Diljit Dosanjh ‘was not a big star’ when Imtiaz Ali signed him for Amar Singh Chamkila; director says, ‘He had not done Coachella’

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As a seasoned observer of the entertainment industry, I have to say that witnessing the meteoric rise of Diljit Dosanjh has been nothing short of captivating. From humble beginnings to global stardom, his journey is a testament to hard work, talent, and the power of seizing opportunities when they present themselves.

Today, Diljit Dosanjh has achieved global fame with fans scattered across the globe, all while dominating the music scene and impressing in Punjabi and Hindi films. Recently, he shared the screen with Parineeti Chopra in Imtiaz Ali’s Amar Singh Chamkila, shattering box office records. However, during a recent interview, the filmmaker admitted that when he first signed Diljit to star in his film, the actor wasn’t as successful as he is now.

During an interview with Mid-Day India on YouTube, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali discussed Diljit Dosanjh and the stardom he gained after portraying Amar Singh Chamkila in the movie’s lead role. In the conversation, Ali disclosed that at the project’s outset, Diljit was not yet a major celebrity. “He hadn’t performed at Coachella when we began working with him,” he explained, mentioning that it all occurred concurrently.

Imtiaz explained that an actor’s worth can change between when a film is made and when it’s released. This was seen in the case of the Punjabi superstar, who skyrocketed to fame. The filmmaker-actor further clarified that Dosanjh wasn’t well-known in the Hindi movie industry before being cast by Ali, which left many wondering about the film’s potential success because no one knew how much the actor would bring in.

Because he had seen both Udta Punjab and Phillauri by this artist, the filmmaker realized that he was an exceptionally talented actor as well as a popular Punjabi musician. Interestingly, Diljit Dosanjh actually shared more information about the original Amar Singh Chamkila with the director than the other way around. In essence, rather than Ali providing details to him, it was Diljit who informed the filmmaker about these matters.

In an exclusive chat with TopMob, Imtiaz Ali, director of Jab We Met, confessed that he had some doubts about casting Diljit. He shared, “I wasn’t certain if it would work out with Diljit for some reason. I thought he might not be able to pull it off, and so initially, I didn’t consider approaching him. However, when we finally spoke, it felt like a new chapter, and now I can’t imagine anyone else playing the role.”

Amar Singh Chamkila became a massive hit with the audience dubbing it as Imtiaz Ali’s comeback.

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2024-08-18 00:07