Amar Singh Chamkila;- From controversies to Emmy nominations

The Netflix film, based on the life of Amar Singh Chamkila, a Punjabi folk singer has already received praise in India. Diljit Dosanjh also earned a nomination for Best Performance by an Actor for his portrayal of the late singer.

Directed by Imtiaz Ali, the film earned praise for its authentic storytelling and powerful music. Lyricist Irshad Kamil received nominations for five impactful songs, which beautifully enhanced the film’s emotional depth and connection with audiences.

It was not just a biopic but an emotion to many. So, let's know about the movie, who was Chamkila and how the movie got released after a lot of controversies.

Diljit played as Chamkila

Amar Singh Chamkila became one of 2024’s most talked-about films, portraying the life of Punjab’s bold and controversial 1980s singer. Diljit Dosanjh starred as Chamkila, with Parineeti Chopra as Amarjot Kaur. Amar Singh Chamkila was well known as the “Elvis of Punjab.”

Amar Singh Chamkila was born as Dhani Ram in village Dugri near Ludhiana in 1960. He was a born singer but the way wasn't easy. He worked as a labourer in textile factories in Ludhiana but his passion drove him to join drama groups where he learned to play the tumbi (a single-string instrument).

He gained fame with his song "Takue Te Takua Khadke' in 1979. Chamkila's vivid language, high-pitched vocals, and novel compositions with wife Amarjot, accompanied by tumbi made him popular.

After the success of his album, Dhani adopt the stage name Amar Singh Chamkila

Parineeti Chopra rejected 'Animal'

Parineeti Chopra was first offered Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna's film Animal, which was a massive hit. But Parineeti denied to do this film and chose Amar Singh's film Chamkila instead.

During this, in a conversation with Rajat Sharma in conversation, She told 'I have no regrets about losing Rashmika Mandanna's role in Animal film. To be honest, I feel God had planned something better for me. I was doing that film (Animal) and everything was finalised, but at the same time I got the offer for Chamkila film. Both had the same dates.'

Parineeti said, 'I had received many singing offers. I even got a chance to work with AR Rahman. Not only that, I got many other good opportunities. But, Imtiaz Ali is my dream director, so when I was getting so much to do, I chose Chamkila over Animal.'

'Amar Singh Chamkila' nominated in the film category in Screen Association Awards 2025 won four awards. Imtiaz Ali and Sajid Ali were awarded Best Story and Best Screenplay for the film Chamkila. Irshad Kamil received the Best Lyrics award for the same film.

Parineeti's weight gain for her role in

Parineeti Chopra's weight gain for her role in "Amar Singh Chamkila" sparked controversy after she claimed to have gained 16-20 kilograms. This was contradicted by director Imtiaz Ali, who suggested weight gain of 6-7 kilograms, leading to skepticism online.

Further fueling the outrage were Parineeti's comments about appearing her "worst" and not wearing makeup as Amarjot Kaur. Many accused her of demeaning the character and using her weight gain as an excuse. Social media was flooded with criticism, with some accusing her of insulting Amarjot Kaur and using her weight gain to feel better about herself.

Chamkila was in controversies

Renowned folk singer Amar Singh Chamkila rose to fame with his distinctive style and bold songs, which often sparked controversies. Tragically, on March 8, 1988, Chamkila, his wife Amarjot, and two other band members were shot dead in Mehsampur, Jalandhar. The assailants, three masked men, remain unidentified, and no arrests were made.

The case is shrouded in conspiracy theories. One theory suggests Khalistani terrorists, seeking societal purification, targeted Chamkila due to his music. Another points to rival musicians orchestrating a hit. A third theory proposes an honor killing, stemming from Amarjot's higher caste status.

In 2023, local courts in Ludhiana had stayed the release of the film 'Amar Singh ‘Chamkila.’

"I don’t understand. He keeps saying that he will never remove his pagdi, he presents himself as a devotee… But I don’t understand why he cut his hair for the Chamkila movie. I don’t think he should’ve done it. I have a big movie coming up myself, and I’m keeping my pagdi.” Daler Mehndi said

Diljit didn't cut his hair for the film- Imtiaz Ali

In an old interview with Radio Nasha, director Imtiaz Ali clarified that Diljit did not cut his hair for the film Amar Singh Chamkila, but rather wore a wig. He said, "I would not like to share his personal information, but Diljit wore a wig. The wig was just like his turban. He did not sacrifice a single hair for this film. He played a character and knew how Chamkila looked. That's why he succeeded in portraying the character with the wig. He adopted this look with a lot of honesty and good intentions."