Blog: Punjabi Artists & Their Bollywood Debut Projects
We’ve seen several Punjabi artists foraying in the Hindi film industry and making it big in their professional careers. While for many, this big ‘Bollywood break’ turned out to be a new professional high and for others it proved out to be just another project.
Whatever be the case, here we’re just acknowledging the journey and taking a look back at their debut projects:
DILJIT DOSANJH:
Today one of the biggest superstars of the country, Diljit Dosanjh really had a commendable journey. Right from reciting devotional songs at Gurudwara to performing at Coachella stage, Diljit’s hard work has really paid it off.
Diljit stepped in the tinsel town while he was at a decent stage of his career in the Punjabi industry. So, it was in the year 2012 with Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza starrer, ‘Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya’ where he had made a stylish cameo appearance in the song, “Pee Pa Pee Pa”. Ever since then there was no looking back for him.
JASSIE GILL:
Jassie Gill has always taken it slow and believed in quality over quantity. After creating his niche in the Punjabi industry, Jassie stepped in Bollywood with 2018 released, ‘Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi’, a sequel to 2016 film, ‘Happy Bhag Jayegi’. Though this film couldn’t do much for him but it was with ‘Panga’ opposite Kangana Ranaut released in 2020 which garnered immense limelight.
After that the singer-actor featured in several big budget films like ‘Kya Meri Sonam Gupta Bewafa Hai’ and then in Salman Khan’s ‘Kisi Ka Bhai, Kisi Ki Jaan’.
AMMY VIRK:
At the peak of his career in the Punjabi industry with back-to-back superhits like, ‘Qismat’, ‘Muklawa’ and home production ‘Guddiyan Patole’, Ammy Virk attracted headlines for signing his debut Bollywood project, ‘83’ directed by Kabir Khan.
After that the ‘Sufna’ actor was seen in the role of a fighter pilot in ‘Bhuj: The Pride Of India’ alongside Ajay Devgn.
Interestingly, Ammy Virk’s second film was released earlier and then the debut film. So, this makes ‘Bhuj: The Pride of India’ his debut project.
HARRDY SANDHU:
The Punjabi heartthrob after swooning audience over with his amazing tracks surprisingly less experienced in acting in the Punjabi industry too garnered immense popularity with his Bollywood debut in Kabir Khan’s, ‘83’.
NEERU BAJWA:
Neeru Bajwa has been ruling the industry for such a long time and how. From television industry to Bollywood to Punjabi industry, Neeru has done it all.
She made her debut in the year 1998 with ‘Main Solah Baras Ki’ and simultaneously featured in several Hindi daily operas including ‘Hari Mirchi Lal Mirchi’ and ‘Astitva...Ek Prem Kahani’. Later, in 2005, the diva moved to Punjabi industry with 2005 release, Manmohan Singh’s ‘Asa Nu Maan Watnan Da’ alongside Harbhajan Maan and Kimi Verma.
Though, she made her comeback in the Bollywood with ‘Prince’ but this film fell flat at the Box office.
SURVEEN CHAWLA:
One of the extremely talented actresses in the Punjabi industry, Surveen Chawla also before making her way to the Punjabi industry featured in daily soap operas include, ‘Kahin to Hoga’, ‘Kasautii Zindagi Kay’, ‘Kajjal’ and others.
Despite her television and Punjabi projects, the actress debuted in the Bollywood industry with cameo appearance in the movie, ‘Hum Tum Shabana’ in 2011. After that she featured in item number ‘Dhoka Dhoka’ in Sajid Khan's Himmatwala but it was only in 2014, Surveen attracted all the headlines as she appeared in ‘Hate Story 2’ opposite Jay Bhanushali for her bold character.
JASMINE SANDLAS:
The Gulabi Queen, Jasmine Sandlas is one talented artist who is not only known for her amazing tracks but fearless real-life persona. Though the singer had made her singing debut with the Punjabi industry but her major breakthrough was with her debut in Bollywood, ‘Yaar Na Miley’ in Salman Khan’s ‘Kick’.
Though this was short lived as after that we couldn’t really see much of her in tinsel town but gave smashing hits in the Punjabi industry including, ‘Ishq Da Sutta’, ‘Raat Jashan Di’ and so many others.
YO YO HONEY SINGH:
Rapper-singer Yo Yo Honey Singh literally brought a wave change in the Punjabi music scene by introducing rap culture. Well, starting off as a music producer and then gradually turning towards singing and rapping, the list of his superhit tracks goes on and on with tracks like, ‘Chaska’, ‘Panga’ and much more.
As singer-rapper states that he had no hunger for Bollywood glitz, it was his work which spoke for him. Thus, owing to sheer talent, his career took a 360 turn with ‘Lungi Dance’ for the movie, ‘Chennai Express’ and there was no looking back for him.
