# Jimmy Sheirgill (ਜਸਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿੱਲ)
**Jimmy Sheirgill** (ਜਸਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿੱਲ), born Jasjit Singh Gill in 1970, is an Indian actor and film producer who works in Hindi and [Punjabi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/punjabi-cinema). He made his film debut in Gulzar's 1996 thriller *Maachis*, became widely known through *Mohabbatein* (2000), and has since built a career spanning mainstream Hindi films, Punjabi-language cinema, and streaming series.[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/jimmy-shergill/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jasjit Singh Gill; born 1970 in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, into a Sikh family[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0792116/) • [1](https://indianexpress.com/about/jimmy-shergill/) |
| Debut | *Maachis* (1996), directed by Gulzar; his name in the opening credits still reads Jasjit Singh Gill[3](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/jimmy-sheirgill-ott-ne-mere-career-ka-graph-utha-diya-101736089470197.html) • [4](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/how-jasjit-became-jimmy-263601) |
| Breakthrough | *Mohabbatein* (2000), a blockbuster romantic drama[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/jimmy-shergill/) |
| Punjabi cinema | Began with *Yaaran Naal Baharan* (2005); won the PTC Punjabi Film Award for Best Actor for *Mel Karade Rabba* (2010)[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/jimmy-shergill/) • [5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/jimmy-shergill) |
| Producing | Debuted as a producer with the Punjabi film *Dharti*; has produced four Punjabi films[6](https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/behind-the-screen/) • [7](https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/i-d-love-to-do-light-hearted-films-but-with-substance-jimmy-shergill/story-ITF85XOAptraQZIVWNGj8N.html) |
| Awards | PTC Best Actor (2011); Filmfare Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the *Tanu Weds Manu* franchise; BIG Star Entertainment Award for Most Entertaining Actor in a Thriller Film for *Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns* (2013)[5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/jimmy-shergill) • [1](https://indianexpress.com/about/jimmy-shergill/) |
| Family | Married to Priyanka Puri since 2001; son Veer Shergill[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/jimmy-shergill/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0792116/) |
## Early life and education
Sheirgill was born into a Sikh family in [Gorakhpur](https://www.edgepedia.org/gorakhpur), Uttar Pradesh; a Zee5 biography places the family in Deokahia village, Sardarnagar, in the Gorakhpur district.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0792116/) • [8](https://www.zee5.com/zee5news/jimmy-sheirgill-biography/) In 1985 he moved to Punjab, the place of his ancestors, and studied at Yadavindra Public School, Patiala, and Bikram College, Patiala.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0792116/) He learned acting from Sri Harpal Singh and then moved to Mumbai to work in the entertainment industry.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0792116/) One profile also records study at Hindu College in Delhi.[9](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2021826) Before acting, he completed a B.Com (Honours) and planned an MBA and a business of his own.[10](https://punjabdreamz.com/jimmy-shergill-biography/)
Most sources give his birth date as 1970, though the Times of India and Rotten Tomatoes list 3 December 1971.[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/jimmy-shergill/) • [11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Jimmy-Sheirgill/movies) • [12](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jimmy-shargil)
## Name
The screen name has two layers. Jimmy came from his first film: Sheirgill has said that a part of *Maachis* he still carries with him is the name of his character, and the film's opening credits continue to read Jasjit Singh Gill.[4](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/how-jasjit-became-jimmy-263601) From *Mohabbatein* onward he asked that his name appear as Jimmy Shergill, and it stayed that way for the rest of his career.[10](https://punjabdreamz.com/jimmy-shergill-biography/) Later he changed the spelling of the surname from Shergill to Sheirgill because the earlier form was frequently used across social media.[8](https://www.zee5.com/zee5news/jimmy-sheirgill-biography/)
## Hindi film career
Sheirgill's career launched with *Maachis* (1996), a film set against Punjab's troubled 1980s, and gained traction with *Mohabbatein* (2000), in which he played Karan.[3](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/jimmy-sheirgill-ott-ne-mere-career-ka-graph-utha-diya-101736089470197.html) • [1](https://indianexpress.com/about/jimmy-shergill/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0792116/) Through the 2000s he appeared in *Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.* (2003) and its sequel *Lage Raho Munna Bhai*, *Hum Tum* (2004), *Yahaan* (2005), *[Eklavya: The Royal Guard](https://www.edgepedia.org/eklavya-the-royal-guard)* (2007), and the critically acclaimed *[A Wednesday!](https://www.edgepedia.org/a-wednesday)* (2008), in which he played Arif Khan.[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/jimmy-shergill/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0792116/) • [12](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jimmy-shargil)
**Character range.** He has played leads, character roles, and negative characters, and has said he is not a fan of the quintessential 'hero' concept.[5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/jimmy-shergill) • [3](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/jimmy-sheirgill-ott-ne-mere-career-ka-graph-utha-diya-101736089470197.html) Notable turns include [Aniruddha](https://www.edgepedia.org/aniruddha) 'Ani' Sharma in *Haasil* (2003), Zaheer in *Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.*, Rudra Tripathi in *[Bullett Raja](https://www.edgepedia.org/bullett-raja)* (2013), the lawyer Vakil "VK" Kapoor in *De De Pyaar De* (2019), and Monty Paswan in *Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba* (2024).[13](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/jimmy-shergill-turns-55-a-look-at-the-roles-that-helped-him-survive-all-weathers-2829456-2025-12-03) • [12](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jimmy-shargil) Commercially successful films such as *My Name Is Khan* (2010) and the *Tanu Weds Manu* franchise, the latter earning him a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actor, consolidated his position in the industry.[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/jimmy-shergill/)
In a 2023 interview around the release of *Aazam*, in which he plays Javed, Sheirgill reflected that when he moved toward films like *A Wednesday*, *Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster*, and *Tanu Weds Manu*, some people told him he was destroying his career; looking back, he said he was glad people remember him as an actor rather than a "chocolate hero".[14](https://www.cineblues.com/bollywood-interviews/aazam-jimmy-sheirgill-interview-exclusive)
