True-blue Punjabi

If you ever get the chance to sit down with Ammy Virk, you’ll quickly sense that he’s not just another actor. There’s a rare blend of humility and ambition in him that sets him apart. During our chat, what struck me most was his unwavering focus on authenticity and collaboration, qualities that define his approach to both Punjabi and Bollywood cinema.

Ammy Virk isn’t just riding the waves of the film industry; he’s shaping them with thoughtful precision. Whether he’s discussing his role in his latest outing Khel Khel Mein or reflecting upon the success of Bad Newz, Virk exudes a genuine enthusiasm for his craft. “The film, a remake of the Italian thriller The Perfect Stranger, has been shot with all of us sitting at a dining table and sofa, and 85 per cent is of one night, or we can say two days. It is very entertaining. While the idea has been taken from an Italian film, Khel Khel Mein is made to suit the Indian culture and ethos,” he says with much excitement. The film features an ensemble cast, including Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu and Fardeen Khan.

Reflecting on his recent success, Ammy says, “The audience has loved Bad Newz immensely. It was my first film as a lead in Bollywood, and seeing it gross Rs 100 crore at the box-office was an incredible feeling. Working with co-stars Vicky Kaushal and Tripti Dimri was amazing.” Ammy is now set to resume shooting for Saunkan Saunkne 2 and Nikka Zaildar 4, and is excited about his next venture, Sarbala Ji, with Gippy Grewal. “It has been a great year so far, and I’m hopeful that next one will be even bigger,” he says.

As we speak about his Punjabi films, the actor expresses his passion for the language and the industry. He acknowledges the industry’s progress, but also sees significant room for growth. “Punjabi films have made a mark. Slowly, the films are going for a higher budget,” he notes, talking about recent films like Carry on Jatta 3 and Jatt and Juliet 3 touching the Rs 100 crore mark. He hopes, “In the coming time, we’ll cross the Rs 200 and 250 crore threshold too.” When it comes to subjects that need to be explored, the actor adds, “We should make more action films and ones that depict our rich history.”

However, Ammy is also candid about the challenges that the Punjabi film industry is facing. He highlights the need for better organisation and support within the industry. “There are no associations, even heroes and heroines are few,” he says. He believes both the industry and the audience need to contribute to the growth of new artistes and projects. Ammy quotes the example of the recently released film Rhode College, “It’s a film that deserves support of the audience just like any big budget film. There are a lot of new faces in it and I request everyone to appreciate fresh talent.”

The actor says he is personally very happy when any Punjabi film does well. “When Jagjit’s Oye Bhole Oye did well, you won’t believe how much I danced at its success party. As such, I had no connection with the film, but I was just overjoyed by its success.”

Ammy also emphasises the importance of preparation and planning in filmmaking. “When a new film is made, the writer and the director are most important,” he says. Another point of contention is the time at hand for the artistes to prepare for a film. “Everyone should get proper time to make a film. If we get the script just one day before the shoot, there are going to be problems on the sets. The thing about preparation is that you can save a lot of time, effort and money.”

As he sums up his take on the Punjabi film industry, Ammy says, “We need more directors, more actors and writers in the industry.”