‘Time For Sardar Actors To Play Leads’

‘My
mom
used
to
tell
me
that
I
should
accept
films
where
they
would
not
make
fun
of
me
or
my
religion.’
‘It’s
a
conscious
decision
to
stay
away
from
such
films.’

Manjot
Singh
has
starred
in
comedies
like

Student
Of
The
Year
and

Dream
Girl
but
he
is
best
known
for
his
character
of
Laali
in
the

Fukrey
franchise.

Recently,
he’s
been
showing
his
wild
side
in
Netflix’s

Wild
Wild
Punjab.

But
after
spending
15
years
in
the
industry,
the
actor
is
determined
to
show
that
he
can
do
more
than
just
comedy.

“I
have
said
no
to
so
many
roles
that
I
thought
won’t
suit
my
career,”
Manjot
tells

Mayur
Sanap/Rediff.com.

You
must
be
elated
that

Wild
Wild
Punjab
released
in
your
birthday
week.

Oh
yes,
the
film
released
three
days
after
my
birthday
on
July
7.
It
was
amazing.

The
response
I
am
getting
for
this
one
is
even
better
than
my
first
film.

People
did
not
expect
me
to
deliver
such
a
performance.
I
think
every
actor
craves
for
a
great
response.

What
was
the
vibe
on
the
sets
like?

It
was
like
friends
coming
together
to
make
a
film
because
everyone
on
the
sets
knew
each
other
from
the
beginning.

We
used
to
party,
do
workshops
together.

It
was
a
complete
no-judgements
zone.

I
have
worked
the
maximum
with
Varun
(Sharma)
but
even
with
the
others,
there
was
this
sense
of
ease
that
allowed
us
to
perform
better. 

The
film
has
certain
problematic
parts
with
regards
to
its
female
characters.
As
an
actor,
do
you
question
your
director
about
these
things?

I
am
nobody
to
question
anyone.

People
who
are
working
on
a
film
certainly
have
more
knowledge
about
how
things
work.

I
don’t
see
myself
in
a
position
where
I
would
doubt
them.

Having
said
that,
we
haven’t
portrayed
anything
wrong
in
this
film.

I
don’t
think
we
have
shown
anything
that
people
won’t
tolerate.
We
have
shown
what
happens
around
us
in
life.

People
who
liked
it
are
somewhere
able
to
relate
themselves
to
situation
and
characters
depicted
in
the
film.

Since
the
film
is
about
male
bonding
and
friendships,
who
do
you
call
your
friends
in
the
industry?

Everyone
from

Fukrey
is
my
friend.
We
have
done
three
films
in
the
last
10
years.

Varun
(Sharma),
Pulkit
(Samrat),
Richa
(Chadha),
Ali
(Fazal),
Pankajji
(Tripathi),
Director
Mrigdeep
Singh
Lamba
and
Producers
Ritesh
sir
(Sidhwani)
and
Farhan
sir
(Akhtar)
are
like
family
to
me.

I
share
a
great
bond
with
my

Dream
Girl
Director
Raaj
Shaandilyaa
and
Ayushmann
Khurrana.

Now,
with

Wild
Wild
Punjab,
it’s
like
family
with
Luv
sir
(Ranjan),
Ankush
sir
(Garg),
our
director
(Simarpreet
Singh)
and
the
entire
cast.

I
get
along
with
everyone.

I
have
always
been
honest
with
my
work
as
well
as
friends.

This
honesty
is
what
people
like
about
me.
They
say
I
have
a
good
heart.

But
friendships
are
always
tricky
in
a
competitive
industry
like
this.

I
have
never
felt
that.
Nobody
has
ever
made
me
feel
that
I
am
their
competition.

I
have
my
own
journey.

I
have
spent
15
years
in
this
industry.

I
don’t
know
what
the
future
holds
for
me
but
it’s
been
a
wonderful
journey
from

Oye
Lucky!
Lucky
Oye!
to

Wild
Wild
Punjab.

I
consider
myself
water;
I
take
shape
of
any
container
you
put
me
in.

I
am
as
good
as
the
person
in
front
of
me.
There
are
no
ego
clashes.

Coming
from
Delhi,
how
tough
was
it
to
find
your
footing
in
Mumbai?

It
happened
unexpectedly.

