry, fiction, non-fiction and spiritual writing.
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5. Harpal Singh Cheema
1974-. (aged 52)
politician
Harpal Singh Cheema is an Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Dirba Assembly constituency located in Sangrur District, Punjab. In March 2022, he became first BobA to be a finance minister of Punjab. He joined the Aam Aadmi Party just before the 2017 Punjab Legislative Assembly election. He contested and won the election from Dirba Assembly constituency against a popular Punjabi...
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6. Sardara Singh Johl
1928-. (aged 98)
banker
economist
writer
Sardara Singh Johl is an Indian agriculture economist, writer, politician and the chancellor of the Central University of Punjab. A former National Professor of Agricultural Economics of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, he served as the vice chancellor of the Punjabi University and Punjab Agricultural University during different tenures and chaired the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices set...
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7. Samuel John
1968-. (aged 58)
film actor
actor
writer
Samuel John is an Indian actor and theatre activist. He played the role of the protagonist in the National Award-winning Punjabi film, Anhe Ghore Da Daan. He recently played a role in Punjabi movie Munda Hi Chahida as the father of Dharmender.
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8. Paramjit Kaur Landran
1971-. (aged 55)
lawyer
Paramjit Kaur Landran is a lawyer, member of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for Mohali constituency representing the Shiromani Akali Dal. She was elected to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee House in the elections held on 18 September 2011. She is Former Chairperson of Punjab State Women Commission, Chairperson of Panchayat Mahila Shakti Association, Punjab, A scheme sponsored by Govt. of...
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9. Rana Ranbir
1970-. (aged 56)
actor
screenwriter
film director
Rana Ranbir Singh is an Indian Punjabi actor working in Punjabi cinema and Hindi cinema.
10. Jimmy Shergill
1970-. (aged 56)
film actor
Jimmy Sheirgill, also known as Jimmy Shergill, is an Indian actor and producer who primarily works in Hindi and Punjabi films.
11. Gul Panag
1979-. (aged 47)
model
beauty pageant contestant
actor
politician
Gulkirat Kaur "Gul" Panag is an Indian actress, voice actress, model and politician. She was crowned Femina Miss India Universe 1999 and represented India at Miss Universe 1999. She began her career in Hindi films with the 2003 film Dhoop directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and since then, she has starred in several films like Jurm along with the TV series...
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12. Binnu Dhillon
1975-. (aged 51)
film producer
television presenter
actor
comedian
Binnu Dhillon is an Indian actor who is known for his roles in Punjabi and Hindi films.
13. Navneet Kaur Dhillon
1992-. (aged 34)
actor
beauty pageant contestant
model
Navneet Kaur Dhillon is an Indian actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who represented India at Miss World 2013. She was the winner of Pond's 50th edition of Femina Miss World India 2013 that was held in Mumbai on 24 March 2013. She won the Miss Multimedia award during Miss World 2013 beauty pageant. She finished in top 20.
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14. Surjit Patar
1945-2024 (aged 79)
linguist
poet
writer
translator
screenwriter
Surjit Patar. He was an Indian Punjabi language writer and poet from Punjab. His poems enjoy immense popularity with the general public and have won high acclaim from critics.
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15. Satya Vrat Shastri
1930-2021 (aged 91)
literary scholar
literary critic
university teacher
writer
translator
Satya Vrat Shastri was an Indian Sanskrit scholar, writer, grammarian and poet. He wrote three Mahakavyas, three Khandakavyas, one Prabandhakavyas and one Patrakavya and five works in critical writing in Sanskrit. His important works are Ramakirtimahakavyam, Brahattaram Bharatam, Sribodhisattvacharitam, Vaidika Vyakarana, Sarmanyadesah Sutram Vibhati, and "Discovery of Sanskrit Treasures" in seven volumes.
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16. K. K. Talwar
1946-. (aged 80)
cardiologist
writer
Kewal Kishan Talwar is an Indian cardiologist, medical academic and writer, and a former chairman of the Medical Council of India. He is a former director of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and is reported to have performed the first implantation of Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in South Asia. He is also credited with the...
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