Meet Sukhman Gill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sukhman Gill.

Hi Sukhman, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey into acting and the arts wasn’t something I ever planned.

I actually come from a background in Architecture. I went to architecture school, built a career, and started working in the field. For me, there was a real sense of pride in being able to establish myself professionally and make my parents proud, especially after seeing how much they had sacrificed and worked for our family. At that point, I felt like I had done what I was supposed to do. But somewhere along the way, I realized I needed another outlet — something creative that allowed me to express a different side of myself.

That outlet started with something as simple as fashion and modelling.

I jokingly called myself a “self-proclaimed model” on Instagram. I was actually incredibly shy in the beginning. I remember feeling so uncomfortable taking pictures in public that I would have my cousin bring his camera and photograph me. I would post the pictures online without really knowing where it would lead. I just enjoyed the creative side of it.

Then, one day, someone noticed my work online and reached out asking me to model for them. That was really the first time I thought, “Maybe I can actually do this.”

Like many people starting out in modelling and acting, I did a lot of work for free in the beginning. I was constantly trying to build my portfolio and gain experience through TFP — “time for print” — shoots. I would search Kijiji and Craigslist for opportunities, and eventually discovered Facebook casting groups and casting websites. I was learning everything through trial and error.

Modelling eventually led me to runway, which opened up another world and introduced me to more people in the industry. Through those connections, I started meeting actors who were doing commercials. That’s when I started submitting myself for acting opportunities and learning about the commercial world.

One of the decisions I made early on was that I didn’t want to immediately get an agent. I wanted to test myself first. I figured that if I could learn the process, submit myself, audition, and actually book work on my own, then I would have something to bring to an agent beyond simply saying I wanted to be an actor.

So that’s what I did.

I started booking commercials, building my resume and reel, and slowly becoming more comfortable in the industry. Along the way, I started meeting more serious actors and getting involved in student short films, which taught me a completely different side of the craft.

I also started doing background work because I wanted to understand how film and television sets actually operated. I wanted to know what everyone was doing behind the scenes — the gaffers, grips, DOPs, second team, stand-ins, ADs, and all the moving pieces that make a production happen. I became fascinated by the entire process.

The more I learned, the more I realized that film and television was where I wanted to be.

That’s when I decided to take the next step and get an agent.

What makes the journey especially meaningful to me is that when I started, I never imagined I would end up acting. I didn’t have family or close connections in the entertainment industry who could show me the path or tell me the shortcuts. I was figuring everything out as I went. A lot of the time, I didn’t even know what questions I should be asking.

At some point, I realized I wasn’t chasing the idea of becoming an actor anymore — I genuinely loved the work itself. I loved being on set, collaborating with people, learning from others, and getting the opportunity to step into different characters and stories. I had been bitten by the bug.

Fast forward a few years, and I’m incredibly grateful for how far the journey has taken me. I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredibly talented people and being part of numerous television shows, films, and, of course, commercials.

When I look back, I think the most interesting part is that none of it was really planned. Architecture led me to a career, fashion gave me a creative outlet, modelling introduced me to the entertainment industry, and that eventually led me to acting.

I’m still learning, still auditioning, still getting rejected, still booking work, and still figuring things out. But I think that’s part of what makes the journey exciting. I never set out with a perfectly mapped path — I simply kept following the next opportunity, learning along the way, and seeing where it would take me.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Acting is already an industry filled with rejection, uncertainty, and a lot of competition, but as a South Asian and visible minority, I’ve experienced some additional challenges that have shaped my journey.

There were times when I questioned where I fit within the industry. I experienced moments of racism, stereotyping, and being overlooked for roles that I genuinely believed I could have brought something meaningful to. Sometimes it felt like the expectation was that I would only fit into very specific types of characters or stories because of how I looked or where people assumed I came from.

