Another prominent personality Jimmy Shergill has not only excelled in Punjabi cinema but has also left an indelible mark in Bollywood with notable performances in films like ‘Mohabbatein’, ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’ and the ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ series. His journey reflects the cross-pollination of talent between Punjabi and Hindi cinema.
Moreover, Punjabi music has long been an integral part of Bollywood soundtracks, contributing to the industry’s vibrant music landscape. Artists such as Yo Yo Honey Singh, Guru Randhawa and Badshah have dominated the charts with their catchy tunes, underlining the cultural influence of Punjabi music on a national level. However, despite these successes, there remains a prevailing stereotype that a Punjabi artist’s ultimate validation comes from gaining recognition in Bollywood. This notion often looms over the thriving Punjabi film industry, where artists such as Gippy Grewal, Dev Kharoud, Neeru Bajwa and Amrinder Gill have thrived without aiming for Bollywood stardom. ETimes delves into the discourse of the thriving Punjabi film industry without aspirations of Bollywood fame.
“Superstars see no limits”
This debate raises some interesting questions cultural identity, Artistic recognitionand the emerging dynamics of regional versus mainstream cinema in India. As Punjabi actors continue to make waves in both Hindi and their regional industries, the discussion around Bollywood as the benchmark for success for Punjabi stars invites a deeper exploration into the complexities of India’s diverse entertainment landscape. Sharing his take on this debate, Punjabi star Ammy Virk, who will soon be seen in the Bollywood film ‘Bad Newz’, shared, “I still haven’t properly stepped into Bollywood. Gippy paaji (Gippy Grewal) has done Bollywood films, how many Bollywood films has Amrinder Gill done? Tarsem Jassar, Gurnam Bhullar, Jay Randhawa, Dev Kharoud, how many Hindi films have they done? Still, they are all superstars. And they are doing so well. So yes, it’s just a stereotype.”
Breaking the ‘regional’ barrier
Sonam Bajwa has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in B-Town and her experience has been extremely inclusive. Sonam Bajwa, who has been a part of several Bollywood tours that featured the likes of Akshay Kumar, Nora Fatehi and Mouni Roy, said, “In Mumbai, no one has ever made me feel like I don’t belong there. I have done several tours and none of the artistes or staff members have ever made me feel like I am a regional artist. And wherever I have performed, be it in India or outside, the enthusiasm and love of the audience has never made me feel left out. I never felt like the actors travelling with me have done Bollywood films, and I have only done regional films. So, I don’t feel left out because I haven’t done a Bollywood film.”
He acknowledged the allure of a bigger platform and wider audience that comes with working in Hindi cinema and said, “Yes, we all want a bigger platform and wider audience, and that happens when you work in a Hindi language film. That said, my house runs because of Punjabi cinema, I have got recognition because of it, it has given me a lot of love, and as said earlier, the love of the people has never made me feel that I am any less.”
Filmmaker Pawan Gill, best known for directing hits like ‘Hausla Rakh’, ‘Kudi Haryana Val Di’, ‘Super Singh’ and ‘Puwada’, shared his thoughts on the subject. His experience as an assistant director with Yash Raj Films in his early career underlines his understanding of both regional and national dynamics within the Indian film industry. Agreeing with Sonam’s words, he said, “The Hindi film industry is a national industry with a wide reach across the country, so all actors across the country want a wider appeal, but in today’s time, it is difficult to make a film as big as the Indian film industry.” Regional Cinema Movies produced in their own languages are finding wider appeal in Hindi dubs, so making only Hindi films is no longer the benchmark.
Reflecting on the diversity of the industry, he said, “Yes, everyone likes diversity of work and Hindi cinema is national, so it’s a great thing for any talent to work in that industry.”
How important is Bollywood’s seal of recognition?
Adding a different perspective to the discussion, ‘Jatt & Juliet 3’ director Jagdeep Sidhu emphasised that for Punjabi actors, Bollywood is the definition of success, “It’s not that only those who go to Bollywood are successful. But Bollywood is our national industry and everyone wants their films to reach a larger audience. This applies to every region; just like a sportsperson starts from the state level and aims to reach the national stage, we make films in our regional languages. If we do well there, naturally people from Bollywood will take notice.”
Sidhu emphasised that joining Bollywood does not automatically validate one’s success in Punjab’s film industry, comparing it to a cricketer who performs well for Team India, while he has to independently perform better in Punjab’s Ranji matches. His words underline the individual qualifications required to succeed in both Bollywood and Pollywood, highlighting the diverse challenges and aspirations within India’s film industry landscape.
Last Words: Success Conquers All
Monica Gill, who is known for her prominent presence in Punjabi cinema as well as her roles in Hindi films such as ‘Firangi’ and ‘Paltan’, shared that the ultimate criterion for success should not be any industry, but the individual’s own satisfaction. “I have done two mainstream Hindi films and many Punjabi films. I believe success is defined by the satisfaction and happiness you get from your work. If you are not satisfied doing Punjabi films, you will not be satisfied doing Hindi films either. In short, it does not matter,” she said. Monica emphasised that personal satisfaction and artistic satisfaction go beyond industry labels, underlining a broader view of achievement in the entertainment world.
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