Sikh community puts their faith in film

Puneet Issar’s I Am Singh is finding strong support from gurudwaras and the Sikh community countrywide.

Puneet Issar’s I Am Singh is finding strong support from gurudwaras and the Sikh community countrywide. Puneet, famous for his portrayal of Duryodhan in the television series Mahabharat, says, “About 25-30 gurudwaras in Mumbai have already pledged their support, after we had our film standees placed inside.”

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He explains, "Such a thing has never been done before. I had invited the pradhans (leaders) and seniors from the Sikh community to watch the film. They were impressed that for the first time, Sikhs have not been mocked or shown as comic characters in the film."

The actor also held rallies to bring awareness in the city, starting from the Malad gurudwara to Dadar. He adds, "We went to Sath Pai Nagar Gurdwara in Ghatkopar where about 20,000 people came to support us." The actor also arranged a langar (feast) for the community at one such gathering.

Issar has also found support nationwide and has the whole week planned with visits and talks about the film to be held at various gurudwaras in Delhi, Chandigarh and Amritsar. He says, “We plan to visit more than 100 gurudwaras and end our journey at the Golden Temple.” I Am Singh is based on racism. However Puneet insists it’s “not against America”. He says, “I wanted to raise awareness about mistaken identity due to turbans.” The actor recounts how he had gone on a holiday to America barely six months after the 9/11 incident. He, along with his Sikh friends, went to a hotel for dinner, when a few Americans picked up a fight, calling them Arabs and terrorists