When NRI girl meets desi boy

Gurnaaz Kaur

Comedy, romance, family drama with a twist, Teji Sandhu promises all this and more in her next film, Hukam Da Yakka, the announcement of which was made in Chandigarh recently.

“If I were to put it in one line, this film is about the politics around money and property that run in families. It’s a very relatable topic in today’s time when money has become more important than relationships,” says Teji. She has not only written the film but will also be directing it. The lead roles will be played by Preet Baath and Jassi Kaur and in prominent roles we will see veteran actor Malkit Rauni, Sonu Bajwa, Khushi Rajput, Simran Dhiman and Sanjiv Kaler.

This project brings an opportunity for Preet to step out of the action-hero image. “Hukam Da Yakka will be my fifth film. In all the films before this, I’ve played an action hero. This film is a step towards my effort to be different and therefore it would be both personally challenging and gratifying. I play the younger son to Malkeet Rauni ji. My character is that of an innocent, lost, imaginative boy who comes out victorious by the end,” shares Preet.

For Jassi too, this film means a lot, after all it is her first lead. “Teji ma’am knows me since Vadda Kalakaar. She knows my work and how passionate I am about acting. She has seen me during my hard times and when she offered this role to me, I knew I had to bag it. I went through the auditions and have finally got what I’ve desired for so long.”

Talking about her role, Jass continues, “I play an NRI, who lives in Canada. She wants to marry a foreigner and thinks low of Indian men. She eventually ends up with an Indian man though.”

Malkit, who will be playing the head of family and a father of two sons in Hukam Da Yakka, says, “Life has become a game, a rat race for money, power, fame and all things materialistic. Gone are the days when values led human beings. There was a time when bringing up kids with love automatically translated into a secure future for parents. These days kids focus on their own lives and parents are secondary to them. The film in some way will showcase this reality on the big screen. It is named after a game that is a family game. I feel everyone has an important role to play, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to someone in the position of power. This is another reality that will be depicted in the film.”

When it comes to Sonu Bajwa, every role, no matter how big or small, is essential to his career. “My character is a bit villainous but has his fair amount of goodness. Having acted in South Indian films, Hindi films and now a Hindi web series, I’ve understood that varied acts and different experience make you a polished actor. And that’s where my focus lies.”

Sonu is a model and singer as well and he will also be singing for this film. The Hukam Da Yakka team is quite excited about their film that will begin its shoot in February and will be shot mostly in Europe.

gurnaaz@tribunemail.com