After making a mark in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films, actor Amyra Dastur is ready to set her foot in the Punjabi film industry with her next project. And this, she confesses, is another step towards her goal of becoming a pan-India star.

“The whole appeal is to be a pan-India star now, and that’s exactly what I want to be,” Dastur tells us, adding, “We have had this whole regional thing going on for so long. But now, especially in this industry, people are open to doing so many different types of films.”

Quoting the success of movies such as RRR and the Baahubali franchise, she says, “This shows that it doesn’t depend on the region or language of a film. If it is a good film, everyone will watch it.”

This blurring of boundaries, she feels, also helps actors expand their bases. “It is opening up a lot of things for us. There is a lot of work. Now, people are open to working with someone outside the region, like me, who doesn’t speak Punjabi but is still doing a Punjabi film. And vice versa in the South as well. That creates more jobs. At the end of the day, people want to grow and do well as artistes,” says theactor, who has featured in projects such as Kung Fu Yoga, Kaalakaandi (both 2017), Manasuku Nachindi (2018) and Koi Jaane Na (2021).

According to Dastur, this exchange of talent is also breaking stereotypes. “This comes with a message that we should not stereotype people from certain cultures. For example, Vijay Deverakonda (actor) is set to enter the Hindi film industry. It is a big step because we are becoming more accepting of different people from different places,” the 29-year-old says.

When asked about her Punjabi project, Dastur remains tight-lipped, only revealing that it is a “coming of age story”. “I love to do something that is about people of my age and shows the problems youth face today. I’m having a blast shooting for the project. I learnt my lines quickly, with people exclaiming, ‘Oh, are you a Punjabi?’ I am enjoying this experience,” she wraps up.