I
tagged
along
with
a
friend
who
was
auditioning
for
the
same
film.
When
we
reached
the
venue,
the
casting
director
insisted
on
my
audition
too.

Then
I
got
a
call
from
the
production
house
who
took
another
round
of
auditions
with
me.
This
time
it
was
for
the
main
lead.

I
cracked
the
audition
and
was
offered
the
film.

It
was
after
the
release
that
I
heard
the
casting
director
was
unsure
of
me
but
Dibakar
sir
(Banerjee)
wanted
me
only.

My
life
changed
after

Oye
Lucky…

I
got
the
Filmfare
critics
award
for
Best
Actor
for
my
15
minute
role!

We
see
you
in
limited
roles.
Do
you
think
your
talent
deserves
more?

Coming
from
a
non-filmi
background,
I
had
no
knowledge
of
what’s
right
for
you.

But
I
have
always
been
choosy
about
things
since
childhood.

I
am
a
kind
of
person
who
would
do
a
lot
of
research
to
settle
on
something.
I
need
the
best,
otherwise
I
am
okay
to
wait.

This
same
thought
process
applies
to
my
movie
selections.

I
have
rejected
more
than
I
have
said
yes
to
because
I
thought
I
would
not
have
fun
doing
it.

So
yes,
I
agree
I
have
done
limited
roles.
But
I
guess
with
films
like

Wild
Wild
Punjab,
I
am
here
to
surprise
my
audience.

They
are
seeing
the
new
side
of
me
in
this
alpha
Sardar
avatar
which
is
so
different
from
all
the
comic
roles
I
have
done
so
far.

It
was
challenging
for
me
to
break
the
image
that’s
set
in
audiences’
mind
and
it
is
good
that
I
am
finding
acceptance.

My
career
graph
has
moved
slowly
but
it’s
always
been
in
the
upward
direction.
And
I
hope
it
continues
to
be
so.

We
often
see
Sikh
actors
being
restricted
to
comic
relief
characters
in
Hindi
films.
Do
you
think
that
stereotype
still
exists?

It
used
to
happen
a
lot
before
but
is
changing
now.

My
mom
used
to
tell
me
that
I
should
accept
films
where
they
would
not
make
fun
of
me
or
my
religion.
It’s
a
conscious
decision
to
stay
away
from
such
films.

If
you
see
all
the
comedies
I
have
done
so
far,
the
situation
is
funny,
I
never
make
funny
faces
to
make
people
laugh.

The
problem
was
that
the
makers
were
not
willing
to
show
differently.
They
used
to
present
us
only
as
funny.

It
is
great
that
people
like
Diljit
Dosanjh
are
doing
such
fantastic
work.
Look
at
what
he
did
in

Chamkila.

Luv
sir,
who
is
our
producer,
told
me
that
I
did
a
great
job
in

Wild
Wild
Punjab
and
it
is
time
for
Sardar
actors
to
play
lead
parts
in
films.

Have
you
rejected
such
stereotypical
roles
in
the
past?

Of
course.
You
won’t
believe,
I
have
a
bundle
of
at
least
25-30
scripts
lying
at
home.

I
have
said
no
to
so
many
roles
that
I
thought
won’t
suit
my
career.

You
have
been
around
for
many
years.
Do
you
give
auditions
even
now
or
has
that
stopped?

It
stopped
after

Fukrey
when
my
life
changed
from
audition
to
narration.

The
auditions
are
only
for
films
where
I
want
to
do
something
different.

I
remember
I
auditioned
for

Chhichhore
(2019)
but
it
didn’t
work
out.

How
difficult
is
to
break
free
from
the
image
that’s
set
in
the
audience’s
mind?

Until
you
show
your
range,
the
makers
will
keep
offering
you
the
same
thing.

You
have
to
fight
for
what
you
want
to
do.

It
was
my
good
fortune
that
the
makers
of

Wild
Wild
Punjab
saw
me
in
a
different
light.

Yes,
there
are
elements
of
comedy
in
it
but
it
is
a
serious
role.
I
have
been
wanting
do
something
like
this
since
long.

I
was
recently
offered
a
negative
role.

I
was
waiting
for
this
moment
where
I
get
to
do
different
roles.
I
am
glad
that’s
happening.