Wedding bells, Punjabi tunes

Jasmine Singh

Videos of popular Bollywood actors Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan dancing at Isha Ambani’s pre-wedding ceremony have broken the internet. Memes, where people talk about affording Salman Khan as a background dancer if you have money, are also making rounds. While this goes on, in the region, Punjabi singer-actors are performing back to back at weddings. 

And well, they proudly share their performance pictures and videos on Facebook! Some like Punjabi singer Preet Harpal make it official on his wall, writing – The wedding season. 

Cost factor

Some years back, inviting Gurdas Maan to perform at a wedding would probably make it to the news, but not anymore. As Raymant Marwah, promoter, says, “You can judge the popularity of a singer from the number of wedding shows he or she does. Barring a few singers like Amrinder Gill, Punjabi singers have no qualms about performing at weddings as long as they are getting the right price.” 

While some can afford to book singer Jordan Sandhu for Rs 3-4 lakh, the most sought-after singer-performer will charge anywhere between Rs 35-40 lakh, depending on where the wedding is, who’s the wedding party and what will be the scene at the venue (read how much money is the wedding party spending)!  

Shares Preet Bains, music promoter, “Contrary to the opinion that only popular singers get to perform at weddings, it is the other way around; singers who are good performers, who interact with the crowd and can make the occasion a memorable one, get invites.” 

However, when it comes to singers, they have their choices in place. Adds Punjabi singer Guru Randhawa, “I am selective about where I go; I need to know the family, the number of invites sent and how the overall ambience will be.” 

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Moolah factor

• Guru Randhawa: Rs 35-40 lakh (approx)
• Babbu Maan: Rs 20 lakh (approx)
• Hans Raj Hans: Rs 10 (approx)
• Ranjit Bawa: Rs 6-8 lakh (approx)
• Sukh E: Rs 7 lakh (approx)
• Gurnam Bhullar: Rs 4-5 Lakh (approx)
• Jordan Sandu: Rs 3-4 lakh (approx)
• Rajvir Jawanda: Rs 3 lakh (approx)
• Kulwinder Billa: Rs 4-5 lakh (approx)
• Nimrat Khaira: Rs 3-4 lakh (approx)
• Sunanda Sharma: Rs 3-4 lakh (approx)
• Kaur B: Rs 4-5 lakh (approx)
• Jassie and Babbal Rai: Rs 5-8 lakh (approx)
• Astha Gill: Rs 3.5 lakh (approx) 
• Bhavdeep Romana: Rs 2 lakh (approx)