Diljit Dosanjh impressed with his Bollywood debut in Udta Punjab last year. The actor-composer-singer was quite easily one of the best newcomers in Bollywood in 2016. With him making his small-screen debut, Afterhrs caught up for a brief, candid chat. Excerpts from our conversation...
Just judging it: “It’s a completely live show. It will be a huge learning process and I hope it turns out well.”
What’s hatke? “Here, the structure is very different. That’s why I said yes. I am happy that people will vote and judge the contestants themselves. So no one can point fingers at me. That is something I am scared of.”
Woh pehli baar: “I had been offered a few other shows before this, but I was not too excited about doing them. This one is different and hence, I said yes. Baaki, first-timer hone ka toh koi baat hi nahi.”
No strategies! “I have not made any strategy. I don’t watch TV too often. I used to watch it bahut pehle jab Doordarshan hota tha. Uske baad se maine kabhi zyada TV dekha hi nahi. So, it’s not like I can learn from watching other judges. I will be myself, and I will be honest. That’s the plan.”
Bebe jo boli: “When the offer for the reality show came, mom was more excited than I was. She watches a lot of TV. So she literally forced me to do it, saying, “You work all the time and are not at home at all. So, do the TV show, at least, main TV pe hi tumhe dekh liya karungi’. That touched my heart.”
Not moving: “I cannot shift to Mumbai, because I’m booked for a lot of shows, shaadi functions and college fests — I have to do all that. Plus, I make my own music and I am doing a few Punjabi films as well, but for all this, I have to travel a lot. But yes, every Saturday-Sunday yahaan aana toh padega.”
On actors turning singers: “In Punjab, people ask why only singers would turn actors. In Bollywood, actors are becoming singers. It’s good, hum sab ek hi jaise hain.”
Fav actor-singer? “Alia. I loved the way she sang Ik Kudi. As an actress, she is brilliant. She is also making some amazing choices in her career. I believe that if she was not an actress, she could have been equally famous as a singer.”
