Manjot Singh

Early life and education

Manjot Singh was born in New Delhi into a Punjabi Sikh family. His mother is a housewife while his father is a businessman. He completed his schooling from the Hillwoods Academy, located in New Delhi.

Career

Manjot went to audition for the role of the lead character's younger self in Dibakar Banerjee's Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, though Singh had never acted before, even in school plays. After the audition, the casting director rejected Singh for the role. However, Dibakar Banerjee insisted on casting him, later saying "Even though the casting director wasn't convinced, I just put my foot down." Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! received positive critical acclaim and critics lauded Manjot for his role with Noyon Jyoti Parasara of Sanskriti Media stating, "...Special mention is deserved by Manjot Singh, who plays the younger Lucky" and Khalid Mohammad appreciating his performance as a callow teenager, among other publications.

After being selected, Singh went to Manali for a week-long acting workshop. He was asked to observe the way actor Abhay Deol walked, smiled and talked so that he could imitate that in his acting. He even wore a cheek pad so that his jaw would look as broad as Abhay Deol's. Singh's performance was well appreciated by the critics and he received the Filmfare Critics Award for the Best Actor category. Later, Manjot participated in the reality show Fear Factor - Khatron Ke Khiladi Level 3 in 2010.

In 2012, Singh starred in Udaan, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane. The film received positive reviews, and is considered a postmodern masterpiece. Later in 2012, Singh signed up for Punjabi musical drama Pure Punjabi, directed by Munish Sharma, about four close friends in Punjab who had a strong passion for music. In the same year, he played the character role of Dimpy in Karan Johar's coming-of-age romantic comedy film, Student of the Year, starring Siddharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan in the lead roles.

In 2013, Singh starred in Fukrey, directed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, starring Vishakha Singh, Richa Chadda, Priya Anand, Ali Fazal, Varun Sharma and Pulkit Samrat. The film was a sleeper hit and spawned two commercially successful sequels in 2017 and 2023 where he reprised his role as Lali. He also reprised his role as Lali in a cameo appearance in the 2022 film Phone Bhoot.

In 2019, Singh starred in Penalty directed by Shubham Singh, starring Kay Kay Menon, Shashank Arora, and Mohit Nain. In the same year, he also starred in the film Dream Girl and made a cameo appearance reprising his role as Dimpy alongside Sahil Anand in Student of the Year 2 in 2019.

In 2024, he starred in his first lead role in the Neflix film Wild Wild Punjab, alongside Varun Sharma, Jassie Gill, Sunny Singh, Patralekha and Ishita Raj Sharma. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but also applauded the film for its humour. He continued to star in supporting roles in films like Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video and Param Sundari. He will also be starring in the 2025 film Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2.

Filmography

Films

Television

References

References

1. [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/oye-lucky/426655/2 Oye Lucky] {{Webarchive. link. (11 May 2020 [[Indian Express]], 22 February 2009.)
2. [http://www.aol.in/bollywood-story/oye-lucky-lucky-oye-movie-review/2008112801009019000001] {{webarchive. link. (16 February 2009)
3. (August 2021)
4. "Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! - movie review by Amodini Sharma - Planet Bollywood".
5. "Review: Oye Lucky Lucky Oye".
6. "Penalty Movie: Review | Release Date | Songs | Music | Images | Official Trailers | Videos | Photos | News - Bollywood Hungama".
7. (24 January 2024). "Manjot Singh on how Fukrey's sleeper success changed his career trajectory: 'Life seedha audition se narration pe shift ho gayi'". The Indian Express.
8. (10 July 2024). "Wild Wild Punjab: Varun Sharma, Sunny Singh Starrer On Netflix Is A Laugh Riot".
9. (25 January 2025). "Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2: Kapil Sharma and team begin shoot in Mumbai". Bollywood Hungama.
10. (14 September 2018). "Web series a great opportunity in showbiz: Manjot Singh". [[Business Standard]].
11. "College Romance - The Timeliners". [[The Viral Fever]].
12. "Chutzpah Season 1 Web Series (2021) | Release Date, Review, Cast, Trailer, Watch Online at Sonyliv".