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Hazel Keech: From a child actor in Harry Potter to now a theatre artist

Updated On: 28 February, 2020 08:36 AM IST |

It's Hazel Keech Singh's birthday on February 28. As she turns 33 this year, we throw some light on a few lesser-known facts of the actress, who is now married to cricket Yuvraj Singh.

It's Hazel Keech Singh's birthday on February 28. As she turns 33 this year, we throw some light on a few lesser-known facts of the actress, who is now married to cricket Yuvraj Singh.

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It's Hazel Keech Singh's birthday on February 28. As she turns 33 this year, we throw some light on a few lesser-known facts of the actress, who is now married to cricket Yuvraj Singh.

Born to an English father and an Indian mother on February 28, 1987, Hazel Keech's birthplace is Essex, England. Hazel started her career as an actor at a very tender age by doing small roles in Hollywood films. You would be surprised to know that Hazel has worked in three editions of popular British-American film series Harry Potter. (All photos/mid-day archives and Hazel Keech's official Instagram account)

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Born to an English father and an Indian mother on February 28, 1987, Hazel Keech's birthplace is Essex, England. Hazel started her career as an actor at a very tender age by doing small roles in Hollywood films. You would be surprised to know that Hazel has worked in three editions of popular British-American film series Harry Potter. (All photos/mid-day archives and Hazel Keech's official Instagram account)

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Hazel Keech entered the entertainment industry since the age of 12. She used to do small roles in Western films. When Hazel was in school, she did 'Harry Potter'. She worked in the second, third and fourth editions, where she played one of the students. Gradually, Hazel started getting bigger roles.

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Hazel Keech entered the entertainment industry since the age of 12. She used to do small roles in Western films. When Hazel was in school, she did 'Harry Potter'. She worked in the second, third and fourth editions, where she played one of the students. Gradually, Hazel started getting bigger roles.

Roughly in 2006, Hazel came to India. She could easily gel with the Indian culture because as she said she grew up in a very traditional Indian home, courtesy her mother and grandmother.

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Roughly in 2006, Hazel came to India. She could easily gel with the Indian culture because as she said she grew up in a very traditional Indian home, courtesy her mother and grandmother.

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Hazel Keech's mother's side of the family is based in Mauritius. Her forefathers migrated to Mauritius and made it their home. She doesn't have any relatives in India, but she knew Hindi and had been exposed to the Indian customs due to her mom's family.

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Hazel Keech's mother's side of the family is based in Mauritius. Her forefathers migrated to Mauritius and made it their home. She doesn't have any relatives in India, but she knew Hindi and had been exposed to the Indian customs due to her mom's family.

"My mom is a Hindu and my nani (maternal grandmother) is very traditional and wears sari every day, does pujas. So, eventually, the culture at home was totally Indian. When I came to India, it's just a different country but the culture was the same that I grew up in," she said in an interview with mid-day in 2011.

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"My mom is a Hindu and my nani (maternal grandmother) is very traditional and wears sari every day, does pujas. So, eventually, the culture at home was totally Indian. When I came to India, it's just a different country but the culture was the same that I grew up in," she said in an interview with mid-day in 2011.

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When Hazel came to India to start off her career in modelling her name was changed to Rose Dawn by the first modelling agency she had worked with. However, Hazel left that agency after a year.

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When Hazel came to India to start off her career in modelling her name was changed to Rose Dawn by the first modelling agency she had worked with. However, Hazel left that agency after a year.

While holidaying in Mumbai, she had the opportunity to feature in the Kahin Pe Nigahen music video followed by some modelling.

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While holidaying in Mumbai, she had the opportunity to feature in the Kahin Pe Nigahen music video followed by some modelling.

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Hazel Keech made her Bollywood debut in 2011 with Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor's Bodyguard and the backstory to Hazel signing the film is quite interesting and worth the mention.

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Hazel Keech made her Bollywood debut in 2011 with Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor's Bodyguard and the backstory to Hazel signing the film is quite interesting and worth the mention.

Hazel flew down to Mumbai from London with stardust in her eyes, but soon gave up all hopes of making a career in acting in India as she was not getting any work. She was returning when she got the Bodyguard offer.

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Hazel flew down to Mumbai from London with stardust in her eyes, but soon gave up all hopes of making a career in acting in India as she was not getting any work. She was returning when she got the Bodyguard offer.

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"I was not getting any work, so I was planning to go back to London. The day I was about to leave, I got a text message from Atul Agnihotri and he asked me to meet him. I met him, we spoke for over two-and-a-half-hours and then he selected me," she said. Salman, who she had met in London while he was shooting for London Dreams, had passed on her number to Agnihotri.

