1 November 2026
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

This IAS Officer’s Real-Life Story Inspires A Bollywood Film

2006 batch IAS Govind Jaiswal's struggle inspired the filmmakers of ‘Ab Dilli Dur Nahin’ The film releasing on 12th May is not a biopic Coming from humble background Mr. Jaiswal cleared UPSC CSE with AIR 48 and is now Director in MoHFW
Indian Masterminds Stories

Hard work and strong will alone can accomplish your dream, the rest falls into place. IAS officer Mr. Govind Jaiswal is a living example of the statement. No amount of adversity could bar this 2006-batch officer from reaching his goal.

Being a rickshaw puller’s son, he had to overcome many obstacles to be where he is today as a Director in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Inspired by the officer’s struggle as he secured an All India Rank of 48, a film ‘Ab Dilli Dur Nahin’ will be released on 12th May (Friday). The film is not his biopic but takes inspiration from his life.

Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Jaiswal said, “Everyone has a struggle in their life that sometimes continues throughout. Life is not fair, however we chose our life path and live by our principles.”

LIFE BEFORE IAS

Mr. Jaiswal had faced humiliation young. He was thrown out of a friend’s house because of his poor status. That triggered him to think big. He made up his mind to become an IAS officer to prove that the worth of a person should not be judged by financial status. His father had hearing disability and was handicapped due to an injured leg, so he pulled rickshaws to make ends meet.

But after some time, he couldn’t carry on with the hard labour and the family’s responsibility fell on Mr. Jaiswal. Often he and his family faced people’s scorns for harbouring such high hopes but Mr. Jaiswal’s family always supported his passion to be an IAS.

“Earlier, my family problems and identity was an issue. I knew I had to establish my career. To work hard, be disciplined was and still is the easiest thing for me to do,” Mr. Jaiswal said.

READYING A FUTURE IAS

He went to Delhi for preparation. He gave maths tuition to make extra bucks and even skipped meals at times to survive in the big city. He was clear about one thing — he did not have the luxury of going for a second or third attempt. It was either now or never. At 22, Mr. Jaiswal cleared UPSC CSE with AIR 48 in his very first attempt. 

For the first few minutes, he was in shock and visibly trembling. He says that he was so overwhelmed by emotions that he had no power over his hands. When he tried to call home to give the big news he faltered to dial the numbers. But it also ended his 10 days nightmare when he waited for the results.

“One has to keep in mind that once they crack this exam, the struggle does not end, instead it continues,” Mr. Jaiswal shared.

IAS Govind Jaiswal

AB DILLI DUR NAHIN

Directed by Kamal Chandra, starring Imran Zahid as the lead, this Dinesh Gautam’s story explores the hard work, success and failure of the protagonist. The movie was majorly shot in Delhi and also stars Mahesh Bhatt and actress Shruti Sodhi. 

“I hope that this movie brings an ignition in the people and give them some inspiration. The trailer is good and I’ll watch the film,” the officer said.

The trailer shows Abhay Shukla who hails from a small town in Bihar reaches Delhi with a desire to clear UPSC CSE and become an IAS officer. 

Link to the movie trailer is given below:


Indian Masterminds Stories
Join our WhatsApp Channel
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CM Mohan Yadav
MP CM Mohan Yadav to Distribute ₹490 Crore to 950 MSMEs and ₹1.50 Crore to Over 100 Startups
UP Government Uttar Pradesh Yogi
Uttar Pradesh Govt Transfers 15 IAS Officers; Anurag Srivastava Appointed Agriculture Production Commissioner
Jammu and Kashmir Government
J&K Govt Reshuffles 12 IAS, IPS and JKAS Officers; Mir Tariq Ali Posted as Secretary, Civil Aviation
ireda
IREDA Releases Latest Issue of ‘Pahal’ Vigilance Journal During Vigilance Awareness Week 2026
RINL
RINL Appoints 45 Departmental Safety Officers to Enhance Employee Safety and Departmental Accountability 
GAIL RCF gas-based fertilizer plant
GAIL and RCF Sign MoU to Develop New Gas-Based Fertilizer Plant in Maharashtra to Boost Domestic Production 
NLC India Vigilance Awareness Walkathon
NLC India Organises Vigilance Awareness Walkathon to Promote Integrity and Anti-Corruption Awareness
ICGS Aparajit Fast Patrol Vessel
Goa Shipyard Hands Over Indigenous Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Aparajit to Indian Coast Guard
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Five years after Kargil, India sent its cricketing heroes to Pakistan where terrorism posed a deadly threat. The man guarding them, former Special Director of Intelligence Bureau, Mr. Yashovardhan Azad, reveals what all went behind the scenes during that crucial tour. 
Trust No One, Said His Instinct in Pakistan
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
How India Plans to Boost Tourism, Create Jobs and Ease Overcrowding : Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on the Road to 2047
Dr Saket Badola IFS
Beyond Tigers and Safaris: How Corbett Literature Festival Wants to Change the Conservation Conversation
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Story
He Taught Students to Meet Expenses. Today, Sachin Bhadouria is a Scientist ‘B’ at CWPRS
Sachin Bhadouria overcame financial challenges and a Hindi-medium background to secure AIR 2 in a UPSC...
Vishwas Jhargad UPSC CAPF
A Photograph of His Mother Accompanied Vishwas Jhargad to the UPSC Interview, Where His Dream Came Closer
Vishwas Vijay Jhargad lost both parents as a child. With his family's support, he secured AIR 145 in...
IA&AS Lokesh Datal
‘Dreams Don’t Change Lives, Daily Habits Do’: IA&AS Officer Lokesh Datal on UPSC and Discipline
IA&AS officer Lokesh Datal shares his UPSC journey, clearing the exam in his fourth attempt, building...
CSR NEWS
CMPDIL Unnat Krishi Project
CMPDIL Signs MoA with Nidhi Samriddhi Foundation to Promote Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Jharkhand
Unnat Krishi Project to introduce ICT and IoT-enabled precision farming for around 100 farmers across...
MCL
MCL Signs MoU to Provide ₹3.20 Crore for Multipurpose Community Hall in Anugola Under CSR
The project at the Reserve Police Office in Chheliapada aims to strengthen local civic infrastructure...
nalco
NALCO Foundation Signs MoU to Sponsor 21 Odisha Youths for Three-Year Nursing Diploma 
The three-year nursing course will support youths from villages near NALCO’s Anugul and Koraput complexes,...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
CM Mohan Yadav
MP CM Mohan Yadav to Distribute ₹490 Crore to 950 MSMEs and ₹1.50 Crore to Over 100 Startups
UP Government Uttar Pradesh Yogi
Uttar Pradesh Govt Transfers 15 IAS Officers; Anurag Srivastava Appointed Agriculture Production Commissioner
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Five years after Kargil, India sent its cricketing heroes to Pakistan where terrorism posed a deadly threat. The man guarding them, former Special Director of Intelligence Bureau, Mr. Yashovardhan Azad, reveals what all went behind the scenes during that crucial tour. 
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Dr Saket Badola IFS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT