Diljit Dosanjh On Playing Amar Singh Chamkila: "I Had To Start From Zero As A Musician"

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APRIL 04,2024

April has some fantastic OTT releases lined up for every movie buff. With stories that needed to be told, Amar Singh Chamkila's biopic is one such film that will touch millions of hearts and make every Punjabi music lover proud. With Diljit Dosanjh playing the iconic musician's role, the film gets even better when you know it's helmed by Imtiaz Ali.

For the uninitiated, Amar Singh Chamkila was Punjab's first ever rockstar who redefined regional music and became a mass favorite. He was also known as the Elvis of Punjab. He ruled the street concerts in the 1980s and was regarded as one of the best love performers to come from the northern state of India.

As Diljit Dosanjh gears up to step into the shoes of the legendary musician, he speaks about what it took to get into the skin of the character and his experience working with Imtiaz Ali.

Diljit Dosanjh on 'unlearning' things as a musician

The best part about being an actor is that you get a chance to 'unlearn' things and start from scratch, especially when you're headlining a biopic, says Diljit. That's exactly what he did to play the part of the slain Punjabi singer.

Diljit, who is not just a popular name in Punjabi and Hindi cinema but also a globally loved icon, said he had to unlearn several things as a musician to be authentic to his character.

Also Read: Diljit Dosanjh-Parineeti Chopra Shine In Imtiaz Ali's Amar Singh Chamkila Trailer



As he sat down for a chat with PTI, Diljit said, "I had to unlearn things and start from zero. It's a plus point in the life of an artist to do this." He is paired opposite Parineeti Chopra, who plays his on-screen wife, Amarjot Kaur.

"It's tough to start from zero because you often get lost in your own personality and you feel this is who you are, but the best thing about an actor's job is that you get the opportunity to start from zero, and I look at this as an opportunity,' the Crew actor added.

Diljit Dosanjh on working with Imtiaz Ali

Amar Singh Chamkila, which will see a global release on Netflix, marks the first collaboration between the actor and the filmmaker. In the same interview, Diljit Dosanjh opened up about his experience working with the renowned director.

What made his job easier was relying completely on Ali's vision and instincts to portray the nuances of Chamkila.

'I didn't do much prep for the film Imtiaz sir prepped a lot. He had a clear vision of the character of Chamkila. I knew Chamkila as an artist, but I had no idea about how he was as a person or how he would perform on stage. I got a lot of help from Imtiaz sir,' Dosanjh said.


Also Read: Diljit Dosanjh Changed The Way Sardars And Punjabis Were Portrayed In Bollywood, Says Jassie Gill

While Amar Singh is a legendary name in the history of Punjabi music, Diljit strongly believes people will get to know the late musician well through the film.

'I personally believe everyone knows about Chamkila. However, if there are some people who don't know about him, then it's an interesting story to watch. It's not just the story of an artist but the story of a person, his journey, and what all happened in the 1980s in Punjab," he said.

Further adding how the film is so much more than the late singer's musical journey, the Udta Punjab actor said, "It is not a fictional story it is true. I feel there's something to learn from this film too. Those who don't know about Chamkila will know about him, and those who are fans of Chamkila will definitely watch the film.'

Amar Singh Chamkila is all set to release on April 12 on Netflix.