Noting that Sardar characters are often used for comic relief, Fukrey 3 actor Manjot Singh says he has been mindful about Sikhs’ depiction in his movies
Manjot Singh
In the past two months, Manjot Singh has enjoyed back-to-back successes in Dream Girl 2 and Fukrey 3. The double success couldn’t have come at a better time, as he completes 15 years in Hindi movies. While the actor is proud of his successful run, he is prouder still of staying true to his personal beliefs in an industry that often demands compromises.
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Right at the beginning of his career, Singh was cognisant of not letting his work disrespect his Sikh identity. “My mom had noticed that in films and reality shows, a Sardar character would always be shown as a funny guy. She would say, ‘Whatever work you do, make sure that the Sikh community is not made fun of. Don’t do [films] where people watch you and say that he is making fun of his own community.’ So, I became quite choosy in the beginning itself. I have rejected more work than I have done because of this reason. There are few Sikh actors in the industry. If I don’t inspire others to come and act, what’s the use of me being an actor?”
His personal victory, however, doesn’t diminish the struggles Singh continues to face. Having caught the audience’s attention with his knack for comedy, it has become a challenge for him to shed the comic-actor image in an industry that is infamous for typecasting artistes. “People think that if you’ve done a comedy film, you’re a comic actor. I want to break that perception. Even in Fukrey, comedy is happening around me, and I am reacting to it. I enjoy doing comedies, but I am eagerly waiting for serious roles.”
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