Punjabi film Chardikala scheduled for May 29 release

Even as the Diljit Dosanjh starrer Punjab 95 — based on the life of slain human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra — remains stuck in a long-running censorship battle with the Central Board of Film Certification, another film revisiting Punjab’s turbulent years of terrorism is scheduled for May 29 release.

The trailer of Chardikala, a Punjabi film tracing the life of Bimal Kaur Khalsa, wife of Beant Singh, one of the two assassins who gunned down Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, was launched at CP67 Mall in Mohali on Wednesday.

Bimal Kaur’s son Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa is Member of Parliament from Faridkot. He won as an independent candidate backed by Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) chief Amritpal Singh.

Khalsa said he supported the film as his mother and siblings suffered greatly at the hands of security agencies after Indira Gandhi’s assassination.

“I am looking forward to seeing the movie. We have given full support in its research,” he said.

The film’s star cast, including actors Roopi Gill, Ammy Virk and Himmat Sandhu, was present at the trailer launch. Film’s producer Gurkaran Dhaliwal said, “The film is in the process of getting the censor certificate.”

Written and directed by Amarjit Singh Saron, Chardikala has already received international exposure.

Actors Roopi Gill and Himmat Sandhu, along with the production team, attended the Cannes 2026. Dhaliwal said, “Cannes is the world’s biggest cinema stage. To have a Punjabi film alongside English and French productions is a huge honour.”

Ammy Virk told The Tribune that the film was the story of “a woman’s struggle to raise three children” in the most difficult of circumstances.

He glanced over the questions about the sensitivity of the subject.

“The film is based on everything that is already documented,” he said.

Dhaliwal added, “It’s a family-driven drama.”

The film is not approaching promotion in conventional ways. The team has been travelling to villages across Punjab.

“We all belong to Punjab’s villages and are very proud of it. To take the film back to them is like meeting our elders,”said Virk.

Roopi Gill, who was born in Canada but raised by her grandparents in Punjab, echoed the sentiment. “It is like going back to them,” she said.

Chardikala has been produced under the banner of Mad4Films, which earlier produced the Punjabi film Bibi Rajni.\