Sartaj on this Sardaarji

Jasmine Singh

After a two-month-long world tour, where he performed almost every day, the singer-actor returned home, Punjab to be precise, on a hot Saturday afternoon to join his gang of sardars. “Sardaarji,” he stresses on the word ji.

Diljit Dosanjh is as fresh as dew, and with his impish smile that varies between being mellow and fierce stuck to his lips, is now ready to roll with his upcoming film Sardaarji which releases on June 26.

A back-to-back schedule, rising expectations, with everyone watching out for his Bollywood debut, Udta Punjab, this singer-actor doesn’t have a minute to look at the growing graph. “I like it this way, I like to be busy, I want to keep working and not get a single minute free,” says the workaholic man who is all excited about his next fantasy film Sardaarji.

“It is not a regular laugh-it-out story, it is for the first time we are bringing a dream kind of fantasy film to Punjab, and I am glad White Hill Productions could support it.”

He senses that everyone is waiting for him to say something more, something bigger, something from Bollywood. Now that the shoot of the film is over, Diljit wouldn’t mind sharing and talking about his experiences, without going overboard with it. This is a big step for him, but then he respects every single opportunity that led him to Udta Punjab.

“First, I have always taken my work more seriously than myself. I have great respect for my work and whatever I do I do it to the best of my ability. Even earlier, I never saw myself creating or breaking any image with Jatt & Juliet or Punjab 1984, and the same holds true for Udta Punjab and Sardaarji. I am only bothered about my work and this is it,” he doesn’t breathe, filled with energy he can still go on and we let him. The story so far on his big Bollywood debut.

“I am glad I am a part of it, as in a part who gets to act, instead of fleeting in and out of the scenes with one or two songs. My role as Sartaj is a well-defined character. The fact that they haven’t asked me to sing a single song in the film shows that they don’t want Diljit the singer but Diljit the actor.”

There is more coming, the finer details.

“After working in Udta Punjab, I have begun to look at all my previous films critically, telling myself that I could have done better,” Diljit offers as he finds himself totally impressed with two things—professionalism and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

The smile now assumes depth exposing his dimples. “Bollywood has more budget, they take care of minutest of details. Even for costumes, which sometimes in Punjab, we might end up wearing our own clothes, they have a complete department on it.”

As for the gossamer skinned beauty Bebo, Diljit finds her the most humble and down to earth celebrity. “I can’t imagine an actress at this level can be so grounded, no starry tantrums, nothing at all. Even people around her are so gentle.”

Since he has mentioned the word gentle, we take a good look at a beautiful woman standing next to him, arranging her duppatta delicately. Mandy Takhar is the actress of the film Sardaarji along with Neeru Bajwa. She had selectively wanted to work with this team. Though she doesn’t believe much in fantasy in real life.

“I haven’t experienced something like it, but I believe in God and we haven’t seen him as well,” says the lady in her alluring British accent. Mandy would rather do a substantial film rather than just romancing actors on screen. She has done a short film Goonj. “It is based on the issue of women empowerment, something that I strongly feel about.”

Mandy doesn’t see the need to glorify charity. “I feel if someone needs help I will certainly help him without making a noise, though I would like to start an NGO soon.”

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