Taz Singh: How an Indian actor from Scotland Found Himself Cast in RM’s “Lost!” Music Video

KDramaHQ AdminApril 4, 2025

Photo courtesy of photographer Kazuya Seki (via Taz)

One of my favorite things to share in this newsletter are my interviews with thoughtful, smart and talented creatives who are working in the Korean entertainment industry and/or have a history with Korea and its culture. Some are ethnically Korean (KINO, Teo Yoo, The Rose, AMPERS&ONE), while others are foreigners like Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale and “1923” star Sebastian Roché.

For my latest Q&A, I had the opportunity to interview Taz Singh, who I was first introduced to in RM’s music video for “Lost!”

Taz has kept busy appearing in productions in both South Korea and Japan. He guested on Fuji TV’s “Monomane The World” and was featured in a Mitsubishi ad celebrating Japan’s 100th anniversary. And just last month, he appeared in Seulgi’s music video for her single “Baby, Not Baby.”

What of Bollywood though? Yup, you guessed it. He has already filmed a project that the hopes will release in the near future.

Hi Taz, thank you very much for doing this interview with me. Can you please introduce yourself to the readers of K-Culture With Jae-Ha Kim?
Taz Singh: Nice to meet you. My name is Taz Singh — also known as Tarsvinder Singh Sihra or, in Korean, 타즈싱. Born on 11^th March 1994 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. I have proficiency in speaking English, Korean, Japanese, Punjabi, Hindi and Mandarin, and have been fortunate to have trained in martial arts such as wing chun and taekwondo. I’m a British-born actor of Indian origin, trained in the Michael Chekhov acting technique. Nowadays I live in Tokyo, though often also stay in Seoul.

“It’s not just about BTS’s music. It’s deeper than that. They stand for values like self love, and they’re very real and vulnerable. I feel that is why so many people can relate and connect to them so well.” —Taz Singh

Many readers first saw you in RM’s music video for “Lost!” Did you know in advance that the video was for RM?
Taz Singh: At the beginning, my agent in the UK sent me an email to audition for this project. It was titled as a Major KPOP Artist MV. We did not know who the artist was at that time. I did an audition and later received a callback. After another audition, a week or so later, my agent sent me an email confirmation for the offer of the role. Soon after, I was informed by another email that I would be working with RM. I was lost for words — pun intended — with the blending of emotions. [It was] a joyful happiness with a splendid surprise.

Who did you think you would be working with?
Taz Singh: Initially, I thought it may have been for a collaboration with Taeyeon. One of my friend’s friends of friends in the US had worked with her in the past. My friend knew I loved Korean culture, so I thought on the off chance that perhaps somebody put a good word in for me or recommended me. I didn’t think I would pass such a high-profile audition without some luck. There would be so many people auditioning for this K-pop MV. That’s why I feel I really got lucky to get involved with this project. Just happened to be right place, right time.

In your case it wasn’t the Right Place, Wrong Person. [Note: That is the title of RM’s album, which includes “Lost!”] How long did you work on that video?
Taz Singh: It was filmed in Romania [and] I was there for less than a week, so I think just under a week — though I believe other cast members arrived slightly earlier at different dates and were there longer than me.

What memories do you have of that shoot?
Taz Singh: There are so many memorable moments from being part of this wonderful project. One is a scene towards the end of the music video, where RM is climbing above everyone and rising up through the top of the TV show desk. I was so amazed how the team and crew managed to build the materials for that scene so quickly [and] also the creative inspiration behind it. We were connected with wires for safety, given the height of the platform. There was also a time where I felt connected to hearing the “Lost!” track continue to play after a take ended on set. I remember hearing it and feeling the vibe, turning to RM and expressing something along the lines of, “Wow, damn, that was quite nice.” We bumped fists [and] vibed. Next take. Action!

Were you a fan of RM or BTS prior to all of this?
Taz Singh: Before working on “Lost!”, I liked a few songs, such as “Euphoria,” “Butter” and RM’s “Lonely.” I actually really like “Lonely.” [The songs were] catchy and relatable. After working on “Lost!” and being smothered by kindness and warm welcomes from ARMYs, slowly I started to learn more and dive deeper into the ARMY world and BTS. I was really amazed and developed an even more profound respect for them. It’s not just about the music, it’s deeper than that. They stand for values like self-love, loving yourself, and they’re very real and vulnerable. I feel that is why so many people can relate and connect to them so well. And also, seeing how well ARMYs looked after each other as a family, really made me feel a deep sense of respect for them. From that, I am a small fan compared to the passion and dedication of many ARMYs.

Can you share how you got interested in Korean culture? Was it the food?
Taz Singh: Initially, it was just something different to what I was used to in the UK. From older kpop groups like BigBang, 2NE1 and watching Korean dramas, I felt it was something unique that had a deep potential for global impact. Some of the stories for TV dramas were very well-written and, as such, it was [captivating] to watch from the audience perspective. It was so different to things I was used to in the UK that I wanted to explore them further. Of course, having Korean friends introduce food like kimchi, kimchi-jjigae, [noraebang], and Korean fashion like hanbok, became something very intriguing to me in 2009. I’m glad I explored Korean culture further at a younger age. It definitely had a great impact on my life.

