Diljit Dosanjh: “To Be The First Turbaned Sardar At Tussaud’s Is A Big Deal”

 There is Good  News for the genial  Sikh  singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh. He is  all set to be the  first turbaned Sikh to be honoured with a  wax statue at Madame Tussaud’s.

Diljit can barely contain his excitement when  I caught  up with him on Monday morning. He had  just returned  from an international  trip and  headed straight to Chandigarh to shoot  for Karan  Johar’s Good News.

 Says Diljit, “I am still pinching  myself.  When I  got that call  from them(Tussaud’s)  informing me that they want to  do my statue  my  response  was, ‘Mera kyon?’ What  have I achieved?”

It  is  a matter  of augmented pride that  Diljit  would be  the  first  turbaned Sikh to get his own wax statue at Tussaud’s.

Says  Diljit with proportionate  pride, “Before me another Sikh Milkha Singhji was honored at  Tussaud’s. But his statue did not have him in a turban.So I think I’m the first turbaned Sardar to be featured at Tussaud’s. I am humbled  for  all the love  of Indians  I get  from all over the world.”

The date for  the installation of  the statue had to be postponed.

Says Diljit, “The day  it was to  happen  our  army office  Abhinandanji was  captured. That was not the  right  time to  do a happy event. Now they’re  waiting for  me  to give them  another date  to install  the statue as soon as I find the  time. But I am apprehensive about setting a date. Times are so volatile, you  never know in the morning what  will happen in  the afternoon.”

Roles   for Diljit  are  intrinsically  restricted  . “Since I am a turbaned Sardar I can only  play  Sardar roles.  Either that,   or  producers   should be  willing to alter  the script to accommodate  my physical appearance. But I  won’t call this  a restriction.  It is  my good fortune that  I am the first  Sikh to be playing lead roles  in  Hindi films.”

The  affable  Sardar who  has regaled us with  strong  understated  performances   in  Udta Punjab and  Soormasays he  is  having a   blast shooting  with Akshay  Kumar  in Chandigarh  for  the  Karan Johar  production Good News.  “Shooting with Akshay Paaji is  like  a picnic. We’ve  almost wrapped  up the shooting. Kab shuroo huakab khatam pataa hi nahin chala.”

Did  Akshay play his famous pranks on  Diljit?

“No no. No such thing. I’ve grown up  watching his  films. I can’t dream of doing masti with him. But he  makes everyone so  comfortable  on the sets.He is an inspiration  to all of us.”