Yograj Singh

Yograj Singh (; born 25 March 1958) is an Indian actor and former cricketer who played one Test and six One Day Internationals for India as a right-arm fast-medium bowler. His debut and only Test was at Wellington against New Zealand, which India lost by 62 runs. Yograj only bowled in the first inning and took one wicket, which remains his only Test wicket. After his cricketer career ended due to injury, he entered the Punjabi and Hindi film industries. His son, Yuvraj Singh, was a member of the Indian cricket team from 2000 to 2017. Yograj hails from the village of Kanech, right next to Doraha, in Punjab's Ludhiana District.

He has worked on Bollywood movies like Teen Thay Bhai, Singh is Bling and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.

Personal life Singh initially married Shabnam Kaur, but they later got divorced. Their eldest son, Yuvraj Singh, is a former Indian cricketer. Another son of theirs is Zoravar Singh. In 2011, his son, Yuvraj, was diagnosed with cancer and recovered from it. Yograj's cricket training was harsh towards his son Yuvraj, during his childhood. After the couple's divorce, their son, Yuvraj, decided to live with his mother. Later he married Satbir Kaur. He has a son, Victor Singh, and a daughter, Amarjot Kaur, from his second marriage.

Cricket career In 1977, Yograj Singh was chosen over Kapil Dev for India's U-22 team, that played against England at Nagpur. In 1979, he was picked up for Board President's XI team to play against the touring Pakistan cricket team at Baroda. He took 3 wickets for 29 runs, including the wickets of Javed Miandad and Wasim Raja.

In 1980, he was picked up for the Indian cricket team, touring Australia and New Zealand. On 21 December 1980, he played his first one-day international match against the New Zealand cricket team at Brisbane, claiming 2/44 in 8.4 overs. On 21 February 1981, he played his first Test match against the New Zealand cricket team at Wellington, where he took the wicket of John Wright.

Film career

Acting Yograj Singh made his acting debut in the 1983 Punjabi film Batwara., directed by Veerendra Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he emerged as one of the prominent stars of the Punjabi film industry. He mostly played the main antagonist to Gugu Gill. While he appeared in numerous Punjabi features, he gained nationwide recognition in Bollywood for his performance as the strict athletic coach (Havildar Sampuran Singh) in the 2013 blockbuster biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhag. Other notable Hindi film credits include the 2010 British-Indian production West is West and a role in the 2015 action comedy Singh Is Bliing.

He has remained a mainstay in contemporary Punjabi cinema. Some of his most recognized regional projects include roles in Sajjan Singh Rangroot (2018), and Ardaas Karaan (2019).

Direction and screenwriting Beyond acting, Singh has contributed to regional cinema behind the camera. He directed and wrote the screenplay for the 1994 Punjabi film Vichhora. His other directorial and production ventures include Jatt Punjab Da (1992) and Love U Bobby (2009).

Political career In 2009 Haryana Legislative Assembly election, he contested at the Panchkula constituency on the Indian National Lok Dal ticket. He received 16932 votes, which was 20.51% of the total votes polled. But he lost to Devender Kumar Bansal of Indian National Congress by 12230 votes.

Controversies Yograj Singh criticised and alleged then Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni for spoiling his son, Yuvraj Singh's career. According to Singh, due to Dhoni, Yuvraj was dropped from 2015 Cricket World Cup team.

In 2020, Singh accused MS Dhoni for not supporting Yuvraj and "backstabbing" him.

In 2025, Singh also confessed in the podcast Unfiltered by Samdish that Singh aimed a pistol at Kapil Dev and wished to shoot him, but couldn't do so as he was with his mother.

Filmography

All films are in the Punjabi language unless otherwise noted.

Year Title Role DirectorProducerWriter Notes 1983 Batwara Jarnail 1986 Yaar Gareeba Daa Ranjeet 1987 Jatt Te Zameen Succhaaa 1990 Anakh Jattan Dee Sheru Qurbani Jatt Di Jora Dushmani Di Agg Sheru 1991 Jorr Jatt Daa Jaildar Zora Badla Jatti Da Jaildaar Jung Singh Subedaar Kashmeera Jagga Daaku Jagga 1992 Shefali Ki Jawani Dalla Jatt Punjab DaBalwant Putt Sardaran De Jageera Lalkara Jatti Da Dulla Saali Adhi Ghar Waali Pagadi Sambhaal Jatta Rathore Singh Mehndi Shagna Di Lambardaar Jora Jatt Jora Jigra Jatt Da Bakhtaawar 'Bakhtaura' Insaaf Ki Devi Inspector Ajay Singh Hindi film 1993 Kudi Canada Di Jid Jattan Di Jabar Singh 'Jabraa' Insaaf Punjab Daa Jagirdar Shamsher Singh / Dulla Dual Role 1994 Vairi Thanedaar Karam Singh Lalkare Sheran De Shera Vichhora Deep Kacheri Shamsher 1995 Jakhmi Jagirdar Uday Singh / Shera Dual Role Nain Preeto De Kabzaa Surjit Hindi Film Zakhmi Sher Hindi Film 1996 Panchayat Thanedaar Baghel Singh Jatt Sucha Singh Soorma Succha 1997 Wasiyat Yaar MaarJaila 1999 Tera Mera Pyar Mirza Mahaul Theek Hai Daaku Shera 2001 Sikandera Sheru 2008 Babal Da Vehra Sampuran Singh Sidhu 2009 Luv U Bobby Shamsher Singh 2010 West Is West Customs Official English Film 2011 Teen Thay Bhai Kheterpal Gill Hindi film 2012 Yaraan Naal Baharaan 2 2013 Oye Hoye Pyar Ho Gaya Shamsher Singh Bhaag Milkha Bhaag Coach Ranveer Singh Hindi film Young Malang Maulla Jatt Heer & Hero 2014 Kirpaan: The Sword of Honour Jora Romeo Ranjha Baaz Goreyan Nu Daffa Karo Naajar Singh 2015 Ishq Vich: You Never Know Singh Is Bliing Raftaar's Father Hindi film 2016 Love Punjab Sarpanch Pargat's Father 25 Kille Bachittar Singh Tiger Teshan Motor Mitraan Di Baba 2017 The Great Sardaar Haakam Singh Sarpanch Krazzy Tabbar Sandhu Channa Mereya MLA's Father 2018 Raja Abroadiya Succha Singh Sajjan Singh Rangroot Zorawar Singh Kande Chandu Pehalwan Jagga Jiunda E MLA 2019 Aish Kar Lai Dulla Vaily Buggar Singh Vadda Kalaakar Ardaas Karaan Teri Meri Jodi Haakam Singh Saadi Marji Doorbeen 2020 Darbar The head of the gangsters Tamil film 2021 Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui Guruji Hindi film 2022 Apne Ghar Bigane 2023 Maujaan Hi Maujaan 2024 Indian 2 Amit's Bodyguard Tamil film