‘MAKING LAUGH IS TOUGH’
Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh says one has to put a ‘lot of effort in comic parts’; adds he isn’t able to give enough time to singing now
Back in Punjab, he is adored for his fun, comical outings in films such as the Jatt & Juliet series, Disco Singh (2014) and the Sardaarji franchise. But unlike his several outings in Punjabi cinema, Diljit Dosanjh started off in Bollywood with rather serious parts such as Udta Punjab (2016), Phillauri (2017) and Soorma (2018). But now, with Good Newwz, the singer-actor has landed in Bollywood’s ‘fun’ zone as well. “For me, more than anything, the film’s main theme [of IVF or in vitro fertilisation] was the biggest highlight,” says Diljit. Excerpts:
Your fun part in Good Newwz reminds one of your much-loved avatars from Punjabi films…
I wasn’t able to find such a fun script, idea [in Bollywood]. That opportunity never came. Finally, yeh ek aisi script mili mujhe wherein I could do a kind of film that has got me so much love in Punjab. Through this film, I hope people will watch and like a new side of me. I have tried to do the best from my side.
Do you personally enjoy the fun, comic space more?
Main har tarah ki cheez enjoy karta hoon. In serious parts, things become a bit easy. But you’ve to put a lot of effort in comic parts. Making people laugh is tough. Emotional parts mein background music hota hai, and you make a sad face and then, there’s also glycerine (laughs). But in comic scenes, the punch has to be correct and must be delivered on time. So, the timing is of paramount importance. Also, it shouldn’t appear that aap ratta maar ke bole jaa rahe ho. That also doesn’t work. Whenever I do comedy, I feel that I’m putting in effort. But when I do Soorma or Udta Punjab, it feels, ‘theek ho gaya hai.’
You are loved as much for your singing as well. With a busy acting career, do you ever feel sad that you aren’t able to give your passion as much time now?
I don’t feel sad as acting is also my work. I’ve earned new fans due to it. There are many, who haven’t heard any of my songs but they have watched my films. And I don’t want to lose any of them. But I surely feel that I’m not able to try as many songs and variations as I can. Jitna time mujhe [recording] studio mein dena chahiya woh nahi ho paa raha hai. A film takes up two or three months and 12-13 hours a day. So, I am not able to give that much time [to singing]. But I still try ke gaane karta rahoon. I can sing many kinds of songs, but nahi kar paata due to lack of time.
Talking about Good Newwz, what’s the biggest USP of it that attracted you the most?
It was the film’s story and its subject, since it talks about a very important topic – IVF. For me, that was extremely important since we are addressing a relevant issue. We haven’t had such a film earlier. Plus, I really liked my role, too. The star cast and makers are also very talented and reputed. And our director, Raj Mehta is very talented. Lagta hi nahi hai ke unhone pehli baar film direct kari hai. He was always very sorted.
Emotional parts mein background music hota hai, and you make a sad face and then, there’s also glycerine. But in comic scenes, the punch has to be correct and must be delivered on time. DILJIT DOSANJH, SINGER-ACTOR
In Good Newwz, you share screen space with Akshay Kumar, who is well known for his comic timing. Did it make life easier or difficult for you?
I strongly believe that at the end of the day, you have to do your own share of hard work. Akshay sir has done so much work in life, so, things become easier for him. But aapko toh mehnat karni hi padegi if you want to be noticed, especially when you are in the same frame with him. So, I just focused on my job. That’s it.
Now that you work quite regularly in Hindi films too, do you find it challenging to balance things between Punjab and Mumbai?
Not really! It’s not that difficult. When I have a film In Mumbai, I come here and vice versa. I work on only one film at a time. I have kept things really simple. Main pehle bhi aise hi karta tha.
So, there’s no mad rush in life?
No, not at all. When I go to Punjab, those producers take care of the expenses. And when I am In Mumbai, these producers do the same. The same happens when we go for live shows. Kharcha koi nahi aur mazaa bada aa raha hai (laughs). I am having a lot of fun.
And where do you put singing in your scheme of things right now?
That was and always will be on top! This month itself, I went to Muscat (Oman) for a show. The real money comes from there [shows] only. Yeh sab [acting] toh shauk ka karobaar hai. I make my monies from [live] shows.
What’s your first love/passion — singing or acting?
It’s singing, for sure. But haan, abhi utna time nahi de paa raha ya utne gaane nahi gaa paa raha hoon. But we still try and not miss any [live] show. I also keep trying to come up with songs. This month too, we will have a new folk song coming out. We are working on that song’s video. I got two days’ break in between [from Good Newwz promotions] and did that video. So, I try and do my best.
Coming back to Good Newwz, the film deals with IVF (in vitro fertilisation), a sensitive topic. Were you concerned about the fact that it shouldn’t hurt anyone’s sentiments?
When I read the script,
I could see that the makers don’t have any wrong intention [behind picking up such a topic]. But since it’s not a documentary, the subject has to be tackled in an entertaining manner.
But the kind of graph and climax it has, log iske saath connect karenge. Also, Akshay sir — who is also a producer of the film — has done films such as Pad Man and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha that made people start talking about taboo topics. Yeh bhi waisi hi film hai.
So, in a way, it’s educational too. Honestly, I had heard about IVF but got to know about it in detail only after reading the script.
What’s next, in terms of acting jobs?
There’s a new film, whose announcement will happen this month only. In Punjab, I am shooting for a film, of which 90% work is already done. It will release in June.