Dubai model, 66, moved with $2, fought arthritis, depression and now works with Jessica Alba and Shah Rukh Khan

Dubai: When most people talk about their 60s, it’s usually with words like “retirement” or “slowing down.”

Puneet Sud, however, refuses to be part of that conversation.

At 66, this former Gulf News employee—who landed in Dubai decades ago with just seven dirhams in his pocket—has transformed himself into an in-demand model and actor, working alongside names such as Jessica Alba, Zach Efron, Shah Rukh Khan, and even Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons.

From Gulf News to the runway

He arrived in the city with nothing but hope, going door to door selling T-shirts and caps. Eventually, he joined Gulf News in 1991, the same year his son was born, and went on to be part of the founding team of Friday magazine. For over 12 years, he shaped stories before deciding to write his own.

“I hate to use the word retire,” he says firmly. “Retiring is for cars that don’t run anymore. I still had steam in me.”

That steam was nearly extinguished in 2016 when Puneet was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, a crippling disease that made even buttoning a shirt an ordeal.

“I came so close to giving up,” he admits. “I had suicidal thoughts. It was dark.”

And yet, that darkness triggered a new light. “Ironically, arthritis became the catalyst for my reinvention,” he says.

A three-second shoot that changed everything

Fate stepped in during a casual coffee with a client, who noticed how low Puneet was feeling.

“There was a shoot happening downstairs, and the actor who was supposed to play the grandfather didn’t show up,” Puneet recalls. “He looked at me and said, ‘Why don’t you do it?’”

It was a blink-and-you-miss-it, three-second walk-on for a furniture store ad. “I went home that day and told my wife, ‘Forget the coffee, I’m a star!’” he laughs. That tiny role planted the seed for a new life.

From self-doubt to sharing the screen with stars

Word spread. Suddenly, this silver-haired newcomer was on the radar. “People said, ‘This man looks different. Give him a chance.’”

His big break came during COVID when he was cast in a Dubai Tourism ad opposite Jessica Alba and Zach Efron.

“I was bald, and I stood out for it!” he laughs. “Jessica even told me, ‘You remind me of my grandfather.’ That broke the ice.”

Then came a cameo in a commercial with Shah Rukh Khan. Though most of his scene was edited out, Puneet cherishes being on set with Bollywood’s biggest star. “The man walked in at 9 pm, fashionably late, but when he enters, time really does stop.”

The crowning moment so far? Landing a pivotal role opposite Jeremy Irons in a Hollywood film shot in Sri Lanka.

“I auditioned late at night, got the role, and the next thing I knew, I was sitting across from an Academy Award winner,” he says. “Watching him rehearse was like a masterclass in acting.”

Dealing with rejection

Success hasn’t come without heartbreak. “You have to learn to take rejection,” Puneet says.

“There will be auditions you don’t get and scenes that get cut. You feel bad for a moment, but you move on. If you keep looking back, you’ll miss the bus.”

A new definition of 60

Puneet calls himself “a flag bearer of the roaring 60s” and proudly pushes back against stereotypes.

“People think 60 means sitting at home, warming your bones, and playing with grandkids. I say no! I warm my bones on outdoor shoots,” he says with a grin.

His secret? “Self-belief. I am unique. There’s no one else like me, so why should I compare myself to anyone? Modelling isn’t just for people with six-packs and thick hair.”

In fact, he points out, brands are now looking for older models. “The market has changed. They want authenticity, life experience, and character. That’s where we come in.”

Dubai: The city that makes it possible

His story, he says, could only have happened in Dubai.

“This city gives you hope when you least expect it. I started as a door-to-door salesman, and today I’m a working model who has shared screen space with global stars. That’s Dubai for you.”

Even after building a career, family, and reputation here, Puneet says he’s just getting started. “I want to keep working till my last breath. Passion doesn’t have an expiry date.”

Advice from the roaring 60s

For anyone stuck in self-doubt, Puneet’s message is simple: “Don’t let a disease, a setback, or your age define you. Reinvention is possible at any age. Just start. If a man with arthritis at 60 can become a model, so can you.”

He even jokes about launching a “Fun Uncle” column, doling out sassy advice to younger generations. “Why not?” he laughs. “We’ve lived enough to know a few things!”

Puneet’s Dubai success story is a reminder that life doesn’t end at 60 – in fact, sometimes that’s when it truly begins.