As Diljit Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati India tour reaches a crescendo in Chandigarh, here is a look at the man himself
From enjoying a royal welcome in Jaipur, offering prayers at the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, gorging on famous Chhappan poha at Indore to taking to the streets of Kolkata holding fresh flowers, global music sensation Diljit Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati India tour 2024 reached Chandigarh on Saturday.
On his penultimate city (last one of the leg being Guwahati on December 29, 2024), Dosanjh sure was the talk of the City Beautiful. Right from traffic management to tickets being sold at whopping prices (last we heard was going at Rs 1.60 lakh) — the Chamkila actor managed to get into everyone’s media feed one way or the other. His fans registered their annoyance at the Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights issuing an advisory to the singer on social media, rather than doling out the red carpet he deserves! But that didn’t stop the much-loved singer from making an entrance full of drama. At his arrival in Chandigarh airport, he was escorted by the pink guards from Netflix’s global phenomenon Squid Game!
Being a pioneer
The first ever Indian to make it to the Coachella stage, the Jind Mahi hitmaker has sure turned a leaf. From a diffident, introvert artiste, who was a ‘man of few words’, Diljit has evolved into a brash, boisterous typical Punjabi making the line Punjabi aa gaye hoye famous. Pandemic impacted all of us and it changed Diljit too. He reportedly made 35-40 songs in that period, the superhit Born To Shine being a result of that time.
As a little boy, he always prayed to be so famous that everyone knew him. Living that time now, he has now found a voice!
Humble beginning
Born in Dosanjh Kalan into a salaried family, his first album Dil came out when he was 18, in 2002. At that time, he did not refuse any show or performance at any wedding; making money, along with earning fame. Music paved way to Punjabi films; after a guest appearance in Mel Karade Rabba in 2010, he went on to give hits like Jatt & Juliet (2012) and Sardaarji (2015).
As his films worked, Bollywood became the next stop. Udta Punjab in 2016 brought as much fame as the popular Shiv Kumar Batalvi number Ikk Kudi, which he crooned with Alia Bhatt. From then on, he traversed Hindi and Punjabi film lanes, giving films like Phillauri (2017), Soorma and Sajjan Singh Rangroot (2018), Shadaa and Good Newwz (2019), Honsla Rakh (2021) and Amar Singh Chamkila (2024), among others.
Hit songs
His long list of popular songs includes Raat Di Gedi, Patiala Peg, Do You Know, Lak 28 Kudi Da, Main Fan Bhagat Singh Da, Proper Patola, 5 Taara, Chandigarh Mein, among others. One of his latest songs is Nain Matakka from upcoming film Baby John. Diljit joined Ed Sheeran on stage crooning Lover Boy with him in Mumbai. Diljit also collaborated with Cheap Thrills popstar Sia in Hass Hass.
Fan boy
The singer actor with a following of 24.7 million on Instagram is a confirmed Kylie Jenner fan. Accused of stalking her on her social media, as Diljit commented on her picture Hatdi Ni Tu, to lyrics of High End going, Aaj-kal ve Dosanjha wala kihde naal phire, hun Kylie kolon puchhdi ae Kim ni, Diljit has maintained that he respected the self-made entrepreneur and reality star!
Razzle & dazzle
Amongst his notable films is Punjab 1984. Directed by Anurag Singh, it won National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Punjabi in 2015. In the same year, Diljit sang a duet, Ki Banu Duniya Da, with legendary singer Gurdas Maan for MTV Coke Studio’s Season 4. “Hollywood vich jine stars hai unade vich baitha Sardar goriye…” Diljit tweaked his song G.O.A.T at Jimmy Fallon’s The Tonight Show, dazzling his fans with an electric performance. Amar Singh Chamkila had been a long-pending passion project of Bollywood biggie Imtiaz Ali, which finally saw a release in 2024 on Netflix. Diljit’s look in the film earned the ire of people, as the actor gave up the pagg for the role of the popular singer. While Diljit didn’t offer any explanation, Imtiaz mentioned that it was a wig and Diljit didn’t give up on a single strand of hair for his role.
Full-time vlogger
A day in Punjab for global music sensation Diljit Dosanjh includes some exercise, breakfast of poha (since paranthas are devoured by the staff), some cricket and handi chicken at the end of the day along with some rib-tickling commentary. The artiste shares hilarious videos – whether it’s his struggle with Siri putting his songs or cooking videos, he sure can do wonderful as a full-time vlogger.
