A comprehensive list of Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar college students and who played them

One of Hindi cinema’s most adored teen sports drama, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar turned 30 last month. This coming-of-age dram neatly weaves multiple themes—friendship, sibling bonds, class divides, and the indomitable can-do spirit—into a David vs. Goliath tale.

The film centres on the clash between the local students from modest backgrounds and the affluent boarding school boys of a small hill town, all competing for a prestigious bicycle championship. A fresh-looking film with great rewatch value, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar continues to resonate through its nuanced exploration of youth issues, relationships, and societal expectations.

The decades-old rivalry between the ‘veer bahadur lakde kaun… Rajput!!!’ and the ‘pajama chhaps’ of Model, the condescending Queen’s girls, the pesky antics of Xavier’s boys trying to outshine the superfly Rajput gang, and the laid-back students of Lawrence, Peters, and Andrews—often found lounging at Ramlal’s Cafe or the neighbouring Ice Cream Corner—life in JJWS is young and buzzing.

As expected, portraying this world required a large cast of student characters. Beyond the primary and supporting roles, the film features several blink-and-you-miss-it appearances by the crew members as students. Here’s a detailed list of all of them.

Model School and College

Mamik Singh as Ratan/ Ratanlal Sharma

Aamir Khan as Sanju/ Sanjaylal Sharma

Ayesha Jhulka as Anjali

Kiran Zaveri Bhatia as Kalpana. Now a producer, Kiran runs Woodpecker Movies with her husband Rajesh Bhatia, which had produced the Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Athiya Shetty-starrer Motichoor Chaknachoor (2019).

Deven Bhojani (left) as Ghansu/ Ghanshyam. Bhojani also served as an AD in the film.

Aditya Lakhia (right) as Ghode/ Maqsood.

Girija Shettar, the film’s former female lead (before Ayesha Jhulka took up the role), can be seen in Model’s dance competition song ‘Jawaan ho yaaron.’

Similarly, a young Maria Goretti appears as one of the background dancers in the same song.

Unnamed Model student played by filmmaker Glen Barretto. He was the chief assistant director of JJWS.

Rajput School and College

Deepak Tijori as the Rajput college champ, Shekhar Malhotra.

Sooraj Thapar (left), Bobby Khanna (centre), and Prakash Ramchandani (right) as Shekhar’s squad. All three of them went on to have successful careers on television.

TV actor Shekhar Shukla as the cigarette-smoking Rajput student.

Director-actor Ankush Mohla, who was one of the assistant directors of Jo Jeeta…, also doubled up as a Rajput boy.

Interestingly, Ankush Mohla and Glen Barretto often direct together as Glen-Ankush for films (Jaane Hoga Kya, 2006) and TV series (Everest, Roohaniyat).

Stuntman-actor Naushaad Abbas (centre)—best known for Singham, Race 3, and Dilwale—plays a Rajput student who can be spotted during brawl scenes.

Queen’s Junior College

Pooja Bedi as Devika

The ever dependable ’90s heroine ki saheli Shehnaz Kudia as Rukhsana—“jo har baat mein dear bolti hai.”

Shiraz Zack as Rita. Zack was also seen in a minor role in Meena Vaishnavi’s popular ’90s telly series Kashish on Doordarshan.

Sanam Oberoi (?) as Tina. The film’s opening credits prominently mention the name Sanam Oberoi, and IMDB tags her as Tina, the girl Ghanshu tries to flirt with at the ice cream parlour. Apart from the regular female cast members, these two girls can be spotted in many frames. Given how often lesser-known artists are miscredited on IMDB, one can’t be certain if one of these girls is actually Sanam Oberoi or if it is some other actress altogether.

Xavier’s College

Not only did the music director duo Jatin Lalit understand the assignment and conjure up a fresh, youthful soundtrack that has stood the test of time, but the brothers also donned the red blazer whenever a scene demanded a few extra Xaviers boys in the frame.

Aamir Khan’s kid brother Faisal Khan (right), who was again an AD in this home production, can be seen as one of the Xaviers lads getting floored by Devika.

Randheer Thapar, the Xavier’s champ and the real ‘Thapar ka beta,’ was often seen at loggerheads with the Rajput gang. I am assuming the actor playing is possibly Miki Khan, as that’s the only name from the opening credits that remains unidentified. Moreover, since Xavier’s ke Randheer Thapar is the lone character other than the regular bunch of students that appears frequently and has a speaking role, chances are it’s him. No amount of trawling through the internet offered any clue about the Miki Khan in question.

AND… above everyone else is this mysterious legend, who I have discovered after multiple viewings, appears as both Model and Rajput student in the film.

*Respect*