Hazel Keech
Hazel Keech (born February 28, 1987) is a British-Mauritian actress, model, and television personality best known for her work in Indian cinema, her appearances on reality TV, and her marriage to cricketer Yuvraj Singh. Learn about her early life, career, challenges, and public persona.
Introduction
Hazel Keech is a striking example of cross-cultural celebrity: a British actress and model who carved a space for herself in the Indian entertainment industry. Born in the UK to a British father and an Indo-Mauritian mother, she ventured into modeling and acting, eventually landing roles in Bollywood and regional films, appearing on reality television, and becoming known to broader audiences through her marriage to Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh.
Though her career in films has become more sporadic in recent years, Hazel’s journey remains intriguing — from multicultural roots and early dance training to navigating public scrutiny, reinvention, and motherhood.
(Note: Contrary to the “born 1982” figure mentioned earlier, reputable sources list her birth year as 1987.)
Early Life and Family
Hazel Keech was born on February 28, 1987, in Essex, in north-east London, United Kingdom.
She grew up in Redbridge (London), and attended Beal High School, Redbridge.
During her school years, she was already drawn to performance: she sang in choirs (e.g. for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the West End) and also was involved with musicals.
Career and Achievements
Entry into Performance & Early Roles
Hazel’s first steps in entertainment were modest but varied. She appeared in extras roles in the Harry Potter film series (e.g. Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire) before moving into modeling and acting more actively.
In 2005, while on a holiday in Mumbai, she received modeling offers and chose to stay back to pursue work in India. Rose Dawn.
She appeared in music videos (for instance, Kahin Pe Nigahaen, in the Frankfinn remix) and in various television commercials (for brands like Vivel, Sprite, and others).
Film & Onscreen Roles
Her first notable film role was in the 2007 Tamil movie Billa, where she played Rhea (Rajesh’s fiance). Bodyguard (2011) in a supporting role as Maya Kapoor.
She also performed item/dance numbers in films such as Maximum (song “Aa Ante Amlapuram”) and Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (song “Chal Chal Chal”). Heer and Hero (2013) she performed an appearance, and in Baankey Ki Crazy Baraat she had a special dance number “Daant Saiyaan Ne”.
Her involvement in television includes participating in Comedy Circus (2012) and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6 (2013) in a “Teen Ka Tadka” special.
In 2013, she took part in Bigg Boss 7, a high-profile Indian reality TV show, though she was eliminated early (on Day 7).
Though active between roughly 2007 and 2016 in film and TV, her onscreen presence has tapered off in recent years.
Personal Struggles & Reinvention
Hazel has spoken in interviews about confronting severe depression, even suicidal thoughts during her time working in India. To address this, she later pursued a diploma in psychotherapy, motivated in part to help others facing similar mental health challenges.
She also gained media attention for raising concerns about racial discrimination; one incident involved her accusing Western Union of refusing a transfer because her name was not “Hindu enough.”
Personal Life, Marriage & Children
On November 12, 2015, Hazel became engaged to Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh. November 30, 2016, at a Gurudwara in Fatehgarh Sahib (Punjab), followed by festivities in Goa.
Upon marriage, Hazel adopted the name Gurbasant Kaur, a name given to her during the ceremony (reflecting her conversion to Sikhism).
The couple have two children:
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Orion Keech Singh, born January 25, 2022
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Aura Keech Singh, born July 17, 2023 (some reports give August 2023)
Hazel has expressed that she views her public life and private life carefully, juggling family roles and earlier celebrity pressures.
Legacy & Influence
Hazel Keech may not have had a prolonged or superstar film career, but she left marks in several ways:
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Cultural crossover: As a British-Mauritian with Indian lineage working in Indian cinema, she symbolized a blending of global and local identities.
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Visibility in Bollywood item dances & supporting roles: Her performances in popular dance numbers contributed to the phenomenon of “item songs” as commercial attractions in Indian films.
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Public openness about mental health: Her openness about depression and therapy contributes to lessening stigma in Indian entertainment circles.
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Media and public discourse: Her marriage to Yuvraj Singh made her more visible in mainstream media, and she has had to navigate public scrutiny, identity, and assimilation.
Though she is quieter in the film world now, her story reflects challenges many face when blending cross-cultural backgrounds, public life pressure, and personal growth.
Personality and Talents
Some of Hazel’s notable strengths and traits include:
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Versatility in dance and performance: Her training in multiple dance styles (Indian classical, Western, contemporary) helped her adapt to different film industries.
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Resilience: She persisted through mental health struggles, criticism, identity challenges, and still sought ways to contribute.
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Courage in vulnerability: Publicly discussing depression and discrimination is bold in entertainment contexts often focused on image.
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Adaptability: Moving from the UK to Mumbai, shifting between modeling, acting, reality TV, and motherhood shows her ability to change roles.
Quotes & Public Reflections
While Hazel Keech is less quoted than political or thought-leaders, here are some public sentiments and reflections often attributed to her or surfaced in media:
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She once said, “I had no expectations from Bodyguard”, reflecting humility about a film that gained her recognition.
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Regarding her experience in Bigg Boss, she remarked on certain fellow contestants: “Pratyusha Banerjee... likes to create problems.”
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On racial or name-based discrimination: she publicly criticized Western Union when she alleged a staffer refused a transaction because her name wasn’t “Hindu enough.”
These quotes give glimpses into her candid, sometimes confrontational, and self-aware style.
Lessons from Hazel Keech
From Hazel’s life and career, here are some takeaways:
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Identity can be both strength and challenge
Navigating multiple cultural heritages isn’t always easy, but it can open doors to unique roles and stories. -
Success requires resilience, not just talent
Talent may open the first few doors; staying in the game demands mental strength and adaptation. -
Speaking out matters
By discussing depression, therapy, and discrimination publicly, she offers courage to others to break silence. -
Reinvention is possible
Even if film roles fade, one can explore new pathways — in her case, being a spouse, mother, public figure, and advocate. -
Selectivity over ubiquity
Rather than aiming to be everywhere, roles and projects chosen strategically can sustain long-term relevance.
Conclusion
Hazel Keech’s story is not of a blockbuster star, but of a woman who bridged cultures, faced internal and external trials, and reshaped her life in public view. Her path—from Essex to Mumbai, from modeling to films, from depression to therapy, from single life to motherhood—reveals both the glamor and the grit behind celebrity.