Gurjeet Singh
{{Short description|English actor (born 1994)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Gurjeet Singh
| birth_name = Gurjeet Trojan Singh
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|11|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = Manchester, England
| education =
| occupation = Actor
| television = {{Plainlist|
}}
| yearsactive = 2015–present
}}
Gurjeet Trojan Singh (born 26 November 1994) is an English actor. He portrayed Naveed Haider in the Channel 4 series Ackley Bridge (2017–2019). Aside from his role as Naveed, he has appeared in serious including Three Girls (2017), Mrs Sidhu Investigates (2023) and Hotel Portofino (2024). As well as his television roles, Singh has also starred in various theatre productions, including Hobson's Choice (2019), The Importance of Being Earnest (2021), East is East (2021) and No Pay? No Way! (2023).
Life and career
=1994–2019: Early work and breakthrough=
Gurjeet Trojan Singh was born on 26 November 1994 in Manchester.{{cite web |title=26/11/1994 - if little me knew how it would play out all these years later....he wouldn't change a thing. Theres still worlds of knowledge and lessons to learn. Many many more memories to make. And a whole lot of laughing to do. But I think he'd be proud of me now. |url=https://x.com/TrojanSingh/status/1199378543215546368 |publisher=Twitter |access-date=30 January 2025}}{{cite web |title=Gurjeet SINGH |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/b-KLVyEsXyiTKMeRIQQ84CCUhJA/appointments |publisher=Gov.uk |access-date=30 January 2025}} He had a passion for acting since primary school and went on to study performing arts at college. He auditioned for a drama school and has stated he "got close" but did not get accepted. He got signed to an agent following his final college showcase and auditioned for roles with the National Theatre. They noticed his lack of professional training and declined him, advising him to train. Singh then trained with the Royal Exchange's Young Company, as well as joining NWTAC, a theatre group.{{cite news |title=Royal Exchange welcomes new board members |url=https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/faces/royal-exchange-welcomes-new-board-members |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Arts Professional |archive-date=17 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717162606/https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/faces/royal-exchange-welcomes-new-board-members |url-status=live }} Whilst working at a post office, he received a call from his agent, who informed him that the National Theatre wanted to invite him for an audition. He then made his professional acting debut in their 2015 production of Dara. Singh then appeared in the 2016 film 31st October.{{cite web |title=Gurjeet Singh |url=https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/gurjeet-singh |publisher=Curtis Brown |access-date=30 January 2025 |archive-date=16 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416184843/https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/gurjeet-singh |url-status=live }} He then made various screen appearances, including an episode of Comedy Playhouse, the 2016 film 25 Kille and an episode of the BBC Three drama series Three Girls.{{cite news |title=Gurjeet Singh |url=https://tresamagazine.com/2019/07/30/gurjeet-singh/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=TresA |archive-date=4 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204202453/https://tresamagazine.com/2019/07/30/gurjeet-singh/ |url-status=live }}
In 2017, Singh appeared in Goth Weekend at the Live Theatre Company, as well as starring in Hull Truck Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol.{{cite news |title=A Christmas Carol review, Hull Truck Theatre, Hull, 2017 |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/a-christmas-carol-review-at-hull-truck-theatre--a-fizzy-dickensian-energy |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=The Stage}} Later in 2017, Singh appeared in his first high-profile role when he was cast in the Channel 4 school drama series Ackley Bridge.{{cite news |title=New series of Ackley Bridge hit our screens last night |url=https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/new-series-of-ackley-bridge-hit-our-screens-last-night-1024343 |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Halifax Courier}} He was cast as Naveed Haider, a gay Muslim student.{{cite news |title=Here is what to expect from the next episode of Channel 4's Ackley Bridge |url=https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/here-is-what-to-expect-from-the-next-episode-of-channel-4s-ackley-bridge-268083 |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Halifax Courier}} At the time of his casting, Singh had left school years prior, and found it fun "putting on a school uniform again and becoming a mischievous student". His character was involved in a popular storyline that centred on the romantic developments between him and Cory Wilson (Sam Retford).{{cite news |title=Ackley Bridge viewers overjoyed that Cory and Naveed finally shared a kiss |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a860951/ackley-bridge-cory-naveed-kiss/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Digital Spy |archive-date=21 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221115115/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a860951/ackley-bridge-cory-naveed-kiss/ |url-status=live }} Singh left his role as Naveed after the conclusion of the third series.{{cite news |title=Meet the cast of Ackley Bridge season 4 |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/ackley-bridge-season-4-cast/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Radio Times |archive-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524164741/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/ackley-bridge-season-4-cast/ |url-status=live }}
=2019–present: Stage and television roles=
