Singer-turned-actor Diljit Dosanjh, in an interview, expressed his desire not to work in Hindi films. The actor said he values music more, and wouldn’t care if he loses out on work in Bollywood. The actor was promoting his upcoming film ‘Sardaar Ji 3’ in a virtual conversation with Bri Asia when he made the statement.
The 41-year-old shared that he is only interested in creating music, and he doesn’t have to wait for approval, unlike when he’s working in the Hindi film industry.
He said in Hindi, “Mujhe kaam karna bhi nahi hai Bollywood mein. Koi icha bhi nahi hai ki main Bollywood me bahot mahaan kalakaar bann jaoon. Main music ko pyaar karta hoon (I don’t even want to work in Bollywood. I have no desire to become some great artist in the industry. I love music from the heart).”
Dosanjh continued, “Aur bina kisi ki marzi se main music kar sakta hoon. Bina kisi superstar ke kehne se, ya kisi ko… ‘ki iska kaam chalega, isko gaana milega, isko nahi milega’…Ye sab cheezin humare pe nahi chalti. Koi banda hume rok nahi sakta hai (And I can create music without anyone’s permission. I don’t need a superstar’s approval, or anyone deciding things like, ‘this person’s work will sell, this one will get a song, that one won’t.’ None of that applies to me. No one can stop me).”
The popular international singer said it’s music which matters to him the most. Dosanjh became the first Indian to perform at the Coachella, and the first Sikh artist to walk the Met Gala carpet. In the same interview, he went on to refer to music as God’s work.
“Toh music banana se mujhe koi rok nahi sakta hai. Jab tak mera mann karega, main music banauga. Jab tak Bhagwaan chahega, music banayege. Aur Bollywood me toh kaam mile ya na mile, ratti bhar parwaah nahi (No one can stop me from making music. As long as I feel like it, I’ll keep creating music. As long as God wills it, I’ll make music. And whether I get work in Bollywood or not – I couldn’t care less),” he concluded.
Dosanjh was speaking in light of the boycott calls against him in India after he announced that ‘Sardaar Ji 3’, starring Pakistani actor Hania Aamir, would be releasing overseas.
Following the ghastly Pahalgam attack by the Pakistan-funded terrorist outfits, which claimed 26 innocent lives, mostly tourists, the Indian government put a ban on Pakistani artists and citizens in the country. Earlier this month, the makers of ‘Sardaar Ji 3′ released the trailer for the film, featuring Dosanjh romancing Aamir, and announced that they will be releasing the film only overseas following the ban.
In a separate promotional interview, Dosanjh addressed the backlash that he’d been facing in India for going ahead with the release of the film, and called it a professional call on the producers’ part.
“Jab yeh film bani thi tab situation sab theek tha. We shot this in February and then everything was fine. (When the film was made, everything was. We shot the film in February and everything was fine back then),” he said.
He went on, “Uske baad, bahut saari badi cheezen humare haath mein nahi hai. Toh producers ne decide kiya ki film obviously ab India toh nahi lagegi, toh overseas release karte hain. Toh producers ka bahut paisa laga hua hai aur jab yeh film bann rahi thi tab aisa kuch tha nahi (After that a lot of things happened which are beyond our control. The producer decided that the film would not be released in India, so they could release it overseas. They had invested a lot of money, and when the film was being made, nothing like this was happening).”
Dosanjh further extended his full support to the producers of the film, and said, “They know that there will be a loss because you’re removing an entire territory. Even when I signed the film, everything was fine. Now, the situation is not in our hands. So, if the producers want to release it abroad, I support them.”
Earlier, in a letter written to PM Narendra Modi, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) called for a ban on Diljit Dosanjh, the producers and director. The association appealed to the government to cease their passports and cancel their citizenship for what they are referring to as the “anti-national” act.
‘Sardaar Ji 3’ is slated to hit the screens overseas on June 27.
