All a mental game

Jasmine Singh

“I was off work for a month when I was shooting for my film. And the moment this wrapped up, I got back to what I love, really enjoy and feel elated doing — directing music videos,” Punjabi video director Parmish Verma from Patiala falls short of words to describe his best feelings - the ones he gets directing Punjabi music videos! Now, going around for the promotion of his debut film Rocky Mental, where he plays the lead actor, Parmish holds back nothing. 

Right act

While this young and handsome man has directed more than 50 Punjabi music videos and also featured in many, acting is the first love of his life. “I have been doing street plays from the age of four. Acting has always been my love and it so happened that I learnt direction during acting!”

Known to weave the songs in a story format, making them look almost believable, Parmish has always stuck to the one word that comes straight from his heart — dedication. “I have a set of beliefs and ideals that frame my personality; you see them in my videos as well. It is my perspective on my lyrics and story that places my work differently from the others.” 

From his recently successful video 3 Peg to many others, Parmish had to prove his mettle before he could sign on the big names in the Punjabi music industry. “It might sound strange but initially I loved working with the newcomers because they let your work be. Now, however, I work with everyone. I guess I have proved my work,” he adds. 

Direct line

So how was it being directed by someone else? He smiles, “Well, I had assumed that my director and I would have conflict of opinions but I was wrong. The director of the film, Vikram Thori, was a lovely person to work with. I learnt so much more about acting and direction from him.” There it goes; you can’t take direction out of Parmish Verma! “Ah! Never ever, five years down the line you will still see me directing music videos because I just love doing them,” he says. 

As for Rocky Mental, it is a story of Rajdeep Singh, a national-level boxing player wanting to make it to Olympics. A sports story, is it? “Nah,” the reply is prompt, “it has many aspects to it; it has love, jealously, friction and it has a ‘fight back when provoked’ angle to it as well,” adds Parmish, who misses being in Australia for he stayed in the country for 10 years. “My work takes me there,” he signs off.

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