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"I was not getting any work, so I was planning to go back to London. The day I was about to leave, I got a text message from Atul Agnihotri and he asked me to meet him. I met him, we spoke for over two-and-a-half-hours and then he selected me," she said. Salman, who she had met in London while he was shooting for London Dreams, had passed on her number to Agnihotri.

Before Bodyguard, Hazel starred in Tamil film Billa (2007). She even did an item number in 2009's Telugu film Kick. However, it was Bodyguard that gave Hazel recognition.

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Before Bodyguard, Hazel starred in Tamil film Billa (2007). She even did an item number in 2009's Telugu film Kick. However, it was Bodyguard that gave Hazel recognition.

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However, her acting career never took off. She went on to only grab offers for item numbers. Hazel appeared in Aa Ante Amlapuram song from the film Maximum, Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (Telugu film), Heer and Hero (Punjabi film), Dharam Sankat Mein and Baankey Ki Crazy Baraat. In the meanwhile, she also participated, in the reality shows such as Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6 and Bigg Boss 7.

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However, her acting career never took off. She went on to only grab offers for item numbers. Hazel appeared in Aa Ante Amlapuram song from the film Maximum, Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (Telugu film), Heer and Hero (Punjabi film), Dharam Sankat Mein and Baankey Ki Crazy Baraat. In the meanwhile, she also participated, in the reality shows such as Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6 and Bigg Boss 7.

In 2014, Hazel Keech took to surfing. She enrolled for classes in Tamil Nadu to learn it. "My friend urged me to learn the water sport during a trip to Puducherry. I managed to maintain my balance on the surfboard during my very first class itself. Surfing is about being in the moment, feeling the ocean and the wave and it's all about trusting your body to know what to do," pointed out Hazel.

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In 2014, Hazel Keech took to surfing. She enrolled for classes in Tamil Nadu to learn it. "My friend urged me to learn the water sport during a trip to Puducherry. I managed to maintain my balance on the surfboard during my very first class itself. Surfing is about being in the moment, feeling the ocean and the wave and it's all about trusting your body to know what to do," pointed out Hazel.

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In 2015, Hazel Keech officially announced her engagement with cricket Yuvraj Singh. "Yes, it's true, I'm getting married to @YUVSTRONG12 I'm so thankful to have found such an amazing person."

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In 2015, Hazel Keech officially announced her engagement with cricket Yuvraj Singh. "Yes, it's true, I'm getting married to @YUVSTRONG12 I'm so thankful to have found such an amazing person."

On November 30, 2016, Hazel Keech tied the knot with Yuvraj Singh. The marriage ceremony was solemnized as per the Sikh traditional 'Anand Karaj' at the gurdwara in Dufera village in Fatehgarh Sahib village, about 40 km from Yuvraj's hometown of Chandigarh.

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On November 30, 2016, Hazel Keech tied the knot with Yuvraj Singh. The marriage ceremony was solemnized as per the Sikh traditional 'Anand Karaj' at the gurdwara in Dufera village in Fatehgarh Sahib village, about 40 km from Yuvraj's hometown of Chandigarh.

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Hazel Keech adopted the name Gurbasant Kaur, which was given to her by Sant Balvinder Singh during the wedding ceremony. Hazel's Instagram account name is now Hazel Keech Singh, though!

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Hazel Keech adopted the name Gurbasant Kaur, which was given to her by Sant Balvinder Singh during the wedding ceremony. Hazel's Instagram account name is now Hazel Keech Singh, though!

On the work front, Hazel made a comeback of sorts as she joined the cast of Aamir Khan's daughter Ira Khan's play on the Greek tragedy Euripides Medea. She was happy that she returned to her first love — theatre.

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On the work front, Hazel made a comeback of sorts as she joined the cast of Aamir Khan's daughter Ira Khan's play on the Greek tragedy Euripides Medea. She was happy that she returned to her first love — theatre.

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Talking about how she got involved with the Euripides' Medea, Hazel Keech shares, "I auditioned for the part and was asked to play Medea. I had seen the play performed years ago while I was in my 20's and thought about playing the role but now I'm in my 30's and have faced a lot more and seen a lot more in life, I can now confidently say that I believe in my abilities to do justice to the role."

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Talking about how she got involved with the Euripides' Medea, Hazel Keech shares, "I auditioned for the part and was asked to play Medea. I had seen the play performed years ago while I was in my 20's and thought about playing the role but now I'm in my 30's and have faced a lot more and seen a lot more in life, I can now confidently say that I believe in my abilities to do justice to the role."

Here's wishing a very happy birthday to Hazel Keech!

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Here's wishing a very happy birthday to Hazel Keech!

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