Diljit Dosanjh is all set to make his Bollywood debut in Abhishek Chaubey‘s Udta Punjab this month. With a star cast that has Bollywood’s leading names like Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, the Pollywood (Punjabi cinema) top actor fits right in.
Diljit’s family is from Dosanjh Kalan village near Jalandhar district in Punjab. He comes from modest background. His father worked in Punjab Roadways and he has one sister and one brother. The singer-actor has done his high school diploma from Al Manar Public School, Ludhiana. Diljit began singing while he was at school. He started with Sikh music, which he sang at the local gurdwaras. In 2003, he got his singing break with his album Ishq Da Uda Ada, and so began the journey of a star.
The Filmy Beginning
Diljit started his film career with The Lion of Punjab. Even though the film flopped, his song "Lak 28 Kudi Da" became a super-duper hit. In 2011, he tasted box office success with Jihne Mera Dil Luteya, opposite the lovely Neeru Bajwa and "Phulkari" singer Gippy Grewal. Since then, he has given many hits – movies and albums – like, Jatt & Juliet, Back to Basics, Punjab 1984, Mukhtiar Chadha, and Ambarsariya.
Trendsetter
Diljit Dosanjh is no stranger to social media success. His 2013 song Proper Patola was released on Vevo, and was the first Punjabi song on the channel. Not only that, the song also received one million hits on YouTube in a matter of a fortnight.
His Coke Studio appearance
In 2015, for MTV’s Coke Studio Season 4 Diljit sang a duet with another Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan. The song Ki Banu Duniya Da was well received.
Bollywood Connect
Even before his acting debut, Diljit has been a part of Bollywood. He has given vocals for many Bollywood tracks – Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya, the title track of Mere Dad Ki Maruti, Main Taan Aidaan Hi Nachna from Yamla Pagla Deewana 2, Tung tung baje song from Singh is Bling, and Ikk Kudi from Udta Punjab.
Saanjh Foundation
Not only is he a talented artist, he is a philanthropist as well. He runs an NGO for the underprivileged called Saanjh Foundation. The name is based on his surname and it loosely translates to "amity". The organisation contributes to orphanages and old age homes.
There’s much more to come from this talented star. We look forward to his performance in Udta Punjab. But that isn’t all. He has Phillauri and Baadshaho lined up in 2017. Looks like Diljit Dosanjh is here to stay!