What groups were you listening to when you were in school?
Taz Singh: I was a very big fan of BigBang, especially G-Dragon and Taeyang. 2NE1 and CL, Jessi and Red Roc were other Korean artists that I became familiar with during that era. I heard a few songs from other artists such as Huh Gak, Hyolyn, Davichi, T-ara and IU back then. Most of the other students at school were familiar with the usual rock style, like Green Day. Hip-hop and R&B were other genres that I was drawn to as well.

Let’s talk a bit about languages. How fluent are you in Korean and Japanese?
Taz Singh: As of now, I would say I am conversational in both languages. I used to be more fluent and faster in Korean. Recently, I have not had many experiences to speak it, so I am a bit slow and rusty. This happens when I don’t speak a language for a while, though it soon returns to me after a bit of practice and my speed becomes natural. I would say my Japanese is advanced conversational, but that is because I have lived there recently for a much longer time and have been using it on a daily basis.

So many of us find it difficult to learn new languages, especially when we are older. Do you have any recommendations on acquiring and maintaining language skills?
Taz Singh: I started learning both languages around the ages of 16 and 18. I would say my Korean was very conversational at the age of 19. I was holding conversations in Korean with Korean friends. As for methods, I would say just keep practicing. Immerse yourself into the culture and it will naturally take care of itself. Put yourself in many opportunities where you must speak and understand the language. I find that is more useful than reading many books. Find a way which feels fun, and not like work or effort. I think that is very important when learning a language. Enjoy it, and don’t think so much!

What can you tell us about some of your work projects?
Taz Singh: I have been featured in Netflix projects in Japan, like “Shinjuku Yasen Byoin.” I speak both Japanese and English, as per the nature of my role. After finishing “Shinjuku Yasen Byoin,” I’m glad to be making an appearance in more Japanese TV projects. Though I can’t say much as of yet, I recently had to gain body mass for a role, and now through good Asian food and exercise, [I am] preparing for the next role. I eat a lot of kimchi for good collagen and health, and I am getting back into taekwondo to improve strength and flexibility.

My manager in Mongolia has scheduled me for a film project later this summer and I anticipate learning basic Mongolian for authenticity, though most of my role will involve English. This year, I will have to work very hard and make the most of every minute. I enjoy it with all my heart.

And I have heard rumors that the Bollywood Indian film, “Tehran,” is expected to release later this year. I remember being on set back in 2022, so I’m excited and looking forward to seeing its release. I may also work on another Indian film project later this year, depending on circumstances.

I have yet to feature in a Korean Netflix project — though that may happen later in 2025. Hopefully you may see me in something exciting surprisingly soon! I’m looking forward to a Korean co-production film beginning in late 2025. I’m passionate in also focusing further on the Korean entertainment industry. I hope to contribute more to the Korean entertainment industry, share the love and keep doing my best

As your career grows, what kind of parts do you hope to get in films, dramas, and even theater perhaps?
Taz Singh: As an actor, my job is to give life to the role given to me. Sometimes we are not so fortunate to pick and choose what role we would like in a project. However, if I have the chance, I want to portray an antagonist who has the audience decide what is right or wrong. These types of characters, which make the audience think from a different perspective, are the roles I feel would be very exciting to [to portray if given] have the opportunity. Life is sometimes not so clear, there is no right or wrong answer. Sometimes, things are not as defined. I think playing a role with deep character development is very realistic to many of life’s wonderous stories. If the audience watches a film and ponders on something about life afterwards, then I feel these particular films are more than just entertainment and that I have done my job as an artist. These type of films and characters also end up becoming well remembered for years to come.

What are the last few films or TV shows that you’ve watched that captured your attention?
Taz Singh: Though I don’t get much time these days to watch TV and films, I have watched some Korean dramas like “The Glory,” “The Penthouse: War in life” and “Voice.” “Voice” season one starring Jang Hyuk was very captivating and also at times a bit scary to watch. I also recently watched [the film] “Hopeless,” featuring Song Joong-ki.

Over recent years, there have been a lot of complaints from K-drama fans about the poor quality of acting done by foreigners cast in Korean productions. They’re primarily addressing white male actors who seem to be cast because they fit the physical description, without necessarily having any acting chops. As a westerner who’s also a member of a visible minority, what’s your take on that complaint?
Taz Singh: Hmm, very interesting. I would say everyone has to start somewhere, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing. If someone gets cast, they get cast. That’s one way to look at it, and congratulations to them. Though, as an actor, I can also understand why some people may be frustrated. This has happened to me at times,. In Asia, I auditioned for a role that was very suited to me. However, I did not get the confirmation in the end because my look and face was not of a particular quality or appearance. When hearing that someone else who had no acting training got cast because of such reasons, it is disheartening to some extent. One would hope that those who get cast at least have had some training to be adaptable. So from a perspective of skill and hard work, it is sometimes painful to hear such outcomes. Though looking back, there was a time I was a beginner, and I remember getting cast for my first projects, and I was really happy about it! So, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, because everyone has to start somewhere to grow.

Ultimately, it’s the director and producer’s decisions. If they decide to cast based upon appearance instead of acting quality, then it is what it is. And I think accepting that sometimes things like that are out of our control just helps us focus on other things and the right opportunities to come. Maybe a particular project needed a particular person who’s look was very hard to find? There are so many circumstances that we do not know to truly come to such a general conclusion. Nothing is really good or bad. It’s just perspective and it is what it is. Perhaps, though, things may change in the future.

For more information on the actor, you may stay in touch with Taz on Instagram.