Diljit Dosanjh she can sing, dance and act – but not network. The actor-singer says he is more focused on making music than participating in Bollywood films, which require him to network and interact with people.
Diljit, who has acted in Hindi films like Udta Punjab, Good Newwz and Jogi, told Film Companion in an interview that he has seen actors call producers up to six times from the sets – which is impossible for him.
When asked why Bollywood is such a low priority for him, he said, “It’s not just Bollywood. Nothing but music is a high priority for me. Music is my love that I will do. I am not born and raised Bombay, I don’t even know many people here. I used to feel it’s my disadvantage that I can’t socialize with people, but now I feel like it’s a plus that thankfully I can’t do that. I love my self.
“I can’t network, I can’t attend parties, I can’t call people everyday. I’ve seen actors make video calls to their producers six times from the sets! I’m not kidding! They say, “Now we do this, now we do that.” Main kaha hadd ho gayi (I think this is too much). I just can’t do that,” he added.
Diljit said he doesn’t blame those who network to get a job because the system is such that the more one networks the more chances one has of getting a job. But it’s not the way he plans to take his career forward.
“I can’t do it, so I just let it go and take what comes my way. Banda khush hona chahiye (you should be happy). You can work with a great director after desperate efforts, after pleasing him… All the talk going on is so fake I can’t even hear it. They know it too, but it’s not their fault, I think that’s how it works,” he said.
Diljit revealed how people often tried to bribe his manager to get him to sign a film, not knowing that he and his team wouldn’t fall for it. “My manager tells me how people tell her: ‘Diljit se film kara de main tujhe gift duga’ (Make him do our film, we’ll give it to you).
“But they don’t know that we don’t care about gifts. But it’s not their fault because it’s normalized here, let’s go full circle. It’s not their fault, they’re in their place, but I don’t fit into that,” he added.
Diljit last starred in the Hindi film Jogi, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar. The Netflix film focused on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
“Typical alcohol specialist. Music evangelist. Total travel scholar. Internet buff. Passionate entrepreneur.”