sikhpride

Manpreet Singh Banga, an actor who has acted in a number of TV serials and films, was born on 1st December 1979 in Bombay (now Mumbai). He completed his education with Masters in Management studies from Guru Nanak Institute of Management Studies, University of Mumbai with specialization in Marketing. Prior to that he had obtained Diplomas in Event Management from National Institute of Even Management (NIAM-2003) and Diploma in International Event Management from Taffe University, (Australia 2004). He started his career in 2001 in marketing by working with various organizations and presently he is working as CEO with MNV International. As per his duties, he has managed to organize a number of big events like Navy Ball Event for Indian Navy with live performance by Shan. Simultaneously, as per his interest to enter the glamour world right from young age, he has acted in a number of T.V. serials, advt. films and feature films. He started acting in TV serials like ‘Yeh Meri Life Hai’ and ‘Kahi Toh Milenge’. He then directed social message films and acted in corporate ad films, including ones for Microsoft and ESPN sports. Manpreet got the role of hero in full length Punjabi movie called ‘Sat Sri Akal’. Although he has not got many roles afterwards mainly because he does not want to leave his Sikh identity, he is hopeful that gradually the roles for “Sabat Soorat – Dastardhari Sikhs” (“fully fledged and turban wearing” Sikhs with unshorn Kesh) will increase. During all these years, he was offered many roles, wherein he had to remove his hair or turban or wear some headwear on the turban or tie his hair in some other style without wearing a turban, but he never agreed to compromise with any of his articles of faith. The handsome as he is, he has been emphasizing that Sikh roles should be given to talented Sikh artists and not to others by making them Sikhs with artificial beard and turbans. He is right when he says that “the Sabat Surat Sikhs can do justice with Sikh roles in a better way than others. Because a Sikh can put his heart in the role of a Sikh and can perform better than any other person.” However, he is quite confident that there is lot of scope for such Sikh youngsters in short films including add films. Manpreet is definitely a role-model for Sikh youngsters as he has set an example of remaining Sabat Surat and fulfilling the ambition to stay in the glamour world. Let us hope and pray that he gets more chances in future to show his modeling and acting talent and inspire the coming up generation to honour their Sikh identity.