I also noticed early on that there simply weren’t a lot of roles being written for people who looked like me. When you don’t see many people who look like you represented on screen, it can be difficult to envision yourself having a place there. Growing up, I rarely saw South Asian actors in major roles in Western film and television, so there wasn’t really a blueprint for me to follow. I didn’t have that feeling of, “Someone like me did this, so I know this path is possible.”

Instead, I had to figure a lot of it out on my own.

There was no single formula for getting into the industry either. Everyone I spoke to seemed to have a completely different journey. Some people had started acting when they were four years old. Others didn’t begin until they were 40. Some went to prestigious acting or film schools, while others came through theatre, modelling, social media, commercials, or simply happened to meet the right person at the right time.

For me, there was a lot of trial and error. I had to learn how auditions worked, how sets worked, how to build a reel, how to present myself, how to network, and even what questions to ask. There were plenty of times when I wished I had someone who could simply tell me, “This is how you do it.” Instead, I had to learn by doing.

And then there is the rejection.

I’ve done hundreds of auditions and, like most actors, I’ve heard “no” far more times than I’ve heard “yes.” You can prepare for days, walk into an audition believing you are perfect for the role, give it everything you have, and then never hear anything back. Sometimes you don’t even know why you weren’t selected. Over time, that can really test your confidence.

There were definitely moments where I thought about quitting and wondered whether continuing to pursue this was worth it. But every time I felt that way, I reminded myself why I started in the first place. I wasn’t doing this because I thought it would be easy. I genuinely loved acting, being on set, telling stories, and creating something with other people.

Being a visible minority also made me more conscious of the responsibility that comes with pursuing this career. I wanted to carve out a path for myself, but I also wanted to help create a path that someone else could walk through more easily. If a young South Asian kid sees me on screen and thinks, “Maybe I can do that too,” then every audition, rejection, and difficult experience becomes part of something bigger than just my own career.

I don’t want the next generation to feel like they have to wait for someone to give them permission to belong in this industry.

Things are changing, and I’m grateful to have seen more diversity and representation over the years, but there is still a long way to go. For me, the obstacles have ultimately made me more resilient. I’ve become more comfortable with rejection, more patient with the process, and more determined to keep showing up.

I’ve learned that sometimes you have to create your own lane when you don’t see one waiting for you. And hopefully, by doing that, you make the road a little easier for the people who come after you.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Aside from Architecture which falls under my professional career working as a Junior Architect.
Acting & Modelling is what I specialize in. This is my artistic career that I never thought was a possibility, because we were always taught to study and get a good job and make a stable income. So this is what I love, what I’m good at and what I’d do even if I wasn’t being paid at all. I’m most probably known for my role as Jaspreet on a show called Late Bloomer on Crave. A lot of people also may recognize me from playing Officer Sidhu on Coroner, Umbrella Academy, Law & Order and 2 Hallmark films I’ve done. Most recently I completed my 3rd Punjabi film where I play a Scientist and Superhero which will be coming to theatres this fall.

I’m most proud of the projects we’ve created that shed light on South Asian culture, stories where we’re able to just play characters that are normal and not stereotypes. Some of the projects I’ve worked on have won numerous awards and I’ve had the great pleasure of being able to premiere at TIFF multiple times.

What sets me apart is that I genuinely want to create change, help people and am actively doing so.
My 3rd job you can say is public speaking. Being a South Asian visible minority trying to break into the industry has allowed me to speak at highschools, events, conferences, colleges etc to not only share my story but to inspire others to do the same by creating that spark in them.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
There are multiple books and podcasts I listen to, to gain better knowledge of life, spirituality and of course Acting.
I mainly listen to Nanak Naam, Jay Shetty Podcast, The Masterclass which has lots of great directors, actors, writers I get a chance to listen too.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsukhmangill/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Iamsukhmangill-100063566799898/
• Twitter: https://x.com/iamsukhmangill/status/1496218998312251400
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjzyrO78d-wIW17Y8z9DVzw