Abhishek Saxena’s directorial Bandaa Singh Chaudhary picks a leaf from the turbulent Punjab history

Handsome Arbaaz Khan, dapper in blue denims and sky blue shirt; director Abhishek Saxena, in black; Meher Vij, effervescent in a mustard sharara — the trio looked energetic and completely at ease as they talked about their film Bandaa Singh Chaudhary on Friday in Chandigarh.

This film, set in the 80s when Punjab saw the most turbulent times in the recent history, is, in their words, the labour of love.

“I always take up stories that people know but do not talk about. Bandaa Singh Chaudhary is one such story,” opened up Saxena, who has to his credit films like Phullu and Patiala Dreamz.

Inspired by true events, extensive research went into the story. With such a sensitive topic, Saxena wanted to be thorough. “Punjab saw the turbulent 80s. To get the real picture, we interviewed thousands of families in villages, and read newspaper reports,” said Saxena.

There was another reason, a personal one! His mother is a Sardarni. He revealed, “I had to be careful not to hurt religious sentiments of any section. If something was to go wrong, my mother would have taken me to task.”

Arshad Warsi plays the titular role, a Hindu character, who in the face of threats isn’t ready to give up on his home, his land. The film was conceived by Saxena with Manish Mishra as producer. Arbaaz joined the party later. While working on a film with Meher Vij’s husband Manav Vij, he heard about film and came on board. “I found it to be a relatable story and I took the opportunity to be part of it,” Arbaaz shared.

As Warsi had to give this promotional tour a miss due to prior commitments, Saxena filled in for him. “Versatility is Arshad Warsi’s biggest strength. He has never played such a character, nor has Meher. But they make the best lead pair!”

Meher spoke about her role, “My character gets a full arc. The film is full of drama, light moments, romance and tension, and my character get to play many shades.”

Also present were actor Sachin Negi and singers Rahul Jain and Jay Mishra. The duo crooned their numbers Eena Sona and Dil Mureeda, respectively. Rahul composed and sang three songs for the film. Jay shared, “I got a chance to sing with Sunidhi Chauhan which was an honour and opportunity for me.”

While Saxena’s Phullu sensitised a subject like sanitary pads, Bandaa Singh Chaudhary is a salute to a common man’s resilient spirit. “The film is rooted in Punjab. And it will inspire anyone in their life, in struggles big and small,” said the director.

The films hits cinemas on October 25.