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Garma
Garam More
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Art & Craft |
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And you played the key role as well? Yes, as Buta Singh. You are also acting, I am told, as Shahid Bhagat Singh in another film. Is martyrdom your claim to fame? Yes, the crew is now shooting in Scotland. Raj Babbar is making the film, Shahid Udham Singh. I am playing Bhagat Singh there. Why this obsession for martyrdom? It is good role. I liked it very much. The film will be ready soon. I believe Shahid-e-Mohabbat has done very well at the theatres. What do you attribute this to? Your role? The story? The revival of popular interest in Punjabi music, Punjabi cinema?
But on Sony it was dubbed into Hindi for the world premiere? Yes. That is why it had such a stupendous response. Johnny Lever called me from here. I was in London, performing on stage. They told me his phone had come and it was urgent. I went offstage and took the call, only to be told by him that the film had a terrific impact on viewers out here. I was absolutely thrilled. I went back on stage doubly energised. You enjoy positive feedback? All performers do. That is why I love the stage. I get my feedback right then and there from the audience. The way they shout, scream, ask for what they want. Nothing can quite compare with that. Not even movies? No, not even movies. I enjoy being an actor but music is my first love. I love the stage, the footlights, the adulation, the huge crowds yelling for more. Cinema cannot give me that. That is why I travel so much. My next stop is Aurangabad on the 14th. Then Patiala. Then somewhere else. It never ends, this travel. This excitement. It is like a roadshow that goes on and on and on.
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Well, the film has done very well wherever in the world it has been
shown. It is now going to several film festivals starting with the one at
Vancouver. The international rights have been sold at an unimaginable
price. Considering the fact that no one screens Punjabi films overseas in
cinema halls. In Bombay it was in the theatres for four weeks. Not a mean
achievement for a Punjabi language film!