I don’t even feel like I am a part of the Punjabi film industry, let alone Bollywood: Diljith
21/02/2018
Bollywood has had its share of singers-cum-actors across decades. However, there’s something about this turbaned pind-da-puttar from Punjab. While his voice and sense of music have cultivated patrons over the years, his acting abilities, evident in his Punjabi and two Hindi films, have won him a new set of fans. Diljit Dosanjh, gearing up for a busy year at the movies with as many as three upcoming Hindi films, and a Punjabi period drama, admits that he’s never felt part of any industry. “I don’t have much idea about how films are really made, because occasionally, even the best scripts don’t turn out to be the way you imagined them,” he says. Over to the singer-actor’s conversation with BT. Excerpts...
Not only are you working in two movie industries, you are also dabbling in different genres…
I don’t think so much about the genre of the film, I simply follow my instinct. Sometimes, it’s the story that pulls me towards a project; sometimes, it’s the people associated with it and at other times, just a feeling that it might turn out to be good. I don’t have much idea about how films are made, because occasionally, even the best scripts don’t turn out to be the way you imagined them.
Romance and comedy are evidently your comfort genres; at least that’s what your Punjabi films underline. 'Welcome To New York' is your first comedy in Hindi. What was it like to shoot in the midst of a live award show overseas?
I had never done something like that before, it was actually crazy. I didn’t know what was going on. In Punjabi films, actors have often designed our own clothes, choreographed their songs and even scouted for locations, but here, we were on standby for 24 hours, shooting whenever some celebrity agreed to film their cameos. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Until recently, you were shooting for hockey player Sandeep Singh’s biopic, 'Soorma'. Considering the fact that you’ve never played a sport, how was the experience?
I got to learn hockey from Sandeep paaji himself. He didn’t hold anything back and told me everything about himself and the game. At the outset, it was difficult to hold the hockey stick, because I have never been a sportsperson and neither have I followed any sport too closely. Music was my only focus. Funnily enough, hockey and cricket seemed the same to me because I thought dono mein ball hi to maarni hai. However, when I started playing hockey, I realised the massive difference between the two sports. Hockey takes a toll on your back, and your nails can bleed while striking. To add to it, I had to portray one of the finest hockey players of his time. Sandeep paaji is the best drag flicker in the country. I spent 10 days just trying to get his stance right. The film has wrapped up, but even today, I can’t play as fast as him. Speed hi nahi hai, but I can do the drag flick.
At the moment, Sanjay Dutt’s biopic with Ranbir Kapoor is expected to clash with 'Soorma'….
(Cuts in) Oh! I am a huge fan of Sanjay Dutt and Ranbir Kapoor, so I will watch the Dutt biopic. I am sure it will be good. Competition to hota hi rehta hai.
Considering the fact that you are a part of two industries the Punjabi film industry and Bollywood what’s your benchmark while choosing a movie? Is it any other actor’s role or your own last outing?
Like I said, I am not such a serious person and this is not my field anyway. Films are a director’s medium. If a film is good, you will sail through it even if you’re average, but if the film is bad, it won’t help even if you put your best foot forwards. No matter how loudly an actor says that he knew his film would work, trust me, he doesn’t know anything. It’s all a lie when they say, ‘I knew this will work’. No one except the director knows whether something will work or not. So, these things don’t become my benchmarks.
Given how much importance you attach to a director, would you ever turn one?
Never! A director’s job is very difficult. He gives his life to every film. Itni baatein sunni padti hain roz. I’m so sensitive that if someone speaks loudly to me for no fault of mine, I won’t be able to get myself to work. As a director, agar mujhe kisine kuch bol diya, toh main to uss din film hi bandh kar doonga. Maybe, if I feel comfortable, I’ll work the next day. I know it’s a shortcoming, but this is how I am.
With a string of movies in Bollywood, do you feel like an insider now?
I don’t even feel like I am a part of the Punjabi film industry, let alone Bollywood, though by the grace of God, I have work in both. People feel that I am a part of both industries, but I don’t feel so. Main bada akela feel karta hoon, but that’s fine. I easily move on from one project to the other without any baggage.
Right from your first film in Bollywood, you were immensely liked by the audiences. Expectations are high from you in both the industries. Do you ever feel the pressure?
Log kya socheng,e kya kahenge usse mera koi lena dena nahi. If people say I was great in a film, it doesn’t mean that I have permanent employment in Bollywood or the Punjabi industry. Even now, I have to prove myself with every film and song. Things like praise, criticism or expectations won’t get me employment. I just have to do my work well, and only that can get me more work.
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