Jeevin Singh Neelam Lands Landmark Role On CBS’s S.W.A.T.

Photo: SALDEF

India-West News Desk

LOS ANGELES, CA – Jeevin Singh Neelam has secured a guest-star role on the CBS action-drama S.W.A.T., an achievement he considers a significant early-career breakthrough.

Booking a guest-star role on a Paramount/CBS production “is a huge honor,” Neelam, a Sikh American, stated. He added that the casting strengthened his conviction that pursuing acting is viable “regardless of my visible identity,” viewing the opportunity as a sign of an industry increasingly willing to embrace diverse talent.

Neelam plays the character Raj, a role he felt was rooted in the lived Sikh experience. While the character resonated with him, he emphasized that the performance remained a creative exercise. “Just like any other actor, I am playing a character; my own viewpoints don’t necessarily have to replicate those of Raj’s,” he explained.

He also highlighted the broader significance of the casting, noting that, as far as he is aware, this marks the first time a Sikh man with a turban and beard has been portrayed as a “hero” in a major Hollywood studio production. “As a kid, it would have been so cool to see a Sikh guy as a hero or even just a character in a show,” he remarked, expressing hope that the role encourages more intentional writing and casting of Sikh characters.

Reflecting on his professional development, Neelam credited his internship fostered by the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund with helping him build confidence and workplace readiness. He stated that this experience strengthened his interviews for later opportunities, including internships at HBO, noting, “In this way, the program aided me to get my foot in the door in the entertainment industry.”

Looking ahead, Neelam hopes Sikh representation expands across all character types. “I want Sikhs to be portrayed in every way—the hero, the villain, the love interest, the nerdy man behind the camera,” he asserted. (courtesy SALDEF)