"Peacemaker" - A Conversation with Mlaah Singh
Mlaah Singh
Names are powerful. They are whispered in our absence, declared in auditoriums as we step onto a stage, and acknowledged before we enter a room. But can their meaning shape our identity and passion?
This question arose at Overachiever Magazine after a conversation with Mlaah Singh, who spoke with warmth and pride about the significance of her name. Rooted in the Partition of India and Pakistan, Mlaah carries the profound meaning of ‘Peacemaker’. “Ironically, my name is pronounced ‘M-law’” she joked, “it almost sounds like ‘law’ fits in there.” I quipped that it seemed like destiny — but it made me wonder: is a name’s meaning only as significant as the person who brings it to life?
Through this conversation, I saw how it truly does.
Mlaah began acting at a young age and quickly recognized that it could be a promising career. Her spunky, confident, and extroverted nature gave her a natural edge in the industry, landing her roles in blockbuster films such as Avengers (2012) and Dhoom (2013). However, as time passed, her focus shifted toward an unexpected but equally compelling path: law. Her interest blossomed, but before fully committing to this new journey, Mlaah encountered an unconventional challenge — a profound identity crisis rooted in her Indian heritage.
As an actor, Mlaah found it difficult for others to relate to her journey, which led to feelings of isolation. This period sparked a deep connection with her spirituality and a renewed passion for Sikhism. She points out that despite always being in touch with her Indian roots — embracing the culture, enjoying the food, and celebrating the traditions — she realized there were gaps between what she knew and what she longed to understand. So, instead of wallowing in self-doubt and insecurity, due to factors, like never visiting India and her inability to speak the language fluently, she was greatly inspired to ‘fix’ this problem and become a more present voice in her community through Sikh driven initiatives in her College to becoming a guest panelist for SALDEF, America’s oldest Sikh organization focused on building leadership and empowerment in the Sikh American community. Mlaah expresses her deep admiration towards how joining these initiatives and communities, such as these allowed her to find a purpose in seeing more young people realise that religion can modernise with us, stating: “Religion should guide us, not divide us,” she said passionately. “We follow such strict interpretations of scriptures that we often exclude our brothers and sisters. We must let our implementation of Sikhism modernize with us.”
Today, Mlaah is set out to be one of the youngest panel host’s set to speak on May 11, 2025, for Sikh’s in Storytelling in Chicago, U.S.A, where the event is set to bring together an incredible lineup of community leaders, creatives, entertainers, and artists for a day of workshops, panels, performances, and fireside chats — all designed to amplify Sikh voices and elevate the narratives of their community.
Whilst writing this article and looking back at this conversation, and reflecting on Mlaah’s journey, the answer to the question of whether a name can shape our identity finally hit me. A name is a testament to the idea that while names may carry history and meaning, it is the individual who ultimately defines what that name represents, and I believe that Mlaah is truly a peacemaker.
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