## Punjabi cinema and producing
Sheirgill's Punjabi film career began with *Yaaran Naal Baharan* (2005), directed by [Manmohan Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/manmohan-singh), with whom he had earlier worked on *Mohabbatein*.[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/jimmy-shergill/) • [15](https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-mind-rocks-youth-summit-2014/chandigarh/story/jimmy-shergill-india-today-mind-rocks-2014-205278-2014-08-23) Hits followed, including *Yaara Naal Bahara* (2005), *Mel Karade Rabba* (2010), for which he won the PTC Award for Best Actor, *Munde UK De*, and *Dharti*, the film in which he debuted as a producer.[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/jimmy-shergill/) • [5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/jimmy-shergill) • [6](https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/behind-the-screen/) He has said he does one Punjabi film a year and has produced four Punjabi films.[7](https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/i-d-love-to-do-light-hearted-films-but-with-substance-jimmy-shergill/story-ITF85XOAptraQZIVWNGj8N.html) His producing credits also include the 2013 Punjabi film *Saadi Love Story*, starring [Diljit Dosanjh](https://www.edgepedia.org/diljit-dosanjh) and [Amrinder Gill](https://www.edgepedia.org/amrinder-gill).[16](https://www.thefinancialworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FW-19-October-Chandigarh-Edition.pdf) Later Punjabi releases include *Jindua* (2017), *Daana Paani* (2018), and *Shareek 2* (2022).[12](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jimmy-shargil) • [11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Jimmy-Sheirgill/movies)
## Streaming work
Sheirgill has been active in the OTT space, with series including *Your Honour* and ZEE5's *Rangbaaz Phirse*.[14](https://www.cineblues.com/bollywood-interviews/aazam-jimmy-sheirgill-interview-exclusive) • [8](https://www.zee5.com/zee5news/jimmy-sheirgill-biography/) In a January 2025 interview he said that OTT had lifted his career graph, and that he proudly owns his work because he has lived each character.[3](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/jimmy-sheirgill-ott-ne-mere-career-ka-graph-utha-diya-101736089470197.html) He played the cop Jaswinder Singh in *[Sikandar Ka Muqaddar](https://www.edgepedia.org/sikandar-ka-muqaddar)* (2024) and was cast in *[Choona](https://www.edgepedia.org/choona)* (2023) and *Operation Mayfair* (2023).[3](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/jimmy-sheirgill-ott-ne-mere-career-ka-graph-utha-diya-101736089470197.html) • [9](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2021826) • [11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Jimmy-Sheirgill/movies)
## Personal life
Sheirgill is married to Priyanka Puri from Delhi; the Indian Express dates the marriage to 2001, and the couple have a son, Veer Shergill.[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/jimmy-shergill/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0792116/) His parents are Sathyajit Singh Shergill and Balraj Kaur Shergill, and he has a sibling, Aman Shergill.[5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/jimmy-shergill)
## References
1. [Jimmy Shergill: News, Movies, Photos, Videos & Updates, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/about/jimmy-shergill/)
2. [Jimmy Shergill, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0792116/)
3. [Jimmy Sheirgill: OTT ne mere career ka graph utha diya, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/jimmy-sheirgill-ott-ne-mere-career-ka-graph-utha-diya-101736089470197.html)
4. [How Jasjit became Jimmy, The Tribune](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/how-jasjit-became-jimmy-263601)
5. [Jimmy Shergill — Filmography & Biography, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/jimmy-shergill)
6. [Behind the Screen, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/behind-the-screen/)
7. [I'd love to do light-hearted films, but with substance: Jimmy Shergill, Hindustan Times Brunch](https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/i-d-love-to-do-light-hearted-films-but-with-substance-jimmy-shergill/story-ITF85XOAptraQZIVWNGj8N.html)
8. [Jimmy Sheirgill: Biography, Zee5 News](https://www.zee5.com/zee5news/jimmy-sheirgill-biography/)
9. [Jimmy Shergill — Actor Filmography, elCinema](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2021826)
10. [Jimmy Shergill: Stylish and Talented Personality of Punjabi Industry, Punjab Dreamz](https://punjabdreamz.com/jimmy-shergill-biography/)
11. [Jimmy Sheirgill Movies: Latest and Upcoming Films, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Jimmy-Sheirgill/movies)
12. [Jimmy Shergill Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jimmy-shargil)
13. [Jimmy Shergill turns 55: A look at the roles that helped him survive all weathers, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/jimmy-shergill-turns-55-a-look-at-the-roles-that-helped-him-survive-all-weathers-2829456-2025-12-03)
14. [Exclusive Aazam: Jimmy Sheirgill interview, Cineblues](https://www.cineblues.com/bollywood-interviews/aazam-jimmy-sheirgill-interview-exclusive)
15. [I want to do light-hearted films but I get intense roles: Jimmy Shergill, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-mind-rocks-youth-summit-2014/chandigarh/story/jimmy-shergill-india-today-mind-rocks-2014-205278-2014-08-23)
16. [The Financial World, Chandigarh edition, 19 October 2024](https://www.thefinancialworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FW-19-October-Chandigarh-Edition.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 2000s onward › Surnames Sh to S*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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