Punjabi cinema will remain my first love, says Diljit Dosanjh

The good response to the high-voltage “Udta Punjab’ notwithstanding, actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh has his feet firmly on the ground and says his top priority will always be Punjabi cinema.

The good response to the high-voltage Udta Punjab notwithstanding, actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh has his feet firmly on the ground and says his top priority will always be Punjabi cinema.

Diljit Dosanjh is glad that after all the censorship drama, Udta Punjab has been well received by audience. (Sanjeev Sharma/HT Photo)

In an exclusive interview to HT, Dosanjh talks about the favourable response to the film that was embroiled in a huge pre-release controversy and a Punjab cabinet minister flaying him for being a part of the project and his future plans.

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You are now being called a mainstream actor after your power-packed performance in Udta Punjab. Did you see this coming?

It’s a big relief after this whole censorship drama. It stressed us all, but I knew the audience would appreciate the film. For me, it was most important to be true to my Punjabi fans and keep their faith intact. The viewers will see honesty in the film’s characters.

A Punjab cabinet minister recently expressed disappointment over your decision to be a part of the project. He said being a Punjabi, you shouldn’t have done the film that ‘defames’ Punjab. What’s your take?

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There is a lot of politics over the issue of drugs in Punjab. It has also been the poll agenda year after year, and gets reflected in the film as well. What’s your stand?

Well, I don’t want to comment on this. Jo hai, sabke samne hai, kissi se bhi kuch chhupa toh nahi raha aur duniya samajdar hai (everything is out in open, and the people are wise enough).

Post- Udta Punjab, will we now see Diljit doing more mainstream Hindi films?

It feels great to be able to reach out to a bigger audience. You will see me next in Phillauri with Anushka Sharma. However, I want to take the Punjabi cinema to a wider audience. Had it not been for Punjabi films, I wouldn’t have been offered the role of Sartaj. Sardaarji 2 releases this week and I am also doing the first super hero film in Punjabi -- Super Singh.