High-end notes

Jasmine Singh

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While everything around poplar singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh has changed — zillion fans across the world, recognition from Bollywood industry, hit songs, sold-out world tour — some things haven’t moved a bit. Like? “Like when I go home, my mother will tell me ah bill reh gya dain wala, meter check kar lai...there are no talks of my films, awards; in flat two minutes she brings me back to real life,” smiles Diljit Dosanjh, dressed in a pyjama kurta and a pinkish turban; a look that we’d be seeing in his up and coming Punjabi movie, Sajjan Singh Rangroot, which is based on World War I.

Filmy lanes

Based on World War I heroes, the film has been directed by Pankaj Batra and written by Gurpreet Singh Palheri. “Ever since, I had this topic in mind, and let’s say, I set out looking for this subject, and the subject was doing the same, we met and everyone pitched in and now we have Rangroot.”

Tough route

Even though Diljit is a well- known name in the industry, with people lined up to work for him, putting Rangroot  together was not easy for him too. “Money was an issue, I approached many people but they weren’t too keen on this subject. So, finally we had Jay Sahni and Sona Sahni come together to invest in this. Then again, while shooting abroad, we were not too sure whether we would be able to complete the shoot. 

Then, Ravinder Singh from Khalsa Aid came in; he helped a lot. Dharam Seva came forward to help us too. I couldn’t believe, people (artistes) would come driving in their own cars from far off places, get into the costumes and shoot for us,” adds Diljit, who is proud of the project, which is already being compared to Hollywood war movies. “This is the reason I wanted everything about Rangroot to be in place; the research, the direction, everything so that people couldn’t say, dekho Punjabi ahi bana sakde.”

Words of wisdom

Diljit too takes it in his stride, though he remembers the words of Harjit Singh Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, Canada. “He told me that we all do stuff ourselves; the hunger for name, fame is insatiable, but it is must to do something for the community as well.” 

Talking Kylie

Diljit feels strongly for his fans, giving them dollops of entertainment and when that is the case... how can Kylie Jenner be far behind?His new superhit number Confidential has a line with the mention of Kylie — ajkal Dosanjhan wala kide naal fire, hun Kylie to puchdi hai Kim ni — “The original line was something else, ‘but when the writer narrated this line, I said keep it because people would relate with it.”