In 2019, whilst also filming for Ackley Bridge, he portrayed Tarig in the ITV1 crime drama series The Bay.{{cite web |title=The Bay by Gurjeet Singh |url=https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/gurjeet-singh/work/they-bay |publisher=Curtis Brown |access-date=30 January 2025 |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808050812/http://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/gurjeet-singh/work/they-bay |url-status=live }} He had auditioned for a different role but was not chosen, later receiving a call to instead play Tarig. Singh then returned to the stage. He portrayed Robbie Singh in a 2019 production of Hobson's Choice at the Royal Exchange Theatre, where he trained. The Manchester Evening News praised his comedic delivery in the play.{{cite news |title=Hobson's Choice at Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-news/review-hobsons-choice-manchester-royal-16386816 |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Manchester Evening News |archive-date=25 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625050526/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-news/review-hobsons-choice-manchester-royal-16386816 |url-status=live }} A year later, he starred in Wuthering Heights, also at the Royal Exchange.{{cite news |title=Review: Wuthering Heights (Royal Exchange, Manchester) |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/review-wuthering-heights-royal-exchange-manchester_50933/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=WhatsOnStage}} Singh then portrayed Jamil in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in 2021,{{cite news |title=The Importance of Being Earnest – 'A delight' |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/long-reviews/the-importance-of-being-earnest-lawrence-batley |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=The Stage |archive-date=31 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731193051/https://www.thestage.co.uk/long-reviews/the-importance-of-being-earnest-lawrence-batley |url-status=live }} which went on to be a digitised film.{{cite news |title=The Importance of Being Earnest digital adaptation |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/the-importance-of-being-earnest-digital-adaptation-full-casting-announced_53619/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=WhatsOnStage |archive-date=27 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227233051/https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/the-importance-of-being-earnest-digital-adaptation-full-casting-announced_53619/ |url-status=live }} Later in 2021
In 2021, Singh was cast in the Birmingham Repertory Theatre's production of East is East.{{cite web |title=Gurjeet Singh |url=https://royalcourttheatre.com/cast/gurjeet-singh/ |publisher=Royal Court Theatre |access-date=30 January 2025 |archive-date=4 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241104120347/https://royalcourttheatre.com/cast/gurjeet-singh/ |url-status=live }} Then in 2023, he starred in the Acorn TV mystery crime series Mrs Sidhu Investigates as Tez Sidhu.{{cite news |title=‘Line Of Duty’s Craig Parkinson Joins Meera Syal In Acorn TV Mystery Drama Series ‘Mrs Sidhu Investigates’; ‘Ghosts’ Producer Monumental Television Attached |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/acorn-tv-meera-syal-craig-parkisnon-mystery-drama-mrs-sidhu-investigates-1235100033/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=20 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720171005/https://deadline.com/2022/08/acorn-tv-meera-syal-craig-parkisnon-mystery-drama-mrs-sidhu-investigates-1235100033/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Mrs Sidhu Investigates: release date, cast, plot, trailer and everything we know |url=https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/mrs-sidhu-investigates-release-date-cast-plot-trailer-and-everything-we-know |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=What to Watch |archive-date=5 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805192552/https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/mrs-sidhu-investigates-release-date-cast-plot-trailer-and-everything-we-know |url-status=live }} Singh also returned to the Royal Exchange that year for their production of No Pay? No Way!, in which he played Luigi.{{cite news |title=No Pay? No Way! review |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/no-pay-no-way-review-royal-exchange-theatre-manchester-2023-dario-fo-bryony-shanahan-marieke-hardy-samantha-power |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=The Stage |archive-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526230423/https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/no-pay-no-way-review-royal-exchange-theatre-manchester-2023-dario-fo-bryony-shanahan-marieke-hardy-samantha-power |url-status=live }} WhatsOnStage praised his chemistry with co-star Roger Morlidge.{{cite news |title=No Pay? No Way! at the Royal Exchange, Manchester – review |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/no-pay-no-way-at-the-royal-exchange-manchester-review_58968/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=WhatsOnStage |archive-date=30 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530010831/https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/no-pay-no-way-at-the-royal-exchange-manchester-review_58968/ |url-status=live }} In 2024, he was made a board member of the Royal Exchange, as well as leading workshops for the company. He also portrayed Raheel in the Royal Court Theatre's production of Expendable.{{cite news |title=Expendable review – stories of women caught up in grooming scandal told too briefly |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/nov/29/expendable-review-royal-court-theatre-london |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=The Guardian}}{{cite news |title=Review: Expendable, at Royal Court Theatre |url=https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/review-expendable-at-royal-court-theatre |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Camden New Journal}} Later that year, he appeared in the recurring role of Virat Sengupta in the third series of the BritBox period drama Hotel Portofino.{{cite news |title=Meet the Hotel Portofino Characters |url=https://www.pbs.org/articles/hotel-portofino-meet-the-characters |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=PBS |archive-date=3 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250103050056/https://www.pbs.org/articles/hotel-portofino-meet-the-characters |url-status=live }}
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |
| 2016
| | Film |
| 2016
| Raz | Episode: "Broken Biscuits" |
| 2016
| 25 Kille | | Film |
| 2017
| Ali | Guest role |
| 2017–2019
| Main role |
| 2018
| Gamer | Nazgore | Short film |
| 2019
| The Bay | Tarig | Guest role |
| 2021
| The Importance of Being Earnest | Jamil | Film |
| 2023
| Tez Sidhu | Main role |
| 2024
| Virat Sengupta | Recurring role |
| 2025
| Magid / Zafar | Zafar | Short film |
Stage
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|7458121}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Gurjeet}}
Category:21st-century English male actors
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male stage actors
Category:English male television actors